Tuesday, August 11, 2026 - Award-winning Australian journalist Bension Siebert has revealed he became a sex worker after losing his job in a round of media redundancies in early 2025.
The 33-year-old former investigative journalist made the revelation in a candid essay published by Cheek Media, explaining that he decided to speak publicly after a client discovered his journalism career and threatened to expose him. Siebert said he wanted to take control of the story himself and declared that he was proud of his new line of work.
Siebert said his decision was not simply about making money. After being made redundant, he struggled to find another investigative journalism role as opportunities across the Australian media industry continued to shrink.
He described sex work as giving him greater control over his time and working conditions, while also providing income that could support his independent journalism. According to Siebert, the money has helped him pursue investigative reporting without depending entirely on a traditional media employer.
The revelation has drawn significant attention because Siebert is using an unexpected second career to continue pursuing the profession he loves.
He has described himself as both an independent investigative journalist and an independent sex worker, arguing that the move has given him the financial freedom to keep reporting on issues he considers important.
His story also puts a spotlight on the growing pressures facing journalists as traditional media jobs disappear and AI-driven changes reshape newsrooms across Australia.
0 Comments