Politico, the German-owned political publication, is set to launch an Australia edition, titled the Canberra Playbook, later this year.
The Canberra Playbook will take the form of a digital newsletter. Politico’s Playbooks have primarily reported on insider journalism, policy, elections and power dynamics within governments globally, stretching from the US to its more recent expansion in Europe.
The publication’s first Australian based writer will be Ryan Heath. He previously worked at Politico from 2019 until 2023 as senior editor and editorial director, global growth.
In a post to LinkedIn, Heath described Canberra as “A geopolitical capital, a connector between East and West”.
“Canberra is unmistakably a Politico town. It has the planet’s densest diplomatic community, and is a city purpose built for power and policy.” Heath added. “Politico’s expansion to Australia is natural.”
Heath assisted in Politico’s launch of the Brussels Playbook in 2015 and helped establish it as a must-read source for European politics through a range of voice, scoops, and insider authority.
“We will be even better positioned to help readers around the globe understand important economic and geopolitical developments in the Indo-Pacific, from trade and defence to energy and critical minerals,” Politico CEO Goli Sheikholeslami said.
“Australians need journalism that both explains power dynamics and connects the dots globally,” Heath said.
First launched in Washington in 2007, Politico has grown to become an essential source of information on all things politics. Further details on the Australian expansion, including staffing and specific launch dates, are yet to be announced.
Politico playbooks exist worldwide in markets including the US, the UK, Belgium, France, Germany as well as a Global Playbook covering the broader global political climate.
