Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOutdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchiTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
There is no evidence in the available reporting that Joe Aston’s Rampart has softened its journalism for its new investors. Rampart says its shareholder agreement makes editorial interference a default event that can trigger forced divestment on unfavourable terms. That is a significant stated safeguard, but the agreement has not been independently reviewed, and there is no public account of the clause being tested. Whether it works in practice remains an open question.
What changed when Rampart took investment?
On 5 August 2026, Rampart announced that Rampart News Holdings had completed a A$2.3 million transaction with five financial investors. Rampart described it as a capital raise and a direct sell-down of just under four per cent of Joe Aston’s holding. Aston said he retained 92 per cent of the company. AdNews described the implied valuation as almost A$29 million. These figures come from the respective publishers’ accounts; the transaction documents are not among the material available for review.
Rampart named the investors as Ashok Jacob, David Gyngell, Doug Tynan, Michael and Elizabeth Morgan, and Sam Brougham. The company said each invested personally. Their professional roles may be relevant context, but they are not evidence that their employers, funds or related companies bought shares.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →What protection does Rampart say it has?
In its 5 August announcement, Rampart founder Aston said the new shareholders had made an “iron-clad commitment to Rampart’s editorial independence”. He wrote: “Any instance of editorial interference will constitute a default event under our shareholders’ agreement, thereby triggering a forced divestment of their shares on unfavourable terms.” He also said: “The shareholders agreed to these terms willingly because they fully appreciate that Rampart’s economic value flows from its total intellectual freedom.”
#1 Best Overall
Those are Aston’s descriptions of the agreement and the investors’ rationale, not an independent assessment of the contract. The agreement itself has not been made available for independent inspection in the sources reviewed. There is no separate investor statement explaining how the safeguard would operate.
What would establish whether the clause is enforceable?
A pledge can matter, but its practical strength depends on details that are not public in the reporting available here: what the agreement defines as interference, who decides whether it occurred, what evidence and process are required, and whether the forced-sale terms could be enforced in a dispute. Without the relevant clauses or a case in which they were invoked, the safeguard’s operation cannot be assessed from the announcement alone.
Rank #2
- Income And Expense Log Book: This Income and Expense Record Book（8.5" x 10.5"） is a necessary item for any small business owner or entrepreneur. It is an essential part of any business - helping you understand your overall earnings to determine if you are profitable.
- Daily Tracking and Weekly Overview: let our log tell you if you are profitable today! There are two pages per week to help you you track your income and expenses. At the end of each day or week, you can note whether you made a profit or a loss for the day.
- Clear P&L Statement For Your Business: This income and expense book makes it easy to see your expenses and how they fluctuate from time to time. This makes it easy for you to decide where you can cut back on expenses and assess your total annual net profit.
- Main Features: Expense Review + Income Review + Weekly Pages + Summary of The Year + Twin-Wire Binding + Waterproof Cover + Rounded corner design + Thicker paper
- Effective Organization: This budget book has a twin-wire binding and you can easily lay it flat at 180°. This effective design can help you work better and bring you great convenience in the process of using.
What does Rampart say the money will fund?
Aston said the investment would support new hires, editorial verticals, events and podcasts, and technology improvements. Rampart also said it had been profitable in financial years 2025 and 2026, including after recent headcount growth, and that it would have been profitable in 2027. Those are company claims; the sources reviewed do not provide independent audited profit, revenue or subscriber figures.
What other commercial relationships matter?
Investment is only one part of the commercial context readers may want to understand when assessing editorial independence. Rampart’s About page describes a premium Chairman’s Lounge membership with events and merchandise, as well as corporate and institutional subscriptions. In an anniversary account, Aston thanked subscribers, corporate subscribers, event attendees and sponsors, and referred to BHP supporting a series.
Rank #3
- EASY TO MANAGE - Use this income & expense log book to record your income and expenses each day.Keep your budget in balance, and develop good bookkeeping habits to meet your financial goals
- ACCOUNTING FOR THE WHOLE YEAR - This income and expense tracker is undated and is used to lasts a whole year.The keeping log has 1 page Year Overview, 53 weekly spreads, 2 pages annual summary, 10 notes pages, to track weekly and yearly income & expenses
- HIGH QUALITY - The accounting bookkeeping tracking ledger log book is used to high quality 100gsm pure white paper, teal elastic band and a back pocket for extra space. Make sure you have enough space for all financial activities
- UNIQUE DESIGN & A4 SIZE - Income and expense log book is spiral bound design, size of 8" x 10.5". Just the perfectly size to fit in your backpack, purse or laptop case. Without taking up your space and always helping you keep track of your small business
- THE PERFECT GIFT - Income & expense notebook as gift for woman & man. Use it to track your week-to-week progress, make efficient adjustments whenever needed
Mediaweek has reported that Rampart has a commercial partnership with the Financial Review under which the latter receives a share of revenue in return for legal services. That relationship is relevant to disclose when considering the organisation’s commercial ties and legal review; it does not, on its own, demonstrate editorial control. A September 2026 commentary by Pearls and Irritations reported that Rampart had more than 16,000 readers, while noting that the number of paying readers was unclear, and also named BHP as a sponsor. That audience figure is the publication’s report, not an audited count.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What would show whether the promise holds up?
The financing itself does not show that Rampart has gone soft, just as the existence of a contractual promise does not prove that editorial independence is secure in every real-world dispute. A fair assessment would look for observable evidence over time: specific coverage decisions, transparent disclosure of relevant interests, and clear explanations of how editorial disagreements are handled. It would also ask Rampart and each investor how the covenant would be assessed, and whether there have been conflicts or examples of the safeguard being invoked.
The material available does not include the shareholder agreement or a record of investor intervention, a dispute or a test of the covenant. Until the relevant terms and their application are clearer, readers can treat the clause as a notable protection Rampart says it has—not as proof that interference is impossible or that it has occurred.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
