Michael Stedman (journalist)

Michael James Stedman (born 3 February 1985) is a former political reporter at The Mercury newspaper, a News Limited publication based in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia and political adviser for Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings.

Born in Sydney, New South Wales, Stedman spent most of his childhood and teenage years in Mole Creek, a small rural community, one hour drive from Launceston, Tasmania. Stedman attended Mole Creek Primary School and then moved on to Deloraine High School. It is there that he met Tasmanian media identity Damien Brown - ABC Northern Tasmania while on work experience at The Advocate Newspaper in Devonport. Brown developed his love of media, a passion that remained for his teenage years. Stedman completed his post year 10 education at Newstead College in Launceston.

Stedman was offered a cadetship with the Launceston-based newspaper The Examiner in 2002. He was initially based in Launceston before being transferred to the political round in Hobart in 2003. In 2007 Stedman joined News Limited in the role of chief reporter of the Mercury's sister publication The Sunday Tasmanian alongside his mentor Damien Brown. He remained in that role until he was moved to the political reporter role in 2008.

He left The Mercury in July 2010 to work as a media advisor for the Tasmanian government.[1]