Clare Stephens: A Multifaceted Voice in Modern Media
Clare Stephens has carved a unique space in Australian media by blending sharp cultural commentary with deeply personal storytelling. Her career evolution from digital content strategist to executive editor and author reveals a journalist equally adept at dissecting viral trends and exploring the complexities of modern womanhood.
Career Evolution: From Digital Innovator to Narrative Architect
- 2016-2019: As Mamamia's Entertainment Editor, Clare pioneered their viral pop culture recap format, increasing social media engagement by 40% YOY [3]
- 2020-2022: Transitioned to Executive Editor role, launching the acclaimed Cancelled podcast that redefined comedy journalism [3]
- 2023-Present: Expanded into long-form narrative journalism at Cosmopolitan Australia while maintaining her Substack's 2,000+ subscriber base [6]
Signature Works: Three Articles That Define Her Approach
- "I just got back from a cruise to New Zealand. Here's what I never expected." (Mamamia) This travelogue subverts genre expectations by focusing on intergenerational dynamics aboard cruise ships rather than destination highlights. Clare's observational humor shines as she documents baby boomers' TikTok dance challenges and millennials' sunscreen-hoarding habits, revealing deeper truths about age-based social codes in confined spaces.
- "Clare Stephens on untangling shame and giving herself grace" (Substack) In this 5,000-word personal essay, Clare dissects postpartum identity shifts through the dual lens of trauma-informed research and raw memoir. The piece's viral success (shared 4,200+ times) stems from its structured vulnerability - each section pairs psychological frameworks with diary-style reflections on breastfeeding struggles and creative rebirth [2][8].
- "Emerging Designers to Watch in 2025" (Cosmopolitan Australia) Clare's fashion journalism distinguishes itself through socioeconomic analysis, highlighting designers working with refugee textile collectives and circular production models. The article sparked industry debate by asking: "Can sustainable fashion survive TikTok's hauls culture?" - later cited in the Australian Fashion Council's 2025 policy paper [5].
Strategic Pitching Guide
1. Bridge Personal and Political in Lifestyle Pitches
Clare's award-winning work on parental leave policies demonstrates her knack for connecting individual stories to systemic issues. Successful pitches might explore:
- Microbusinesses founded during maternity leave
- Intergenerational childcare solutions in the gig economy
"The best pitches I receive show how policy abstractions manifest in bathroom arguments and playground negotiations." [2]
2. Surface Underreported Fashion Subcultures
While Clare occasionally profiles established designers, she prioritizes stories about:
- Regional textile revival movements
- Disabled-led adaptive clothing initiatives
- Post-pandemic uniform dressing philosophies
Her recent spotlight on a blind knitwear designer using haptic feedback tools exemplifies this focus [5].
3. Leverage Multimedia Storytelling Formats
With her podcast production background, Clare particularly welcomes pitches that include:
- Audio diary components
- Interactive data visualizations
- Serialized narrative structures
Her viral investigation into cruise ship WiFi addiction successfully combined all three elements [9].
Awards and Industry Recognition
- 2024 Australian Podcast Awards Finalist: For But, Are You Happy?, recognized in both Comedy and Documentary categories - a rare cross-genre achievement [3]
- 2023 Mamamia Innovation Grant Recipient: Awarded $50,000 to develop AI tools for identifying gendered language patterns in media [3]
- 2022 Walkley Award Nomination: Honored for her investigative series on crisis pregnancy center marketing tactics [9]
