Who Owns The Age?

The Age operates under Nine Entertainment's sustainability framework. The newspaper has transitioned significant portions of its readership to digital platforms, reducing reliance on print production and distribution. Where print operations continue, The Age implements sustainable printing practices including recycled paper and environmentally friendly inks.

The Age maintains rigorous ethical standards in journalism, including editorial independence, fact-checking protocols, and accountability mechanisms. The newspaper's commitment to ethical journalism is reflected in its correction policies and editorial guidelines. The Age's slogan, "Independent. Always.," underscores its commitment to editorial independence.

No Leaping Bunny, PETA, Vegan Society, or B Corp certification applies to The Age or Nine Entertainment in the context of a media company.

The Age is recognized as one of Australia's most respected newspapers, with a history of investigative journalism dating to 1854. The newspaper's reporting on Ben Roberts-Smith's war crimes, led by journalists Nick McKenzie and Chris Masters, resulted in a landmark defamation victory in May 2025 when the Full Federal Court unanimously dismissed Roberts-Smith's appeal. The case is considered one of the most significant defamation victories for Australian media in recent history.

The Age's cartoonists have won multiple awards for editorial cartooning, though the newspaper faced criticism in January 2026 over a Cathy Wilcox cartoon that the Australian Press Council found breached its Standards of Practice by encoding antisemitic tropes.

Cathy Wilcox Cartoon (January 2026): The Age published a cartoon by Cathy Wilcox on January 7, 2026, that the Australian Press Council found breached its Standards of Practice. The Council ruled that the cartoon encoded antisemitic tropes and was likely to cause substantial offence, distress, and prejudice, particularly to Jewish readers. Nine issued a formal apology, acknowledging the distress caused to members of the Jewish community. The Press Council welcomed the published apologies and stated intention to meet with Jewish community leaders.

Ben Roberts-Smith Defamation Case (2019-2025): The Age spent seven years and tens of millions of dollars defending its reporting on Ben Roberts-Smith, who sued the newspaper for defamation over articles alleging he committed war crimes in Afghanistan. In May 2025, the Full Federal Court unanimously dismissed Roberts-Smith's appeal, upholding findings that he was complicit in the murder of four unarmed prisoners. The case was a landmark victory for press freedom but represented a significant financial cost for Nine.

Antoinette Lattouf Case: Editors of The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, including Patrick Elligett and Bevan Shields, were named in a request for contempt proceedings alleging they breached a suppression order during Antoinette Lattouf's unlawful termination case against the ABC. Nine's lawyers argued the proceedings were "probably doomed."

Editorial Independence Concerns: The Age has faced challenges maintaining editorial independence, particularly regarding concerns about Sydney-based editorial control under Nine's ownership. Journalists have expressed concerns about maintaining the newspaper's Victorian focus and independence while serving readership values.