Paperbark - a Mission Statement

Paperbark exists to slow public conversation down and make complex issues readable. We hold opinions, and we ground them in documents, data and lived experience rather than party lines. Accuracy matters more than ideology, and we reject the tired left right binary. Public life is not a football match with only two teams.

We believe in free speech and open debate defended by evidence and honest reasoning. Independence matters. Traditional media outlets often chase speed and outrage at the cost of clarity, and many of them simply do not care about doing better. Paperbark does.

Australia is our focus while the wider world stays within view. We publish gradually, speak plainly and respect the reader's time. We reckon trust is built through seasoned transparency, intellectual humility and the courage to say what we think once the dust has settled. Hopefully we can live up to this - please don't hesitate to get in contact should you see otherwise.

Thank you for reading. We appreciate you, regardless of your level of agreeance. We will keep working to enrich the experience, improve the site, and strengthen our channels of communication as we move along.

- Best, Thom (totally serious editor person)