Thrive PR expands BYD remit to lead ANZ experiential and launch strategy

Jasmine Green has joined Gnaala Karla Booja Aboriginal Corporation as Communications Lead, where she will focus on aligning internal priorities and strengthening external stakeholder relationships. She brings experience from previous roles with South32 and Southern Ports.

Jasmine's communications career spans both corporate and agency environments, including positions with Rio Tinto, Clarity Communications and Professional Public Relations. 

FTI Consulting has announced the appointment of Tom Evrard as Head of Asia for its strategic communications segment, with immediate effect.

In the new role, Tom will work closely with regional and global leadership teams to expand the agency's strategic communications offering across Asia, supporting clients on transactions, crises, and other high-stakes situations. He will also help drive FTI's event-driven capabilities and strengthen collaboration across the wider business, including corporate finance, technology, forensic and litigation consulting, and economic consulting.

"Tom has played an important role in building our Strategic Communications platform across Asia over many years, and he is exceptionally well placed to lead the business through its next phase of growth," said Mark McCall, Global Leader of the strategic communications segment at FTI Consulting.

"As clients face increasingly complex situations across transactions, crises and geopolitical issues, demand for integrated, bespoke solutions continues to grow. Tom’s appointment further strengthens our ability to support clients through these critical moments as they navigate the realities of working across borders, cultures and stakeholder expectations."

FTI Consulting said the appointment comes as Asia remains a key growth market for its strategic communications segment, with rising demand for multi-market counsel. It also forms part of the firm's continued investment in the region, following the appointment of Jason Leow as a Senior Managing Director, the return of Kainoa Blaisdell as a Managing Director, and the promotion of Natalie Carter to Senior Managing Director, as previously reported on Telum.

Commenting on his appointment, Tom said: "This is a pivotal moment for our business in Asia, and I am proud to step into this role with a team that has built a differentiated platform in one of the world’s most complex regions. We combine deep local expertise with global connectivity, supported by an agile model and smart use of AI, to deliver results when it matters most.

"I look forward to helping enhance our collaborative model, providing high-impact advice on crisis and transformation while deepening relationships, expanding our capabilities and bringing the full strength of FTI Consulting to every engagement." 

Young Australians are more interested in news and are consuming more of it, according to the University of Canberra's (UC) News and Media Research Centre (N&MRC) Digital News Report: Australia 2026.

Revealing changes in news consumption across social media and generative AI, the report shows Australians under 35 reporting a higher interest in politics than older generations for the first time.

Creators and influencers meeting youth news needs

The report found that 60 per cent of Australians aged 18 to 24 have never used newspapers, 53 per cent haven't listened to the radio, and one quarter have never turned on the TV for news. In contrast, 48 per cent of that age group choose to get their news from TikTok.

While young Australians are not primarily using traditional news platforms, the report indicated that interest in news and news consumption have both risen since 2023, increasing by 12 and 13 percentage points respectively.

"Young Australians are not disengaged from news - they are reshaping how news is accessed, consumed, and understood."

The findings also highlight the role that creators and influencers now play in Australia’s news landscape. More than half of under-35s say these creators meet their news needs, and 43 per cent of Australians overall get news from them. Among these users, 59 percent find influencer-led news more entertaining, 55 per cent find it relatable, and 56 per cent find it easier to understand than traditional news.

"Young Australians are not disengaged from news - they are reshaping how news is accessed, consumed, and understood," said Professor Sora Park, lead author of the report and Director of the N&MRC.

"We are seeing a generational shift away from fixed routines and traditional platforms towards more fluid, platform-driven, and personalised news habits. Younger Australians are signalling a desire for news that feels accessible, authentic, and engaging."

More young Australians are paying for news

Despite cost-of-living pressures, the report revealed that under-35s now use more news sources than older Australians, and are more likely to pay for them. 27 per cent of 18 to 24s and 41 per cent of 25 to 34s pay for news, compared to 16 per cent of those aged 65 and over. Among those who pay, 47 per cent of Australians under 35 subscribe to digital-only news brands, compared with 34 per cent globally.

The report also noted that younger people are more likely to pay for news that matches their views, while also seeing news as a social good. 30 per cent of under-35s said they pay for news so others can access it for free, compared with 15 per cent of older Australians. Those aged 25 to 34 are twice as likely (68 per cent) as those aged 55 and over to say public service media benefit Australian society.

Generative AI is a growing part of the news ecosystem

The 2026 report also points to the growing presence of generative AI (Gen AI) in the news ecosystem. Nearly one in ten Australians (nine per cent, a three per cent increase from the previous year) now use AI chatbots such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity for news. Growth is fastest among under-25s, with a four per cent increase, sitting at 16 per cent.

Among users of AI chatbots for news, 49 per cent were reported to use them to follow up on news stories, while others use them to summarise information, explain complex issues, and verify information they encounter elsewhere online. Overall, AI news users value the chatbots' ability to aggregate, explain, and simplify news.

However, trust in news via AI chatbots (19 per cent) and social media (21 per cent) is low compared to the news generally (43 per cent), with 49 per cent saying they distrust news found on AI. Concern about misinformation also continues to rise, with 77 per cent (a three per cent increase) of Australians worried about what is real or fake on the internet.

"AI is becoming another layer in how Australians navigate information," Professor Sora Park said.

"But trust remains central. Audiences continue to place greater value on journalism they perceive as credible, transparent, and accurate. The data also suggest that low trust in AI could be contributing to the growing concern about online misinformation."

Social media is now the main gateway to online news

Social media has continued to grow as a central source of news for Australians. The report found that social media (56 per cent) is now the second most-used source of news, sitting just behind television (57 per cent) and ahead of online news websites and apps (52 per cent). For the first time, social media (32 per cent) has also overtaken direct visits to news websites (31 per cent) as the main pathway for Australians to access online news.

"As the government grapples with its News Bargaining Incentive legislation, this year's data underscores the increasing role digital platforms, including AI, are having on Australians' access to news," Professor Sora Park said.

"The challenge for news organisations is to adapt to constantly changing audience behaviours without undermining their economic viability or compromising the quality and credibility of news that underpin public trust."

Other key findings in the 2026 Digital News Report include:

• Interest in news has steadily risen to 57 per cent since 2023 (increase by four per cent), led by under 35s (12 per cent increase) and women (four per cent increase).

• News consumption has also gone up to 56 per cent (an eight point increase) since 2023, with big growth among 18 to 24s (13 point increase).

• Three-quarters (77 per cent) believe media owners influence news coverage, compared with 75 per cent for government, and 70 per cent for advertisers, all of which are higher than the global averages of 70 per cent, 70 per cent, and 59 per cent respectively.

• 49 per cent say public service media, like the ABC and SBS, have a positive effect on life in Australia.

• 36 per cent think the news media are doing a good job in covering inflation and the cost of living, compared to 23 per cent for reporting on immigration.

• Trust in news remains steady at 43 per cent, but distrust has slightly fallen to 30 per cent (2 point decrease). Meanwhile, trust in the brands people use has jumped to 54 per cent (5 point increase).

• 68 per cent of Australians avoid news at least sometimes.

• Concern about misinformation online continues to rise at 77 per cent (3 point increase).

• The proportion of Australians who pay for news remains steady at 23 per cent, and higher than the global average of 17 per cent.