Nine’s State of the Nation: The News Effect Launch 2026

Nine stepped into the spotlight on Tuesday 21st April, hosting its latest State of the Nation event, bringing together media buyers and marketers for a morning of insight into the economy, audience behaviour, and the evolving role of news.

Over breakfast, attendees heard from The Sydney Morning Herald Editor, Jordan Baker, The Australian Financial Review Business Editor, Kylar Loussikian, and nine.com.au Executive Editor, Katie Davies, who unpacked what’s driving audience attention right now and why.

The event also marked a preview of The News Effect – Nine’s new five-part video series exploring the power of premium journalism.

Launching May 1 on Nine for Brands, the series features leading editors and journalists discussing key themes from ThinkNewsBrands’ latest News Nation research, including trust, attention, and commercial impact.

ThinkNewsBrands CEO Vanessa Lyons described the event as hitting the “sweet spot” – combining insight with engaging discussion.

“It’s important news publishers share not only their reach, but the evidence that shows their content holds attention.”

As the industry continues to navigate misinformation and fragmentation, initiatives like The News Effect shine a light on the craft of journalism – how stories are researched, verified, and produced to the highest standards.

The News Effect launches on May 1st. Find out more about upcoming episodes via NineforBrands.