What is The Straight?
Launched in late 2023, The Straight is a digital publication featuring in-depth coverage of the racing, wagering and breeding industries.
Staffed by experienced and respected journalists and backed up with specialist columnists, it is designed to be a one-stop destination for those looking for news, features and analysis about the business of the thoroughbred industry.
It has a highly engaged audience, with over 5000 signed up free members, while the digital platform was accessed by over 250,000 people inside its first year.
Why The Straight?
The Straight is the decisive point of any racing contest. It is the place where the whips are cracking, where winners are crowned, and losers are consigned. It is where history is made.
We are in that very spot when it comes to covering the thoroughbred industry. We report and analyse as the key decisions are made and the winners and losers in the racing, wagering and bloodstock industry are decided.
It also has a dual meaning. In an industry which is often full of media spin, and which can be less than straight forward, it is our brand promise to be ‘straight’ with our audience.
We report in the most straightforward way. We are on a mission to educate and inform our audience and help our members master the complexity of the specific areas of the thoroughbred industry.
Who are The Straight?
The Straight was founded by Bren O’Brien and brought to life with the backing of people who share in Bren’s vision for an independent professional level of coverage of the racing, wagering and bloodstock industries.
Bren has an extensive background in digital media, and specifically in the three aspects of the broader thoroughbred industry which The Straight focussed on. He has become an industry leading journalist and analyst in the wagering, racing and bloodstock space.
Over the many conversations held with industry leaders in this space over the years, it was apparent that the value of independence, in a media landscape tied up in conflicted interests, has never been greater. There is a real desire to cut through the parochialism and self interest and provide a level of professional independent coverage that an industry of this size, not only requires, but demands.
Joining Bren is experienced thoroughbred journalists, Warwick Barr and Tim Rowe, plus freelance contributors. These experts in the field share the vision for an independent media company to report and discuss the challenges and opportunities of these industries.
How independent is independent?
The Straight is committed to an editorial charter which defines how we report and analyse the racing, wagering and bloodstock industries.
This charter commits the editorial team to best practice when it comes to how we source and report on stories, focusing on balance, fairness and independence.
The editorial coverage and decision-making of The Straight is determined by the editorial team, headed by the Managing Editor.
Any advertisers, commercial partners or investors in The Straight will have no influence on the editorial agenda.
The other reason why independence matters is it is a key commercial driver for the success of the business. Without this independence, the value of what The Straight offers is significantly diminished. Our reputation for reporting without fear or favour is one of our key commercial assets, and why we want people to become members, because they see the value in that.
Why do I need a membership?
Membership is free and allows you to access our three-times weekly Straight Up newsletter, which is the key avenue for people to engage with The Straight.
There will be articles that will only be made fully available for our members, so it is worth signing up for free up to gain access. Visitors only needing to register their name and email address. Once the simple registration process is completed, you will have full access.
In 2025, the plan is to introduce a paid membership platform which will feature high value and exclusive content. The details of this will be communicated ahead of the paid platform going live.
Why do you have advertising?
The commercial model for The Straight has been driven by advertising in its first 12 months, with the intention to go to a hybrid membership/advertising model in 2025. Advertising will always feature on our site and in our newsletters, and that will allow us to ensure we have some content available to the broader public
If you are interested in advertising with The Straight, check out our Advertise With Us page.
Why would I pay for a membership-powered platform?
The Straight’s focus is on providing the best news, analysis and features for those who have a professional or commercial interest in the racing, wagering and/or breeding industries.
These inter-linked industries are complex, and the coverage of them requires a professional level of understanding of the issues which impact those involved.
Providing that professional level of coverage and sourcing that level of expertise has a cost and in order to preserve our quality and independence, membership is a key aspect of our long term commercial model.
As mentioned, until 2025; all free members receive full access.
The value that The Straight provides will be different to each person, but for those who value what we do and the service we provide, the membership fees, once they come in will be worth paying.
There will be people who don’t believe in paying for content, or who feel the value we offer is not worth the price of a membership. That’s fine, The Straight will always have some content made freely available.
I have an issue with my membership, what do I do?
Please contact us at info@thestraight.com.au and we will look to resolve it as soon as possible.