Strategic communications, media training and editorial support

Stonefruit Media is a communications consultancy working across Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne. We specialise in writing, editing, strategy and media training — helping governments, universities, NGOs and businesses communicate with purpose, clarity and impact.

Our background is in journalism, and we bring that same integrity to everything we do: clear processes, real deadlines, attention to detail and a polished final product. We’re senior operators who get to the point quickly, ask the right questions, and deliver work that’s actually useful — not just presentable.

Whether you need help shaping a message, refining a report, or facing the media, we’re here to solve your communications problems.

What we do

Media training — be clear, calm and confident

We prepare spokespeople to face the media with clarity and confidence. Our training is tailored, practical and grounded in real newsroom experience — from broadcast interviews to live radio and hostile questions. Whether you’re a first-time spokesperson or a seasoned media performer, we’ll help you sharpen your message, avoid common traps and make the most of every opportunity. We also offer media interview training and spokesperson training tailored to your organisation.

Strategic communications — clear plans, realistic actions

We don’t believe in long documents that gather dust. Our strategies are short, sharp and tied to what you actually want to achieve. We work closely with senior leaders to define goals, align messaging and build practical communications plans that work with your team’s resources — not against them. Whether you’re navigating change, launching a new initiative or strengthening your voice, we help you communicate with purpose.

Editorial services — clear, credible and ready to use

We work on the documents that matter — policy papers, research reports, submissions and speeches that need to stand up to scrutiny. Often, we’re brought in when material is complex, incomplete or under pressure. We help shape structure, clarify ideas and bring everything together into a clear, credible final product. From early drafts through to final checks, we support teams to deliver work that’s not just well written, but ready to be read, used and trusted.

Case studies

We help teams turn complex material into clear, usable communications — often under pressure. Here are a few examples of how we support delivery across strategy, editorial work and media training.

Media training for the Social Research Centre

The Social Research Centre engaged us to prepare its CEO, senior leaders, and subject matter experts for media engagement — most for the first time. We delivered tailored training combining practical, on-camera interview simulations with insight into how journalists work and how stories are shaped. The result was more confident spokespeople, clearer messaging, and a stronger ability to handle interviews and difficult questions.

Editorial support for the National Security College

We support the National Security College at ANU in delivering major publications, from multi-author books to flagship reports on national security. Working with complex, policy-facing material — often under time pressure — we bring consistency, clarity, and structure to long-form documents, ensuring they are ready for publication.

Strategic communications for ActionAid Australia

ActionAid had a strong story to tell — they just needed a sharper way to tell it. Through collaborative workshops and one-on-one consultations, we helped them define their messaging, identify key audiences, and develop a practical strategy that reflects their values and voice. The result is a plan the whole team can use to guide campaigns, strengthen advocacy, and build public connection.

White-label writing and editorial support

We provide white-label writing and editorial support to a government relations firm, working as an extension of their team across white papers, submissions, briefing notes, and market assessments. Often starting from rough inputs — notes, early drafts, or meeting summaries — we shape complex material into clear, client-ready documents. The result is high-quality outputs delivered on time, with minimal revision required, and additional capacity when internal teams are stretched.

How we work

We keep things simple, focused, and human, delivering smart communications support from people who know what they’re doing.

We listen first

Every organisation is different. That’s why we start by understanding what matters to you — your goals, your needs, your audience, your constraints — before recommending anything.

We deliver what works

Whether it’s a strategy, a speech or a sharp op-ed, our work is clear, useful and aligned with your resources. We don’t just create beautiful documents, we help make sure they get used.

We know the landscape

With backgrounds in journalism, government, and policy, we understand the environment you’re operating in. We help you shape messages that land with ministers, media, stakeholders or the public.

We understand cultural nuance

Good communication isn’t one-size-fits-all. We understand how culture, background and lived experience can shape the way people engage — especially in training or high-stakes messaging. We bring empathy, sensitivity and care to everything we do, helping clients communicate with clarity and respect.

We don’t miss deadlines

We take timelines seriously and we stick to them. If we’re not early, we’re late — that’s how we work. You’ll never need to chase us.

We’re part of your team

We often work with in-house communications teams who are at capacity and need experienced support without the hassle of hiring. We act as an extra pair of senior hands who are flexible, fast, and able to hit the ground running.

Who we are

We’re a senior team with deep experience across journalism, government and strategic communications. That means you won’t be handed off to junior staff — when you work with us, you work with us.

Jason Staines — Editorial Director

Jason brings together decades of experience across journalism, government, and strategic communications. His media experience spans AAP, Dow Jones, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age , as well as trade media covering financial services and European industry.

He later worked in government, including as a Senior Research Officer at the Australian Treasury’s post in New Delhi — advising on economic diplomacy, political engagement, and regional economic trends — and as an analyst in Canberra, contributing to the federal budget and briefing the Treasurer’s office.

Before founding Stonefruit Media, Jason led publications and messaging at a Canberra-based government relations firm, crafting speeches, op-eds and reports for clients across sectors. He also headed up publications for a newly established think tank focused on international development.

He’s known for his sharp editorial judgement, clear writing, and ability to make complex ideas both compelling and accessible. He holds a Master of International Relations from the University of Sydney and a Bachelor of Arts (Communication) from the University of Technology Sydney.

Aarti Betigeri — Creative Director

Aarti is an experienced journalist, writer and editor whose career spans television, radio, print and international reporting. She has worked for the ABC and SBS as a reporter, producer and presenter, and has interviewed leaders such as Jacinda Ardern and Benazir Bhutto.

She spent close to a decade in South Asia as a foreign correspondent, reporting from India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and beyond. Her writing has appeared in outlets ranging from the Lowy Institute and Monocle magazine to major Australian broadcasters and newspapers.

Aarti brings deep experience in broadcast media and public speaking to her work with Stonefruit Media, particularly in media training and message development. She regularly appears at writers’ festivals and public events and is the editor of Growing Up Indian in Australia , a 2024 anthology of migrant stories.

With a Master of International Relations from ANU and a background in international development, Aarti combines journalistic insight with a strong understanding of the policy and the NGO space. Aarti also holds a Bachelor of Communication (Journalism) from RMIT.

Our extended team of collaborators and experts

Strategic partners

We’re a small team by design, but when the work calls for it, we bring in trusted collaborators who share our standards and approach.

We regularly team up with experienced writers, editors, designers and digital specialists to deliver polished, end-to-end communications. Whether it’s a full publication suite, a campaign rollout or a fast-turnaround brief, we scale up with people we know and trust.

You still deal with us. We just make sure we’ve got the right people in the room.

Let’s talk

If you’ve got a comms problem — or just want to sharpen what you’re already doing — we’d love to help.

Email us at and we’ll set up a time to talk.

Strategic communications, media training and editorial support | Stonefruit Media

Stuck for words? We can help with that.