Cheek Media is an Australian-origin independent media brand operating primarily on Instagram, delivering progressive political and cultural commentary with a deliberately irreverent tone.
Total Followers +4.8%
250K
Across Instagram
Primary Platform
250K followers · 100% of audience
Engagement
2.8%
vs. 1.5% category median
Sponsorship Tier
Mid
Est. $3.8K–$8.8K / IG post
Hannah Ferguson was commissioned to write commentary for the University of Canberra's annual Digital News Report, arguing that independent creators and legacy media outlets must be clearly distinguished in regulation.
Mediaweek recognised Hannah Ferguson and Cheek Media for expanding into new formats, calling for transparency rules around paid partnerships, and ranking the Big Small Talk podcast among Australia's top news podcasts.
The Public Interest Journalism Initiative profiled Cheek Media, noting the platform is running at a profit, has doubled revenue over three years, and moved long-form content from Patreon to Substack in early 2024.
Ferguson used her National Press Club address to argue for a code of conduct for political influencers and to announce plans to run as an independent senator in 2028, saying she wanted to show young women they could participate in politics.
In the seven days leading up to the May 2025 Australian federal election, Cheek's Instagram content reached approximately four million Australians, cementing its role as a major progressive voice in the election cycle.
| Platform | Followers | 30d Growth | Engagement | Posts / wk | Last upload |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 250,100 | +12K | 2.8% | 20.1 | today |
| Window | Combined | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Last 7 days | +2K +0.9% | +0 +0.0% | +0 +0.0% | +2K |
| Last 30 days | +12K +4.8% | +0 +0.0% | +0 +0.0% | +12K |
| Last 90 days | +21K +8.3% | +0 +0.0% | +0 +0.0% | +21K |
| Last 365 days | +21K +8.3% | +0 +0.0% | +0 +0.0% | +21K |
Daily follower snapshots from CreatorDB's longitudinal index.
Cheek Media is an Australian-origin independent media brand operating primarily on Instagram, delivering progressive political and cultural commentary with a deliberately irreverent tone. Its tagline — "news that talks back" — signals a clear editorial stance: rather than neutrally reporting events, Cheek editorialises directly, with content frequently targeting Australian political figures like Peter Dutton and media personalities like Karl Stefanovic. The brand's sardonic, shareable format is built for Instagram's short-form environment, and ties to a connected podcast network suggest it is developing a broader multi-format media operation rather than remaining a single-platform presence.
Despite its Australian editorial focus, the majority of Cheek's audience is US-based, with a pronounced 18-to-34 female skew — a demographic closely aligned with progressive, politically engaged digital media consumers. Engagement sits meaningfully above the category median, reflecting followers who actively respond to commentary rather than passively scroll past it. No dominant sponsor category is visible, consistent with the brand's emphasis on editorial independence, though that independence carries its own positioning value. As platform-native news brands gain commercial credibility with advertisers, Cheek is well-placed to attract values-aligned partners across civic technology, media, and lifestyle categories seeking access to young, politically aware women at scale.
Cheekmedia.Co reaches its audience primarily through Instagram, and is best activated via Instagram Reels and Stories. As an education creator they map naturally to brands targeting that space. Engagement on Instagram runs around 2.8%, pointing to an audience suited to category-relevant, mid-funnel brand campaigns rather than pure-reach buys.
Benchmark estimates for a creator at Cheekmedia.Co's tier (Mid, 250K combined followers, —). Pulled from CreatorDB's category benchmarks.
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Cheek Media delivers progressive political and social commentary aimed at a young, engaged audience — describing themselves as "news that talks back." Their Instagram content regularly takes on Australian political figures like Peter Dutton and high-profile media personalities like Karl Stefanovic, using a direct, conversational tone rather than a traditional news format.
No — Cheek Media explicitly identifies itself as an independent platform, which is central to their brand identity. That independence allows them to take an openly progressive editorial stance without the constraints of a parent broadcaster or publisher.
Cheek Media posted content about Karl Stefanovic's workplace obligations, framing the situation as relevant to broader conversations about what employers owe workers. They directed followers to the Big Small Talk podcast for a more in-depth breakdown of the story.
Cheek Media has a collaborative relationship with the Big Small Talk podcast, regularly pointing their Instagram audience there for longer-form analysis of stories they cover. It effectively extends their commentary beyond the short-form reel format.
Cheek Media has posted content directly questioning whether Peter Dutton is genuinely better for the average Australian — consistent with their progressive editorial lens. Their framing is deliberately conversational, often written as though speaking to a skeptical family member rather than a political audience.
Cheek Media has publicly called out Instagram's algorithm for suppressing reach on news and commentary content, urging followers to adjust notification settings and share posts manually. This is a recurring strategy among independent news creators who believe the platform systematically deprioritizes political speech.
Cheek Media openly describes themselves as offering "progressive commentary," so yes — their editorial position sits on the left of the political spectrum. Their coverage of Australian political figures, workplace rights, and social issues consistently reflects that stance rather than presenting a neutral or centrist view.
Cheek Media's content is firmly rooted in Australian politics and media culture, covering figures like Peter Dutton and Karl Stefanovic who are largely specific to an Australian audience. Interestingly, their Instagram following skews heavily international, with a large share of followers based in the United States and United Kingdom.
Cheek Media's audience is predominantly young women — roughly seven in ten followers are female, and the largest share fall in the 18-to-24 age bracket. This demographic aligns closely with their progressive, socially conscious editorial voice and their focus on issues affecting younger Australians.
Cheek Media lists a dedicated business email — partnerships@cheekmedia.co — directly in their Instagram bio, signalling they actively pursue commercial collaborations. Their engaged, young, female-skewing audience makes them a notable fit for brands targeting progressive or socially aware consumers.
Stats (followers, engagement, audience demographics, growth) are pulled live from the CreatorDB API covering YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. Bio and FAQ content is AI-assisted; news items are sourced from cited public press at generation time. Read the full methodology →
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@cheekmedia.co · Instagram
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