The Story Behind The Story

Campaign journalism, investigative storytelling, and media accountability. Journalist, broadcaster and author Justin Smith joins Tom Andronas to explain how powerful stories can change laws, free prisoners, and force institutions to act. In this first episode of The Story Behind The Story, we explore a form of journalism that goes beyond reporting the news. Justin calls it campaign journalism — storytelling that doesn’t stop when the headline is written, but continues until something actually changes. Through real case studies from his career in radio and print journalism, Justin explains how curiosity, persistence, and a refusal to accept “that’s just how things work” can turn storytelling into a powerful force for accountability. These include the controversial case of a Victorian bus driver jailed after hitting Melbourne’s notorious Montague Street Bridge, and an investigation that exposed a major flaw in how character references are used in court — a story that ultimately helped change the rules. If you’re interested in storytelling, journalism, investigative reporting, media influence, or how narratives shape public policy, this episode explores how stories can move from reporting to impact. In this episode • What campaign journalism is — and how it differs from traditional reporting• Why most news stories stop before real change happens • How anger, curiosity and persistence drive investigative storytelling • The Montague Street Bridge case and the fight to free Jack Aston • How one story exposed serious flaws in court character references • Why great storytellers focus on people, not institutions • The difference between stories people care about — and stories you must make them care about Guest Justin Smith is a journalist, broadcaster and author who has worked across radio, print and television in Australia. He has been a senior producer on the Neil Mitchell program at 3AW, a presenter on ABC Radio Melbourne, and is a columnist with the Herald Sun. His work often focuses on justice, accountability and campaign journalism that drives real outcomes. Timestamps 00:00 – Introducing The Story Behind The Story 03:00 – The craft of storytelling in live radio 07:30 – What is campaign journalism? 12:30 – The Montague Street Bridge case 20:00 – How journalism can change outcomes 22:00 – Exposing the character reference loophole 30:00 – Why institutions rely on lack of curiosity 33:30 – The stories journalists struggle to publish 36:30 – Why campaign storytelling matters About the Podcast The Story Behind The Story is a podcast from The Content Engine exploring how powerful stories are created — and what really happens behind the scenes. Each episode unpacks the craft of storytelling with the real person at its centre. Because sometimes the real story, is the one behind the story.