CRITICS call them ''slacktivists'' - people who sign internet petitions in favour of ''real'' social activism. But there's nothing slack about Emily Hehir. In four weeks, the 25-year-old persuaded more than 60 sponsors and advertisers to boycott The Kyle and Jackie O Show, punching a $10 million hole in the revenue of Australia's top FM network. Hehir (pictured below) is the Melbourne ''girl'' who took on Sydney's ''vile'' Kyle Sandilands (below right).

Or at least, that's how she fears journalists will portray her. Throw in the fact she's a young law graduate and there is a tabloid-ready David and Goliath story. ''I don't want this to be about me versus Kyle,'' she says. ''I want to start a conversation about the broader issues. I want to spark a debate about the standards of mainstream media - and how low they've dropped.''

Kyle Sandilands

For Hehir, the lowest point was Sandilands' recent tirade against News Ltd Sydney journalist Alison Stephenson. Enraged by her review of his failed TV show, Sandilands branded her a ''fat slag'', a ''little troll'' and a ''piece of shit''; criticised her hair, her breasts and her job; demanded she be fired; then backed it all up with a threat: ''Watch your mouth, girl, or I'll hunt you down.''

''People told me, 'Just switch off. Tune out. Don't give him any oxygen,' '' Hehir says. ''I think that does a real disservice to the tweens and teens who listen to him. If I switch off, I'm effectively saying, 'Well, I've learnt the power of selecting which media I consume and I don't care how long it takes younger generations to learn that lesson.' ''