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ABC News (Australia)

From Alfawiki
ABC News
Company typeDivision
IndustryNews media, Broadcasting
Founded1932
Headquarters
Sydney
,
Australia
Key people
Justin Stevens (Director)
ProductsTelevision news, Radio news, Digital news content, Podcasts, Video on demand
OwnerAustralian Broadcasting Corporation
Websiteabc.net.au/news

ABC News, also referred to as ABC News and Current Affairs, functions as the public news branch of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. It provides national coverage of domestic and international news through ABC News and extends its reach across the Asia-Pacific region via ABC Australia.

The ABC News, Analysis and Investigations unit is responsible for overseeing news collection and reporting across the ABC’s television, radio, and digital platforms. Its principal offerings include the 24/7 ABC News Australia TV Channel (previously known as ABC News 24); flagship radio broadcasts such as AM, The World Today, and PM; ABC NewsRadio, a dedicated continuous news radio station; along with news bulletins on ABC Local Radio, ABC Radio National, ABC Classic FM, and Triple J.

ABC News Online delivers a broad spectrum of digital content encompassing written articles, video segments through ABC Online, the ABC Listen mobile application, podcasts, and access to all ABC News television programs via the video-on-demand platform ABC iview. As of 2021, the website is organized into categories including ABC Sport, Health, Science, Arts & Culture, Fact Check, Environment, and multilingual news offerings.

Since April 2022, Justin Stevens has held the position of director for this division.

History

Established in 1932, ABC News initially gathered material from various sources including London-based cable news services and its own correspondents stationed throughout Europe, the Middle East, Greece, and the Asia-Pacific region. It also depended on reports from Australian local newspapers.

During World War II, censorship measures intensified following the United States’ entry into the war in December 1941. General Douglas MacArthur, who set up his command center in Australia, enforced strict regulations that limited all Australian radio broadcasters to three daily news bulletins at 7:45 a.m., noon, and 7 p.m. Weather forecasts were prohibited due to security risks.

The unusual timing of the 7:45 a.m. bulletin resulted from an agreement with newspaper publishers aimed at protecting their sales. This early morning bulletin continued on ABC Local Radio until it was discontinued in September 2020 amid budget cuts.

Government directives restricted radio reporting on major wartime developments; however, newspapers frequently covered stories that radio was barred from broadcasting. After prolonged negotiations with the Australian Government, ABC launched its first autonomous news bulletin on 1 June 1947.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983 requires ABC to provide an independent news service both within Australia and internationally.

Over time, the management structure responsible for news has undergone several changes. In 2004, under Director John Cameron, it was identified as the News and Current Affairs Division. The financial year 2008–2009 saw substantial transformations including expanded international news content and continuous multi-platform coverage. Kate Torney assumed directorship in April 2009.

In November 2014, a funding reduction totaling AUD 254 million over five years compelled ABC to cut approximately 10% of its workforce—around 400 positions. This resulted in programming shifts prioritizing national over regional content and led to the closure of most Adelaide-based television production facilities except those dedicated to news and current affairs.

Gaven Morris took on the role of News Division Director in late 2015. By November 2016, ABC unified its 24-hour television news channel ABC News 24 and ABC NewsRadio under a single ABC News brand featuring refreshed logos and consolidated social media channels.

From 2017 to 2018, the director’s title expanded to Director, News, Analysis & Investigations—a position held by Morris as of June 2021. During this time frame, ABC introduced the "Regional Connecting Communities" initiative designed to enhance staffing levels and local news resources in regional areas.

On 31 March 2022, Justin Stevens succeeded Morris as director.

Media executive Kimberly Lynton "Kim" Williams AM was appointed chairperson of ABC News on 7 March 2024, with her tenure scheduled to end in March 2029.

Functions

This division is responsible for managing all news collection and production activities across ABC television, the ABC radio network, and its digital platforms. In 2018, ABC News attracted approximately 4.8 million Australian users monthly. The ABC News website includes dedicated sections such as ABC Sport, Health, Science, Arts & Culture, Fact Check, Environment, and multilingual news content.

Theme music

From the inception of ABC television in 1956 until 1985, the news theme was Majestic Fanfare, composed by Charles Williams. The original version used was a shortened 1943 recording by the Queen's Hall Light Orchestra. In 1982, to mark the ABC’s 50th anniversary, a fresh arrangement combining orchestral and electronic sounds was commissioned.

Apart from a brief phase in the mid-1980s when a synthesised piece titled "Best Endeavours" by Alan Hawkshaw was used, Majestic Fanfare continued to serve as the radio theme until 1988 and for television until 1985. In 1988, Richard Mills reworked the piece with a recording by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

Between 1985 and 2005, the standard theme was composed by Tony Ansell and Peter Wall; this composition persisted through the brand update of 1998. In 2010, it received a remix treatment by Pendulum, which peaked at #11 on the Triple J Hottest 100 chart.

A new theme by Martin Armiger and John Gray premiered on Australia Day 2005, initially bearing resemblance to the earlier Wall/Ansell version. After Wall’s successful legal challenge, the introductory notes were excised and in 2010 the piece was rearranged with a more vibrant synthesised remix.

On 1 July 2022, ABC News reinstated the 1985–2005 theme to commemorate its 90th Anniversary. This Wall and Ansell composition was remixed from original recordings and reintroduced on 19 August 2024. It underwent further refinement on 28 July 2025 with reduced morse code beeps and enhanced orchestral elements.

History

On 4 March 1985, ABC merged its 7 pm news bulletin with the current affairs program Nationwide, creating The National, which aired at 6:30 pm until its cancellation on 8 December 1985. Following its lack of success, the news presentation was revamped on 9 December 1985 with updated sets, graphics, and a new theme.

In 1998, ABC refreshed its studio design and introduced a new opening sequence featuring a light blue globe alongside the ABC logo, accompanied by modified theme music and coordinated graphics.

On Australia Day (26 January) 2005, ABC unveiled a new visual identity incorporating orange and blue globe motifs along with redesigned sets, updated graphics, and theme music composed by Armiger. This presentation package remained until 21 July 2010, shortly before the debut of ABC News.

In January 2010, ABC announced plans for a dedicated digital news channel operating around-the-clock—ABC News 24—which commenced test transmissions in July that year. The official launch occurred at 7:30 pm Australian Eastern Standard Time on 22 July 2010, with its initial hour simulcast on ABC1.

Following this launch, all national bulletins airing at 7 pm underwent a graphics overhaul to align with the branding of the new channel. The former blue/orange globe opener was replaced by sliding panels showcasing state-specific imagery. New studio sets were built in each capital city to reflect ABC News 24’s design aesthetic, while graphics were standardized across locations accordingly.

ABC News channel

The ABC News channel features a range of bulletins such as News Breakfast, ABC News Mornings, ABC News at Noon, ABC News Day, ABC News Afternoons, The World, ABC Late News, and Weekend Breakfast. In addition, it provides its own hourly news updates in 15- and 30-minute formats.

National bulletins and programs

Throughout the day, ABC TV broadcasts national news segments, including live 7 pm evening updates anchored by state correspondents. These bulletins focus heavily on regional matters while offering a broader scope of national and global news compared to commercial channels. Weeknights feature a national financial report presented by Alan Kohler from Melbourne. The Ultimo studios produce the 8:30 pm update on weeknights, hosted by Joe O'Brien.

Weekday mornings from 6 am to 9 am, News Breakfast airs on both ABC TV and the ABC News channel, broadcasting from Melbourne with hosts James Glenday and Bridget Brennan, accompanied by sport and weather presenters. This program is also available via online streaming and on ABC Australia throughout the Asia Pacific region.

On weekends, Weekend Breakfast runs from 7 am to 11 am from the Ultimo studio in Sydney, with Johanna Nicholson and Fauziah Ibrahim as presenters, simulcast on ABC TV and the ABC News channel.

Weekdays at 9 am, ABC News Mornings is broadcast from Parramatta in Western Sydney with hosts Gemma Veness and Dan Bourchier. Sport and weather segments are delivered from Melbourne. This program airs on both ABC TV and the ABC News channel.

Originally launched in 2005 to replace earlier midday shows, ABC News at Noon is presented from Ultimo by Ros Childs during weekdays and Dan Bourchier on weekends. It airs around midday AEST/AEDT on ABC TV and the ABC News channel. Due to time zone differences, a delayed version is provided for Western Australian audiences.

The flagship current affairs show 7.30, hosted by Sarah Ferguson from Parramatta, broadcasts weeknights at 7:30 pm on ABC TV but may be pre-empted for significant state political coverage.

ABC Late News, anchored by Michael Tetlow in Perth, airs at 10:30 pm Eastern Time on ABC TV with a distinct edition for Western Australia. This program also produces concise 15-minute News Overnight bulletins.

Additional nationally broadcast programs include titles such as Afternoon Briefing, ABC News at Five, Insiders, Four Corners, Behind the News, Q&A, Landline, Offsiders, One Plus One, The Business, The World, Australian Story, Foreign Correspondent, Media Watch, and Australia Wide.

State bulletins

  • ABC News ACT is produced at the ABC's Dickson studio with Greg Jennett presenting Sunday through Thursday and Adrienne Francis covering Friday and Saturday.
  • ABC News New South Wales broadcasts from the Parramatta studio (ABN) featuring Jeremy Fernandez Sunday to Thursday, with Lydia Feng and Nakari Thorpe presenting Friday through Saturday. Tom Saunders provides weather updates on weeknights.
  • ABC News Northern Territory originates from Darwin (ABD) with Kyle Dowling anchoring Sunday to Thursday and Isabella Tolhurst handling Friday to Saturday editions.
  • ABC News Queensland is transmitted from Brisbane's South Bank (ABQ) with Jessica van Vonderen presenting Monday to Thursday and Lexy Hamilton-Smith Friday through Sunday. Jenny Woodward delivers weather forecasts Sunday to Thursday.
  • ABC News South Australia operates out of Collinswood (ABS) with Jessica Harmsen hosting Monday to Thursday; Richard Davies or Candice Prosser take over Friday to Sunday.
  • ABC News Tasmania broadcasts from Hobart (ABT) with Guy Stayner anchoring weeknights and Alexandra Alvaro presenting on weekends.
  • ABC News Victoria comes from Southbank (ABV) featuring Tamara Oudyn Sunday through Thursday and Iskhandar Razak Friday to Saturday. Weather reports are delivered by Dr Adam Morgan Monday to Thursday.
  • ABC News Western Australia is produced in East Perth (ABC WA) with Pamela Medlen presenting Monday to Thursday and Charlotte Hamlyn covering Friday through Sunday.

ABC Australia

Programs focused on news and current affairs, including Four Corners, 7:30, and Q+A, are transmitted via ABC Australia, specifically catering to viewers beyond Australian borders.

Online

Viewers can access ABC news content on-demand through the video-on-demand service ABC iview.

Radio

ABC NewsRadio delivers specialized news and current affairs radio broadcasts featuring national bulletins at :00 and :30 each hour, complemented by continuous coverage. During off-peak periods, programming from partners such as BBC World Service, NPR, and Deutsche Welle is included.

Serving the Asia-Pacific region, ABC Radio Australia provides regular news bulletins produced in Melbourne, enriched with reports from international correspondents.

National bulletins

  • ABC Classic FM transmits state-specific bulletins hourly from 6am until noon, then every two hours thereafter.
  • Non-local streams of ABC Radio National broadcast national bulletins every hour around the clock.
  • The youth-oriented station triple j airs its own bulletins on weekdays from 6:00am to 6:00pm and on weekends from 7:00am to noon.

State bulletins

Each state capital’s ABC Local Radio produces state bulletins that are broadcast across all ABC Local Radio and ABC Radio National stations within that state. These bulletins focus on issues pertinent to the state while also covering national and international news. When state bulletins are not available, national bulletins are aired as substitutes.

Historically, ABC Local Radio featured a prominent 15-minute bulletin at 7:45am, introduced by an 18-second rendition of Majestic Fanfare, which was discontinued in September 2020 after many years on air. Other bulletins utilized a shorter 9-second version. This 7:45am bulletin was not part of the schedules for ABC Radio National or ABC Classic FM, which continued with their hourly or morning bulletins.

  • ABC News ACT originates from ABC Radio Canberra, broadcasting at 5:30am and hourly between 6am and 10pm daily.
  • ABC News New South Wales, produced by ABC Radio Sydney, follows the same timing.
  • ABC News Northern Territory, from ABC Radio Darwin, maintains an identical schedule.
  • ABC News Queensland, airing from ABC Radio Brisbane, broadcasts at 5:30am and hourly between 6am and 7pm on weekdays; weekends feature hourly bulletins from 6am to noon.
  • ABC News South Australia, produced by ABC Radio Adelaide, mirrors Queensland’s weekday and weekend schedule.
  • ABC News Tasmania, from ABC Radio Hobart, airs weekday bulletins until 9pm; weekend broadcasts follow the same morning timetable.
  • ABC News Victoria, broadcast by ABC Radio Melbourne, adheres to South Australia’s schedule.
  • ABC News Western Australia, generated by ABC Radio Perth, offers weekday updates every half hour between 5:00am and 7:00am, then at 7:45am, 9:00am, and hourly until 10:00pm; weekend bulletins run every half hour between 6:00am and 7:00am, then at 7:45am, 9:00am, and hourly until 1:00pm.

Current affairs

Several current affairs radio programs with a magazine-style format are produced by ABC News, providing more in-depth analysis than typical news bulletins.

  • AM is broadcast in three editions: a concise 10-minute version at 6:05am on ABC Local Radio; a longer 20-minute edition at 7:10am on ABC Radio National; and a flagship half-hour edition at 8:00am on ABC Local Radio.
  • The World Today airs a single half-hour program at 12:10pm on both ABC Local Radio and ABC Radio National.
  • PM features two editions as well: a half-hour show at 5:00pm on ABC Radio National and a flagship half-hour edition at 6:30pm on ABC Local Radio.

Programs

Additional current affairs and news shows on ABC Radio include:

  • Sunday Extra, which features segments such as Background Briefing and Ockham's Razor, hosted by Julian Morrow (this program succeeded Correspondents Report)
  • RN Breakfast
  • Late Night Live
  • Hack
  • Nightlife
  • Awaye!
  • Country Breakfast

Online

Listeners can access all ABC radio channels through the ABC News mobile application, ABC Listen, which also provides a variety of podcasts.

Awards

In March 2024, ABC News was honored with the 2023 Gold Lizzie Award for Best Title at the IT Journalism Awards, a distinction shared by ABC News Story Lab and ABC Radio. Additionally, it received accolades for Best Gaming Coverage and Best News Coverage.

The Best News Coverage award highlighted three investigative pieces addressing data breaches impacting Australians:

  • "See your identity pieced together from stolen data" by Julian Fell, Ben Spraggon, and Matt Liddy
  • "Why the FBI calls this Gold Coast man when it finds a trove of stolen data" by Julian Fell, with photography by Tim Leslie
  • "This is the most detailed portrait yet of data breaches in Australia" by Julian Fell, Georgina Piper, and Matt Liddy

Presenters

National
ACT
  • Greg Jennett
  • Adrienne Francis
New South Wales
Northern Territory
  • Kyle Dowling
  • Isabella Tolhurst
Queensland
South Australia
Tasmania
  • Guy Stayner
  • Simon McCulloch
  • Alexandra Alvaro
Victoria
Western Australia
Other
Past

Further reading

External links

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