Cheek Media, Lobbying Money and the New Influencer Politics | The West Report

Influencers are now a major force in Australian politics; But when online creators promote policies, campaigns, or advocacy groups, how much does the audience actually know who is behind the message?

Josh sat down with Hannah Ferguson, founder of Cheek Media, to ask questions about where the line lies between direct lobbying, advocacy groups, political support, paid partnerships, disclosure and education, sponsorship, and political influence.

As more Australians get their news and politics via Instagram, TikTok, Substack and podcasts, the question is no longer whether influencers matter. They do. The question is whether the transparency expected from the media, lobbyists, and political campaigns also applies to the people shaping politics in your feed.

This is the second in our new media series.

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00:00 Lobbying and social media
00:14 Cheek Media’s reach and ethical responsibility
01:18 Requests for political assistance
03:31 Paid partnerships and transparency
05:27 Original content or lobbying influence?
07:35 Final thoughts