Daniel Lo Surdo

Hi, I'm Daniel - a journalist, editor, author and podcaster from Sydney.

I am a highly skilled writer with a track record of breaking agenda-setting stories spanning politics, health, education, crime, sports and international affairs. I’ve covered stories from NSW and Federal Parliament, and have been on the ground for elections at all levels of government. I have an expert knowledge of SEO and social media strategy, which I’ve leveraged to maximise online readership across my professional endeavours. I have a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Technology Sydney, where I was awarded the Wanda Jamrozik Scholarship in Journalism.

You can view my CV here

Agenda-setting reports

My Most Read Work

The Sydney Morning Herald •

The new housing trend that could save you up to 90 per cent of your energy costs

With more people housebound and exposed to the quality of their homes during lockdowns, a new form of construction standard is emerging that embraces sustainable building practices at our front door.

Passive houses are built to have year-round natural climate control, are free from mould or condensation, and consume as much as 90 per cent less heating and cooling energy than standard houses. It is considered the most rigorous, energy and health-based standard in the design and construction indu
The Sydney Morning Herald •

How the Olympics and COVID-19 brought skateboarding out of the shadows

Within three days of Queensland’s Keegan Palmer winning Olympic gold in park skateboarding at the Tokyo Games, the City of Sydney opened a skateboarding facility in Annandale. Four days later, Blacktown City Council announced a $353,000 investment in skateboarding. Suddenly, it seems skateboarding is mainstream. “With a defined pathway for excellence, skating is no longer considered a fringe activity,” a spokesperson for Blacktown Council said of its investment in a new skate park in Glenwood an
The Sydney Morning Herald •

Big feelings, exhaustion and excitement loom for students returning to school

As year 2 to 11 students dust off their uniforms, try on their shoes and clean 17-week-old detritus from their bag as they prepare to return to school, psychologists warn many will feel stressed about another big change during what has been a demanding, exhausting year. Some students will wonder if their friendship groups will be the same; some will fear they have fallen behind in their school work; and some will mourn the independence of remote learning, and the time they spent with their famil
The Sydney Morning Herald •

What to expect from the Year of the Water Tiger and how to bring luck

Strength and bravery: this is what is needed to tackle the challenges in the Year of the Water Tiger, and to find the prosperity forecast in the Lunar New Year.

The Year of the Water Tiger promises a welcome change from 2020 and 2021 as celebrations for Lunar New Year return on February 1 after two years of COVID cancellations and postponements.

Ryde and Fairfield will be in full swing after missing out last year (see below), while larger events return to the city after last year’s scaled-down
The Sydney Morning Herald •

Dedicated lanes for driverless cars an opportunity to fix transport network in NSW: report

Dedicated lanes for driverless vehicles on NSW roads would enable the state to be better prepared for the introduction of fully automated cars, according to a new report which also warns the transport network is not ready to cope with the technology.

The University of NSW Research Centre for Integrated Transport Innovation found transport networks unprepared for driverless cars would disrupt the experiences of all users, suggesting dedicated autonomous vehicle lanes could improve the overall sa

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