The Briefing Headlines Aug 13

How sex work saved Bension’s career

Thursday Headlines: 
Students to stage school walkout over Pauline Hanson
One dead and more than 200 rescued after Bali ferry fire
News bargaining incentive hits parliament today
Victorian authorities prepare for mass vaccine event of little penguins
Tooth decay cases soar across Australia as people put off expensive dentist work

Deep Dive: When Bension Siebert's role was made redundant, the award-winning journalist found himself staring down a shrinking media industry that no longer seemed willing to invest in the investigations he'd spent his career chasing. 

A week later, he was walking out of a stranger's apartment with $600 in his pocket, having just taken his first paid in-person sex work booking. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou and Sacha Barbour Gatt welcome their former colleague and co-host back to the mic to unpack an unlikely career move - and the essay about it that's turned his life upside down in a matter of days. 
 
Bension explains how five hours of sex work can out-earn a week of journalism, why he sees it less as a last resort than a kind of liberation, and how a media landscape squeezed by redundancies and legal risk pushed him toward telling the stories he says newsrooms won't. 
 
Bension’s essay on Cheek Media: How sex work saved my investigative journalism career 
Bension’s Instagram: bensionfindsout 

Follow The Briefing: 
TikTok: @thebriefingpod
Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast 
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Thursday Headlines:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Students to stage school walkout over Pauline Hanson</li>
<li>One dead and more than 200 rescued after Bali ferry fire</li>
<li>News bargaining incentive hits parliament today</li>
<li>Victorian authorities prepare for mass vaccine event of little penguins</li>
<li>Tooth decay cases soar across Australia as people put off expensive dentist work</li>
</ul>
Deep Dive: When Bension Siebert's role was made redundant, the award-winning journalist found himself staring down a shrinking media industry that no longer seemed willing to invest in the investigations&nbsp;he'd&nbsp;spent his career chasing.&nbsp;
A week later, he was walking out of a stranger's apartment with $600 in his pocket, having just taken his first paid in-person sex work booking.&nbsp;
In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou and Sacha Barbour Gatt welcome their former colleague and co-host back to the mic to unpack an unlikely career move - and the essay about it&nbsp;that's&nbsp;turned his life upside down in a matter of days.&nbsp; &nbsp; Bension explains how five hours of sex work can out-earn a week of journalism, why he sees it less as a last resort than a kind of liberation, and how a media landscape squeezed by redundancies and legal risk pushed him toward telling the stories he says newsrooms won't.&nbsp; &nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Bension&rsquo;s essay on Cheek Media:&nbsp;<a href="https://cheekmedia.substack.com/p/how-sex-work-saved-my-investigative">How sex work saved my investigative journalism career</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1">Bension&rsquo;s Instagram:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/bensionfindsout/">bensionfindsout</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Follow The Briefing:&nbsp; TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@thebriefingpod">@thebriefingpod</a> Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thebriefingpodcast/" aria-label="Link @thebriefingpodcast&nbsp;">@thebriefingpodcast&nbsp;</a> YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheBriefingPodcast">@TheBriefingPodcast</a>

We’re your friends in news. 

Sacha Barbour Gatt and Chris Spyrou wake up early to bring you all the important daily news headlines. 

Then, we deep dive on an essential news story that'll make you feel smarter about the world. 

Listen every weekday to know more in minutes.

We&rsquo;re your friends in news.&nbsp;
Sacha Barbour Gatt and Chris Spyrou wake up early to bring you all the important daily news headlines.&nbsp;
Then, we deep dive on an essential news story that'll make you feel smarter about the world.&nbsp;
Listen every weekday to know more in minutes.

The Briefing

A national daily news podcast, The Briefing gives you the latest headlines, discussion and explainer interviews to keep you informed and entertained.

Bringing you the news you need to know at 6am and 4pm Monday to Friday, and profile features across the weekend, The Briefing is Australia's go-to news podcast for your commute, coffee or exercise.

Know more in minutes.

Hosted by journalists Sacha Barbour Gatt, Chris Spyrou and Natarsha Belling.

A national daily news podcast, The Briefing gives you the latest headlines, discussion and explainer interviews to keep you informed and entertained.
Bringing you the news you need to know at 6am and 4pm Monday to Friday, and profile features across the weekend, The Briefing is Australia's go-to news podcast for your commute, coffee or exercise.
Know more in minutes.
Hosted by journalists Sacha Barbour Gatt, Chris Spyrou and Natarsha Belling.