This story started months ago, back when Kevin Rudd was Prime Minister. I’d always intended to interview the leaders of both major parties for Mamamia before the election but I was approached by Fairfax to write separate profiles of Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott to run in The Sunday Age and the Sun Herald. I was nervous. I thought about saying no. “But I’m not Laurie Oakes” I told them. We know, they said. But we think you bring a fresh perspective. “I’m big on opinion but short on policy detail” I warned them. That’s OK, they said. Most voters are like that. And we have a raft of experienced political journalists to cover the detailed analysis.
So how could I say no? Discomfort zone here I come.
Before our written requests could be made to the offices of Abbott and Rudd, Rudd was gone and Gillard was PM.
So we got out the liquid paper and sent our requests to Abbott and Gillard’s offices, a couple of weeks out from the election being called.
And then we waited. And asked again. And waited. And emailed. And called. And waited. And pestered. I sent texts. I spoke to anyone I could in the busy press offices of both leaders. They promised to get back to me. They didn’t.
I sent more emails pointing out the big circulation of both newspapers and the wide and high-profile reach of Mamamia. It came back that both were more interested in the Mamamia exposure than the newspaper. But still no confirmation.
I tried to ramp up the pressure by telling Tony’s people Julia had agreed and Julia’s people that Tony had agreed.
Top Comments
Mia, no matter what you do there is always going to be someone that disagrees or wants more.
Mia says that, "I'm big on opinion but short on policy detail." This is what I started to suspect as I read Mia's posts on political issues. What a shame and what a lost opportunity for someone with Mia's influnce. However there are some very bright and capable women out there who are showing other young women the way.
I think that Mia's transparency on this is great. I've never heard her claim to be a political journalist! It's great to see that she wades through all the political stuff just like the rest of us. This site makes great use of people with more political knowledge, like Julie Cowdroy, to fill in the gaps. There are many contributors on this site, Mia included, who are bright and capable women. x
Who do you suggest ? Maybe they should get Fifi Box to interview the PM, and see if she makes it through the interview without injuring herself.
to me that is a bit like saying that we should get laurie oakes to write about his sex life!
Eeew! La la la la la la la la la la !