Abstract
This paper explores the phenomenon of the "news commentator" on Australian commercial radio. By the early 1930s news commentators, tending to focus on domestic politics and international affairs, were an important feature of the Australian broadcasting system. This paper recovers the broadcasting activities of a range of these popular, high-profile and in many cases controversial figures.
Moving from the 1920s to the 1960s, it considers the commentators' backgrounds, their at times bizarrely diverse broadcasting duties, the controversies they generated, and the ways in which they were perceived by public figures and other listeners. The paper also tentatively suggests some connections between these earlier broadcasters and contemporary talkback presenters.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Politics, media, history |
| Subtitle of host publication | refereed papers from the Australian Media Traditions Conference 2005 |
| Editors | Trish Payne |
| Place of Publication | Canberra |
| Publisher | University of Canberra |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Publication status | Published - 2005 |
| Event | Australian Media Traditions Conference - Canberra Duration: 24 Nov 2005 → 25 Nov 2005 |
Conference
| Conference | Australian Media Traditions Conference |
|---|---|
| City | Canberra |
| Period | 24/11/05 → 25/11/05 |