About
The Pineapple is an independent, constructive, digital news platform based in Queensland. We cover the south east with a local emphasis on the Wide Bay, Sunshine Coast, the Gold Coast and Brisbane.
The Pineapple is verified, human-reported journalism as distinct from unreliable AI and politically driven news sites. Our news is published by qualified journalists and guided by the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance Code of Ethics and the Australian Press Council principles for news media. The founder is Vivienne Wynter, a journalist with 30 years’ experience in radio and print including the ABC, commercial radio, News Ltd and Fairfax, an Honours degree in journalism and 20 years’ experience teaching journalism at Griffith University.
Professional, ethical journalism is a bit like organic food: it’s a quality product and it’s better for you and for society. Readers can trust our news is produced by journalists with no agenda but to share information in the public interest.
The type of journalism we publish is constructive – we focus on solutions as well as problems, connection as much as conflict and we aim to give readers a sense of what you can actively do to help solve problems.
Constructive Journalism is a fairly new concept starting in 2017 in Denmark with the Constructive Institute but many journalists have been practicing this informally for decades.
When I was a young journalist working in radio newsrooms, I was often pitching stories to editors who’d say ‘You don’t get it. Good news is not news’. I snuck my good news stories to air when the editor was away. I disagree with the orthodox journalism belief that good news is not news. We live in a world overflowing with bad news, so The Pineapple has an unashamed focus on positive stories.
Queensland has always been treated as a journalistic backwater by the Sydney and Melbourne media, although Queensland journalists punch above their weight. So The Pineapple is a Queensland website and all the writing is by Queenslanders. Some no longer live in Queensland, but our writers, photographers and artists are from here or started or spent significant parts of their careers in Queensland. Even a tenuous link to Queensland will do!
Our legal status is a registered charity because we put public interest before private profit. Content is free to read on this site (intellectual property rights apply so please do not re-use our content without permission).
Although mainstream journalism is in a downward spiral, The Pineapple operates on the principle that quality journalism is still an essential pillar of democracy, informing citizens to vote based on verified facts rather than ignorance and misinformation with a political agenda.
We share a mission with the Constructive Institute: to change the global news culture and help journalism help democracy.
Our goal is not to divide communities or create fear with sensationalist clickbait. Our goal is to connect communities and create hope that we all have agency to help solve problems together.
Read the Editorial Charter, About the Association and Governance Charter
You can send comments and pitches to vwynter@bigpond.com
Vivienne Wynter
EDITOR, THE PINEAPPLE
Vivienne Wynter – Publisher of The Pineapple Vivienne Wynter. | IMAGE by Maverick Chang, Flair Media
Meet The Pineapple Management Committee
Our leadership team brings a blend of journalism, business and education expertise to our mission to publish constructive, evidence-based, independent journalism and creative writing.
PRESIDENT
Vivienne Wynter publishes The Pineapple and has worked as a freelance journalist, journalism educator and consultant for over 30 years.
SECRETARY
Cecile McGuire is an international and medical education specialist.
TREASURER
Elin Power manages accommodation businesses in south-east Queensland and has a background in senior HR roles in local government and the private sector.
MEMBER
Edwina Shaw is a Queensland writer of fiction, screenplay and memoir. Dear Madman is her latest release. Edwina also runs Relax and Write retreats and teaches creative writing at the University of Queensland
MEMBER
Katrina Hundt is an English and Humanities teacher and workplace representative for the Queensland Teachers Union at Brisbane State High School.
MEMBER
Monique Mita is a journalist and corporate communications adviser with Griffith University.
MEMBER
Georgina Livingstone has been a part of the social services sector for over 25 years. She is currently working to support mental health and wellbeing in education settings.
MEMBER
Louisa Foley is a learning designer and eLearning specialist, currently working at Griffith University.
