One Plus One: Mia Freedman

Tomorrow on ABC news 24’s One Plus One, Jane Hutcheon speaks to Mamamia publisher and journalist Mia Freedman.

This episode has also been recorded in front of an audience.

Ms Freedman has had a career in glossy magazines, becoming the Editor of Cosmopolitan at the age of 24.

After magazines, she had a brief stint as a television executive at Channel Nine before establishing her news and entertainment website Mamamia.com.au in 2007.

She discusses the growth of her ‘community’ of viewers (Between 2-4 million users every month) over three websites.

In a few weeks time she will launch a new health and beauty site called The Glow.

“Women are so engaged online as opposed to men, who just lurk. So they (men) will be on Facebook but they won’t say anything. The only time they will ever share anything is if it’s a funny video or it’s something a bit rude, whereas women are liking and sharing and posting and being supportive and linking to things and signing petitions and getting in there. That’s why they’re such a wonderful engaging audience to work with as a publisher and also as an advertiser.”

In a candid conversation with Jane Hutcheon, Freedman admits that she has been in the middle of a few social media storms.

“When you write opinion, you put yourself out there. I’m often told I’m polarising. When you’re a feminist, there will always be people telling you are doing feminism wrong.”

Friday at 8.30pm on ABC News 24.