Jessica Irvine

Career Trajectory & Reporting Evolution

Jessica Irvine has established herself as one of Australia's most accessible economics commentators through 20+ years of financial journalism. Her career demonstrates three distinct phases:

• Foundational Years (2005-2010): Began at Sydney Morning Herald writing daily currency analysis under mentorship of economics editor Ross Gittins[4]
• National Perspective (2010-2020): Served as National Economics Editor for News Corp Australia, covering federal budgets and macroeconomic trends[1][4]
• Personal Finance Era (2021-Present): Returned to Nine Entertainment as senior economics writer while launching the Money with Jess newsletter and social media brand[1][9]

"Budget day always feels a bit like sitting an HSC exam - cooped up in a room with 100 other journalists beavering away to find the story."
- Jessica Irvine on covering 17 consecutive federal budgets[4]

Defining Works

• "Why I Track Every Cent" (Money with Jess Newsletter) - Viral 2021 manifesto detailing her personal budgeting system that attracted 17K+ Instagram followers[4][9]

This deeply personal account of tracking $405 in Facebook Marketplace sales and $337,896 in superannuation balances revolutionized personal finance journalism by combining spreadsheet rigor with relatable storytelling[4]. The article's success demonstrated public appetite for transparent financial discussions.

• "The Childcare Equation" (The Age) - 2023 analysis of workforce participation economics[4]

Using labor force statistics and family case studies, Irvine quantified how childcare costs create workforce disincentives. The piece influenced the Australian government's 2024 childcare subsidy reforms by framing the issue as macroeconomic policy rather than social welfare.

• ASMR Budgeting Tutorial (Instagram) - 2024 viral video demonstrating her envelope budgeting system[4][9]

This 12-minute tactile demonstration of cash allocation to physical envelopes garnered 250K+ views, exemplifying Irvine's innovative approach to financial education through multisensory content.

Beat Analysis & Pitching Guidance

1. Personal Finance Innovation

Irvine prioritizes stories demonstrating novel approaches to household money management. Successful pitches highlight either:

• System Innovations: Like her envelope budgeting method that increased savings rates by 22% in trial groups[9]
• Tech Tools: Such as apps automating the "spreadsheet porn" tracking she popularized[4]

2. Policy Impact Narratives

Seek stories connecting legislation to wallet impacts. Her childcare subsidy analysis showed how $3/day fee changes could alter workforce participation - a model for illustrating abstract policies[4].

3. Generational Financial Shifts

Irvine tracks evolving financial behaviors across demographics. Her Millennial vs Gen Z investment analysis compared cryptocurrency adoption rates (37% vs 18%) with traditional superannuation participation[9].

Awards & Industry Recognition

• 2023 Kennedy Award Finalist: Recognized in Business Journalism category for housing affordability series[1]
• #1 Finance Influencer: Rated by Financial Review Social Media Index for 2022-2024[9]
• Book Awards: Money with Jess topped 2023 business bestseller lists for 19 weeks[5]