The Economic Media Centre connects journalists with a talent pool of economic spokespeople.

Diversify your economic and social content to stand out from the crowd.

Tap into a fresh range of capable talents with original viewpoints and new ideas.

 

Now, more than ever: harness
original economic thinking.

Covid-19 has caused global upheaval and triggered an urgent need to address economic disadvantage.

At the same time, audiences are hungry for reliable information to make sense of unprecedented times. They’re looking for information that build capability and stories that inspire hope.

Journalists and producers are under immense pressure to meet new and changing audience needs. Finding the right talent in a pandemic is a major challenge.

How it works:

The Economic Media Centre identifies and equips spokespeople on economic issues.

We offer interesting people with broad economic expertise and knowledge, alongside people with lived experience and inspiring ideas on issues from government spending to social security, housing and economic equality.

Spokespeople come from a wide range of organisations, locations and social backgrounds. They’re media trained and capable talent for one-off stories, as regular go-to talent, and as recurring contributors.

The Economic Media Centre is a project of Australian Progress and the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS).

Meet the Team

  • Image of Nick. Nick is wering a grey shirt. He has short hair and is in front of a white wall.

    Nick Cassella

    Strategic Communications Manager

    Nick is a political communications professional who has worked for progressive campaigns and organisations in the US and Australia. Nick is in charge of formulating a new strategy for Australian Progress' external communications while also managing the development of the Economic Media Centre's Spokesperson Network. Nick specialises in digital campaigning and holds an International Relations degree from the University of St Andrews, Scotland.

FAQs

 

What kind of stories can the Economic Media Centre help me with?

We can book spokespeople to give comment and opinion across a range of economic issues, from social security to housing, healthcare, workers rights and more.

If your story is about government spending, investment in people, public services or good industries, and you’re after a trusted community or expert voice, then we can help.

What's the process for booking a spokesperson?

Need a spokesperson for a down the line interview this morning, or a live TV spot tonight? Our spokespeople are available on an as-needs basis, so let us know what you need and we’ll do our very best to connect you. Call or email Vanessa Morris on 0400 136 787‬ or vanessa@economicmediacentre.org.

You can read more about our spokespeople here.

How can the media make best use of the spokesperson network?

Covid-19 has seen a surge in stories covering government investment, public services and industries, as well as significant changes to the way media operates. Our trusted network of spokespeople are trained and well briefed to ensure delivery of quality commentary and insights appropriate in this current context.

Spokespeople have a thorough understanding of the Australian media landscape and have the skills to deliver high quality content in a variety of mediums, from down the line radio grabs to longer form TV or print interviews, live crosses, and panel appearances.

Because our spokespeople are more than just academics or economists, they tap into real-life experiences of real Australians. This makes them ideal as recurring guests and regular panellists.

Can you help me find spokespeople who aren’t listed in the network?

The Economic Media Centre is available to connect you with our growing talent pool of spokespeople who represent grassroots communities and inspiring, new ways of thinking about the economy.

We have strong connections with grassroots advocates and civil society organisations and are committed to finding the right voice for your story.

Can’t find the right person? Get in touch and we’ll see what we can do.

Who runs the Economic Media Centre and how is it funded?

The Economic Media Centre is a project of Australian Progress and the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS). The Centre is led by Director Vanessa Morris.

We thank the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation and our philanthropic partners for their support.