The Herald Sun was formed in 1990 through the merger of two long-standing Melbourne newspapers: The Herald, founded in 1840, and The Sun News-Pictorial, established in 1922. The merger was orchestrated by Rupert Murdoch's News Limited (now News Corp Australia) to create a strong, unified daily newspaper for Melbourne. The idea behind the merger was to combine the strengths of both papers - The Herald's reputation for serious journalism and The Sun News-Pictorial's popular appeal - into a single, comprehensive publication. Today, the Herald Sun is owned by News Corp Australia, a subsidiary of Rupert Murdoch's global media conglomerate News Corp. Based in Melbourne, Australia, the Herald Sun covers a wide range of news topics relevant to its local, state, and national audience. Their coverage includes local and national politics, business news, crime reports, and community issues. The paper is particularly known for its extensive sports coverage, with a strong focus on Australian Rules Football (AFL) and other popular sports in Victoria. Entertainment news, lifestyle features, and opinion pieces are also regular components of their content. The Herald Sun maintains both print and digital editions, serving as one of the primary news sources for residents of Melbourne and Victoria, while also reaching a broader Australian audience through its online platform. One interesting fact: A unique aspect of the Herald Sun is its annual “Straight Talking“ series, where the newspaper invites readers to submit questions directly to the Premier of Victoria (the head of the state government). This initiative, which has been running for over a decade, allows ordinary citizens to pose questions on any topic to the state's leader, with the Premier's responses published in the paper. This direct engagement between the public and the state's highest official, facilitated by a major newspaper, is an unusual feature that sets the Herald Sun apart in terms of fostering public dialogue and government accountability.