Matt Dennien

Matt Dennien is Brisbane Times’ state political correspondent and Queensland Media Alliance president, specializing in:

  • Healthcare policy: Tracking implementation of reforms affecting marginalized groups
  • Civil liberties: Analyzing legislation’s impact on privacy and minority rights
  • Media labor rights: Advocating for journalist protections and ethical reporting standards

Pitching Priorities

  • Provide localized data: Queensland-specific case studies preferred over national trends
  • Highlight human impact: Stories showing policy consequences through individual experiences

Recent milestone: His hormone therapy restriction exposé influenced three state parliamentary inquiries into medical policymaking transparency.

Get Media Pitching Contact Details for your press release!

More About Matt Dennien

Bio

Career Trajectory: From Community Radio to Statehouse Reporting

Matt Dennien’s journalism career began at Brisbane’s iconic independent radio station 4ZZZ, where he honed his skills in grassroots reporting and community storytelling. His transition to print media at Brisbane Times marked a shift toward systemic political analysis, with a focus on:

  • Healthcare policy reforms impacting marginalized communities
  • Intersection of state legislation and civil liberties
  • Media industry labor rights as Queensland MEAA president
“Public health decisions must balance evidence with compassion – especially when affecting vulnerable populations.”

Defining Works: Three Pillars of Impactful Journalism

Queensland becomes first state to restrict hormone therapy for young people

This investigative piece exposed the Queensland government’s abrupt policy shift banning puberty blockers and hormone treatments through public health services. Dennien traced the decision’s origins to a closed-door review process, contrasting medical consensus with political rhetoric about “protecting children.” The article’s methodology combined:

  • FOI requests revealing internal health department communications
  • Interviews with 14 affected families and clinicians
  • Comparative analysis of international transgender care guidelines

Its publication sparked nationwide debates about state overreach in medical decisions, cited in three parliamentary inquiries[10].

Beat Analysis: Strategic Pitching Guidance

Focus on Policy Implementation Over Partisan Politics

Dennien prioritizes how legislation tangibly affects Queensland residents rather than political horse-race coverage. Successful pitches should detail:

  • Concrete examples of policies impacting daily life (e.g., hospital wait times under new health funding models)
  • Grassroots perspectives from regional communities often overlooked in Brisbane-centric reporting
  • Cross-sector impacts showing how education reforms influence workforce development

Awards and Industry Recognition

As Queensland Media Alliance president, Dennien has advocated for press freedom during high-profile cases involving journalist shield laws. While individual awards aren’t publicly listed, his leadership during the 2024 Youth Healthcare Access reporting series earned recognition from:

  • Australian Medical Association Queensland
  • LGBTQ+ advocacy group Equal Futures

Top Articles

Discover other Politics journalists

At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Politics, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:

Karen Middleton

🌎  Country:
💼  Publication:

Rick Morton

🌎  Country:
💼  Publication:

Guy Rundle

🌎  Country:
💼  Publication:

Jacqueline Maley

🌎  Country:
💼  Publication:

Paul Karp

🌎  Country:
💼  Publication:

Maani Truu

🌎  Country:
💼  Publication:

Kirsten Lawson

🌎  Country:
💼  Publication:

Bridi Rice

🌎  Country:
💼  Publication:

Michelle Grattan

🌎  Country:
💼  Publication:

James Allan

🌎  Country:
💼  Publication: