Richard Baker

Richard Baker

Award winning Australian investigative journalist and podcast maker

In late 2022, after a highly successful 23-year career at Melbourne’s Age newspaper---where Richard won 5 Walkley awards and was named Australian Journalist of the Year in 2017----he launched Southern Ocean Media, a premium independent podcast and documentary maker.

Richard has been at the forefront of Australian podcasting since 2016, creating, writing and hosting four of the country’s most acclaimed true crime narrative podcasts, Phoebe’s Fall, Wrong Skin, The Last Voyage of the Pong Su and The Confession.

Richard is one of the few podcasters in Australia to have had three number 1 podcasts in the official chart (his remaining podcast hit #2). His podcasts have been internationally recognised with several gold awards at the New York International Festivals and have regularly featured in the annual “best of” lists of platforms such as Spotify.

In 2023, Richard’s new company has signed a contract to deliver two new narrative series for Southern Cross Austereo’s Listnr podcast division. He is also working on adaptation of two of his podcasts for streaming services.

Richard is one of Australia’s most experienced and engaging journalists. He has covered all manner of stories ranging from international corruption, espionage, unsolved murders and miscarriages of justice. And then there’s the stories he couldn’t publish!

With experience in radio and tv as well, Richard is available speaking, event hosting, MC and facilitating roles across all media platforms.

Richard Baker Book as a speaker/entertainer for your next event

Key Points for Richard Baker

Richard Baker is one of Australia’s most trusted and respected investigative journalists. A multi-award winner, he has been involved in stories that have sparked criminal prosecutions all over the world, led to commissions of inquiry and legislative change.
In recent year, he has been at the forefront of narrative podcast storytelling in Australia and his expertise is highly sought after by production companies all over the world.
He is able to de-mystify the news media and explain how the best journalists find their stories. Richard has devised a successful method of storytelling through which he is able to engage millions of podcast listeners by guiding them through complex stories and building emotional connection to characters. If you’re looking to cut through all the white noise to make an impact, then he can help you.
His media experience includes 23 years at The Age and Sydney Morning Herald newspapers. Co-productions with ABC Four Corners and 7:30. Appearances on The Project and breakfast TV. He has also been a regular of the top rating 3AW radio breakfast program for several years.
Richard has facilitated sessions for media and communications departments for medical companies, Victoria Police and major forensic accounting firms. He has delivered keynote speeches for the Media and Entertainment Arts Alliance and on podcasting for Mumbrella.
Richard is the inaugural Liffman Fellow at Swinburne University’s Department of Media and Communications. Previously, he has taught the investigative journalism component of the University of Melbourne’s masters degree.
In his personal life, Richard is passionate about community sport and has coached junior football and cricket teams for many years. He plays guitar in a band and is trying to recruit as many of his friends as he can to come surfing.

Topics for Richard Baker

True crime
Media and society
Media and the law
How to get your story/podcast/documentary to cut through the noise
Motivation
Understanding people, winning trust, power of stories and overcoming adversity.

Richard Baker Book as a speaker/entertainer for your next event

Key Points for Richard Baker

Topics for Richard Baker

Testimonials for Richard Baker