More eyes are on political social media

Hey Hey,

Lately, there’s been a noticeable uptick in attention on what politicians are doing online.

• Sky News has noted an epidemic of walking and talking

• the Guardian Australia expects Aussie pollies to be better

• and this old Gruen commentary expects political content to be a bit weird - and miss the mark.

When one in four Australians surveyed say social media is their main source of news, what we can all agree on is that political content is being scrutinised, replayed, and dissected more than ever.

Never has it been more important to make sure your content hits the right tone, lands the right message, and connects with your audience.

Here’s what caught my eye this fortnight.

Katter’s trending to his own tune

Watch it → When the Beat Drops, Bob Pops…

Maverick MP Bob Katter and his team have tried to jump on a TikTok dance trend. Do they nail it? Not at all. But the result is genuinely funny.

Why I stopped scrolling:

• You never really know what to expect from Bob Katter, but the chaos of this reel plays right into his already larger-than-life persona.

• It’s fun. This isn’t about delivering a message, but it does help raise his online profile, thanks to 300k+ views.

• It takes a trend and flips it into something truly unique.
  
  

Wanna give it a crack?
I don’t think you could copy this dance even if you tried - but you can take the same approach to trends.

Think about how you can adapt a trend to work for you. Particularly if you can put an unexpected, clever spin on it.

Remember it doesn’t have to be particularly polished, or deliver a message, it can just be fun and show your humanity.

the art of skitty storytelling

Skit-based storytelling isn’t new, from sketch shows to political satire, it’s been distilling big ideas into quick, memorable moments for decades.

On TikTok and Reels, it’s a perfect fit: short setups and punchlines suit the format, fast cuts and role changes feel natural, and the mix of entertainment with message makes people watch, replay, and understand tricky concepts.

See it in action →

• Nicole Werner delivers some pointed commentary about paying for a lot of “tbc”.

• Chris Kohler has questions about the housing plan.

Why it works:

• It’s easier for your audience to understand complex (or boring) points when you show them through a story.

• Having two characters allows one to ask the questions your audience probably has about the topic, while the other character can answer those questions without lecturing your followers.

• This is particularly effective for highlighting absurd or unfair policies, and things that just don’t make sense.

Ready to get skitty?
Remember good skits take time - and skill - to create. You’ll need a script, costume tweaks to define your characters, and to block out where each of your characters will be, so you can edit it together.

The most important element? Getting into character and committing to the skit. This is one for the former theatre kids.

paper cuts through

I’m not going to lie, when I saw Madonna’s reel, all I could think about was the colour printing costs… but using paper signs, post-its, and printing to share a message can be really effective.

See it in action →

• Madonna Jarret’s printer is now low on magenta ink

• Alice Jordan-Baird makes the point stick

Why it works:

• Physical signs grab attention because they’re unexpected in a sea of digital graphics.

• Handwritten or printed words feel personal and tangible.

• You can control the pace of the reveal by moving the paper in or out of frame, or printing one piece of the message at a time.

The Challenge: Write your message, film it in the real world, and let the medium be part of the story. Whether it’s held up, stuck somewhere relevant, or moved through the shot, paper signs can make your message stick — literally.


That’s it for now, but if you try one of these tips or trends or see something cool, send it to me at @katewilson.au

Cheers,

Kate