Channel 9 Sunday - Stephen Mayne: The Crikey Man ( Web capture)
September 17, 2025
Reporter :Adam Shand
Producer : Paul Steindl
Stephen Mayne
has been described variously as an undisciplined hack, the most
dangerous publisher in Australia or as a fringe player trying to make
the big time.
But for Mayne the most important thing is that people at least have a view about him and his online news site, Crikey.com.au.
Mayne
has promoted his image in every way possible, from wearing a green,
seven-foot Crikey "exclamation" suit at public functions to shouting
questions at Kerry Packer and Rupert Murdoch at their company AGMs. For
Stephen Mayne it's all a way of grabbing attention and promoting his
product.
After a promising career in newspapers and as a
political staffer for Jeff Kennett, Mayne launched his online
newsletter and website in the late '90s, at the height of the tech
boom. While many similar enterprises floundered, Crikey flourished,
mainly by taking risks and being provocative. The attitude, however,
has had its downside.
By publishing and admittedly not always
checking his facts, Mayne has been hit with defamation suits, most
notably by radio broadcaster Steve Price. According to Price, the
action wasn't personal. "I took a stand against Stephen Mayne, I don't
much care that Stephen Mayne finds that dreadful and made all these
claims ... I don't give a stuff about Stephen Mayne ... he's gotta play
by exactly the same rules as the rest of us. If he can't do that he
ought to go do something else."
These days it's "Stephen Mayne
from Crikey.com.au". He is a regular on ABC radio in Sydney, Melbourne
and Tasmania, as well as being called upon to give talks and provide
comment for forums dealing with business, consumer and political
issues. All this makes Mayne a very busy person. It also gives him a
legitimate outlet to raise his conspiracy theories and run juicy gossip.
Melbourne
radio host Virginia Trioli is a fan: "I like the fact that he trades in
gossip because I think a lot of us journalists dress up that idea and
are just a little bit holier than thou about the fact we don't trade in
gossip … we do, we just refine it a bit better and make a couple more
calls and turn it into news, but it fundamentally is the talk of the
traps … and that's interesting stuff, it's what readers want."
Working
long hours, working in a competitive area and working for yourself all
have compensations, says Mayne, even when all the risks are taken into
consideration. "I love being able to work at home with my kids, with my
wife, and being my own boss," says Mayne. "There is something to be
said for having that kind of liberty and freedom and not working for
the man. And that's basically independence. And I actually treasure my
independence as a journalist to express and opinion, to have a little
bit of influence and at this point to generate enough cash to be
comfortable."
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