AustraliaOwnership & classification
Founded: 1831
Ownership
The Sydney Morning Herald, founded in 1831 as The Sydney Herald and renamed in 1842 under owner John Fairfax, is the country's oldest continuously published newspaper. Long the flagship of the Fairfax family and later John Fairfax Holdings/Fairfax Media, it has been owned by Nine Entertainment Co. since Fairfax merged into Nine in December 2018. It is Nine's premier print/digital masthead, a sister to The Age and the Australian Financial Review.
Funding
Funded commercially via advertising and a digital subscription paywall; Nine reported over 510,000 combined paying digital subscribers across the SMH, The Age and the AFR, with no state or licence-fee support.
Affiliation & stance
The Herald has a centre to centre-left editorial leaning but operates under Fairfax's inherited charter of editorial independence and is owned by a publicly listed commercial company. With no party, church, union or government control over its ownership, the INDEPENDENT classification is correct.
Editorial lean
- Our estimate
- Lean Progressive
- Measured from coverage
- Centerbased on 908
77/100
Factual
75/100
Objective
1601
Articles
1576
reports
Factual: How accurately its articles report the facts, judged against primary sources and the cross-outlet consensus. Only articles that cite their sources are counted.
Objective: How neutral the writing is — whether reporting keeps the writer’s own preferences and opinions out of the article.
Recent coverage
Superquiz, Monday, August 24
This article promotes a daily crossword puzzle titled 'Superquiz' featured in The Sydney Morning Herald on Monday, August 24, 2026. The piece encourages readers to attempt the Mini Crossword, which consists of ten clues and twenty-five squares. It highlights features such as tracking win streaks and sharing results with others. Premium subscribers are invited to access additional puzzles including Target Time and Sudoku through links provided. The article lists partner publications The Age and Brisbane Times as sources for these puzzles.
Dutch F1 Grand Prix live: Verstappen crashes out; Piastri makes a stunning move on the restart
The article provides updates from the Dutch F1 Grand Prix, focusing on race developments and driver strategies. Oscar Piastri made a notable overtake on George Russell during the restart, despite being on harder tires. Meanwhile, Lando Norris faced challenges after a poor pit stop, leading to him falling behind Piastri. The race saw significant changes due to an opening-lap crash involving Max Verstappen, which affected tire strategies and positioning. Kimi Antonelli performed strongly, overtaking Norris early in the race. The article highlights strategic decisions and performance differences among drivers, particularly around tire compounds and race tactics.
Brighton go end-to-end for second goal
The article reports on a soccer match where Brighton scored a second goal, with Maxim De Cuyper making the final play. The headline suggests a dramatic moment in the game, though the article itself does not provide detailed context about the match outcome, player performances, or broader implications. It appears to focus solely on the event without further commentary or analysis.
Best of cartoons, August 24, 2026
The article features a gallery of three cartoon illustrations published on August 23, 2026, under the 'Best of cartoons' section. The content appears to be part of a regular feature highlighting visual commentary, likely related to current events or social issues. The publication includes links to various platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, suggesting a focus on digital engagement and multimedia content distribution. No specific political or controversial topics are detailed in the provided text.
Sydney Swans take on North Melbourne in first clash since hotel scandal
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the Sydney Swans have played their first match since an off-field scandal involving the team. The game against North Melbourne took place on August 23, 2026. The article highlights the significance of this match as it marks the team's return to competition following the controversy. No specific details about the scandal or its implications are provided in the excerpt.
'We have let down our partners and families': Suspended Sydney Swans players break silence
Five Sydney Swans Australian Football League (AFL) players, Riley Bice, Nick Blakey, Isaac Heeney, James Jordon, and Chad Warner, have been suspended for the rest of the season due to a breach of the club's standards. The suspension follows an ongoing sexual assault investigation involving an incident at the Pullman Hotel in East Melbourne. The players issued a joint statement expressing regret for letting down their partners, families, teammates, and the broader community, while accepting the club's sanctions. The Sydney Swans' chairman, Andrew Pridham, apologized to fans and corporate partners but did not address the women allegedly involved in the incident, stating the matter was under police investigation. The club emphasized that the sanctions were based on the players' actions, such as staying out late and bringing women back to the hotel, and were separate from any potential legal charges.
McVeigh to meet with Essendon board ahead of expected endorsement as coach
Mark McVeigh, the assistant coach of the Sydney Swans, is set to present his case to the Essendon Football Club board as the favorite candidate for the senior coaching role. McVeigh, a former Essendon player and current assistant coach, has been preparing for this opportunity after previously working with fellow former teammates James Hird and Dean Solomon. While other candidates such as James Hird, Jaymie Graham, and Murray Davis were considered, McVeigh is the only one to make a final presentation to the board. Hird expressed interest in returning to Essendon but has not formally applied. The coaching selection process involved several high-profile figures, including club president Andrew Welsh and CEO Tim Roberts, among others. Several key staff members have left the football department since the departure of previous coach Brad Scott.
‘Unbelievable’: One Nation immigration policy in chaos as MP concedes target ‘not too different’ from Labor’s
One Nation, an Australian political party, faces internal criticism over its immigration policy after MP David Farley suggested the party's proposed migration numbers are not significantly different from those of the current Albanese government. Farley attempted to redefine 'net overseas migration' (NOM), stating that while the raw number might be similar to the government's, the focus should be on where migrants are needed, primarily in rural areas for sectors like agriculture, engineering, and mining rather than major cities. He explained that One Nation's target of 130,000 annual net overseas migrants does not include additional migrant categories such as the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) program and aged care nurses, which could add at least 100,000 more migrants annually. This clarification has led to accusations from both the opposition and the ruling party that One Nation lacks consistency and clarity on a central policy issue.
No one wants to play the Blues, but the Swans are sitting ducks as finals race turns wild
The article discusses the Australian Football League (AFL) finals race, focusing on the performance and positioning of several teams. It highlights that Sydney is now the team everyone wants to play in the finals, while Carlton is the team no one wants to face. The Swans' recent win over North Melbourne is noted, but the article argues it does not significantly alter their position. The Swans are criticized for suspending five senior players, which has impacted their chances of making the finals. Meanwhile, Carlton is praised for their resurgence, having defeated multiple top teams despite challenges such as coaching changes and player losses. The article suggests that Carlton's success has come with unexpected momentum and confidence.
Man critical after alleged hit-run in Sydney’s north-west
A 34-year-old man is critically injured after being pinned under a van during an alleged hit-and-run incident in Carlingford, Sydney. The incident occurred on August 23, 2026, and authorities are investigating the crash. The victim remains hospitalized in serious condition, with emergency services responding quickly to the scene. Details about the driver's identity and the circumstances of the collision have not yet been released.
Big banks respond to impending surcharge ban
Australia's major banks are implementing fee adjustments in anticipation of the Reserve Bank's upcoming ban on credit card surcharges, which is set to take effect in October. The move comes as part of the banks' response to regulatory changes aimed at reducing fees imposed by merchants on card transactions. The article highlights the financial implications for both banks and consumers, noting that the new policies will likely affect transaction costs and customer behavior. While the focus is on the regulatory action and industry response, there is no explicit commentary on the broader economic impact or political ramifications of the policy.
Frontline workers locked out of rentals
The article reports that rising rental prices are pushing frontline workers out of major Australian cities, threatening the availability of essential local services. Published on August 23, 2026, the piece highlights the impact of skyrocketing housing costs on healthcare, education, and other critical sectors. It suggests that these economic pressures are leading to workforce shortages in communities reliant on such services. While the article does not provide specific data or direct quotes from affected workers, it frames the issue as a growing crisis requiring urgent attention.
Teen hospitalised on NSW Central Coast after alleged stabbing
A 15-year-old boy was hospitalized in critical but stable condition after being allegedly stabbed at Painters Lane, Terrigal, on the NSW Central Coast. Emergency services responded to the incident around 9:45pm, treating the teenager for a single stab wound to the left side before transporting him to Gosford Hospital. Police from the Brisbane Water Police District established a crime scene and interviewed several teenagers, though no arrests have been made. Detectives are investigating potential relationships between the involved groups and the circumstances leading to the altercation. Authorities have issued a warning about youth carrying knives and are appealing for witnesses or surveillance footage.