Mike Carlton
Michael James Carlton | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 31, 1946 Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Commentator, radio presenter, television journalist, author, newspaper columnist |
| Years active | 1963–2009 (radio), ongoing (author and columnist) |
| Known for | Radio hosting on 2UE, political commentary, authorship of naval history books |
Michael James Carlton (born 31 January 1946) is a retired Australian media figure known for his work as a commentator, radio presenter, television journalist, author, and newspaper columnist. He co-hosted the breakfast show on Sydney’s 2UE radio station, initially alongside Peter FitzSimons and subsequently with Sandy Aloisi.
Carlton gained recognition for his forthright critiques of conservative personalities such as former prime minister John Howard and ex-Liberal leader Alexander Downer, as well as right-leaning administrations including the Reagan and Bush governments in the United States. His public disagreements with conservative broadcaster Ray Hadley were also widely noted.
Family
Mike Carlton’s father, James Carlton, was an accomplished sprinter who represented Australia at the 1928 Summer Olympics and set a national record for the 100 yards in 1930, which remained unbeaten until 1953. After his athletic career, he entered the Catholic priesthood but later left it following a romantic relationship, fathering two sons, Mike and Peter. James Carlton passed away in 1951 when Mike was five years old.
Mike Carlton has been married twice. From his first marriage to Kerri, he has two children. He met his second wife, Morag—who was then producing his ABC radio program—when he was 52 and she was 23; together they have one child.
Early career
Carlton commenced his journalism career at the Australian Broadcasting Commission in 1963 as a cadet reporter. His coverage of the Vietnam War won industry praise and led to his appointment as head of ABC’s Jakarta bureau. Upon returning to Australia, he contributed to the influential 1970s ABC-TV current affairs show This Day Tonight.
During the early 1980s, Carlton hosted a radio show on Sydney’s commercial station 2GB, where he created the well-known "Friday News Review" segment. He was a dominant presence in morning radio on 2GB until Alan Jones’s move to 2UE’s breakfast slot in 1988 affected his audience share. In the early 1990s, Carlton worked for London’s LBC Newstalk 97.3FM under Australian ownership, hosting drivetime and then breakfast shows. His work earned him a prestigious Sony Radio Academy Award and contributed to increased station revenues. Additionally, he wrote the best-selling novel Off the Air, set within a London talk radio station.
Talk show host
After returning to Sydney in 1994, Carlton hosted morning programs on Mix 106.5 before shifting to the drive time slot on 702 ABC Sydney. He later joined commercial station 2UE, taking on drivetime and subsequently breakfast hosting duties. In 2006, aiming to improve ratings, 2UE paired him with media figure and columnist Peter FitzSimons for the breakfast show; although ratings gradually improved, they remained behind leading competitors. FitzSimons left in 2007 and was succeeded by Sandy Aloisi in 2008. Meanwhile, Alan Jones continued to dominate Sydney’s talkback radio scene.
Carlton engaged in a notable public rivalry with conservative 2UE broadcaster Stan Zemanek until Zemanek’s death in 2007. Controversial comments made by Carlton about Zemanek attracted criticism and led both Carlton and station management to issue apologies.
A standout feature of Carlton’s radio tenure was his weekly political satire segment Friday News Review, recognized for its incisive sketches and spot-on impersonations of politicians and public figures. Supported by actor Josh Zepps, it became one of Australia’s last mainstream commercial political satire programs.
On 18 September 2009, after more than 26 years on Australian morning radio, Carlton stepped down from hosting the 2UE Breakfast show to dedicate more time to family life and avoid early morning commitments.
Newspaper columnist
Carlton contributed as a columnist to The Sydney Morning Herald, where he was initially terminated on 29 August 2008 due to his refusal to write during a journalists' strike at Fairfax Media. After campaigns led by readers and the arrival of a new editor, he returned to the publication in 2009. In July 2014, Carlton authored a contentious piece criticizing Israel's conduct during the 2014 Gaza offensive. Following backlash, he issued a response that he later described as "probably foolish." When faced with suspension pending further disciplinary measures, he chose to resign. Carlton asserted that the newspaper had "caved" under pressure from pro-Israel advocates and News Corporation, which he alleged opposed him for "all the usual reasons."
Author
Carlton has authored four books focusing on Australia's naval history:
- Cruiser: The Life And Loss Of HMAS Perth And Her Crew (William Heinemann Australia, 2011)
- First Victory (William Heinemann Australia, 2013)
- Flagship: The Cruiser HMAS Australia II and the Pacific War on Japan (William Heinemann Australia, 2016)
- The Scrap Iron Flotilla: Five Valiant Destroyers and the Australian War in the Mediterranean (William Heinemann Australia, 2022)
Memoir:
- On Air (William Heinemann/Penguin Random House Australia, 2018)
Co-authored work:
- The Great Australian Writer's Collection 2013 (RHA eBooks Adult, 2013)
Awards
During the 2020 Queen's Birthday Honours, Carlton was recognized as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his "significant service to print and broadcast media, and naval history."