Day: October 16, 2024

ABC welcomes Jessica Radburn as Head of Audio on Demand

Headshot of Jessica Radburn

ABC welcomes Jessica Radburn as Head of Audio on Demand

The ABC is delighted to announce the appointment of internationally renowned audio executive Jessica Radburn as our Head of Audio on Demand.

Reporting to the Head of Audio, Jessica will lead the ABC’s audio on demand strategy including our commissioning and development processes. She will manage our podcast slate to ensure it aligns to the ABC’s audience priorities across all our key brands.

Jessica was most recently the Head of International Podcast Content for Podcast publisher Wondery where she oversaw all of Wondery’s original podcasts outside of the US, including #1 shows Ghost Story, Price of Paradise and Kurt Krömer – Feelings.

Prior to her time with Wondery, Jessica spent 5 years working in various roles at leading spoken word entertainment company, Audible. She was the Senior Director of Global Content Programming where she oversaw Audible’s multi-language global audio original program. She was also Director of Original Content for Audible in the Unites States where she was responsible for the strategic development and negotiation of premium audio content with entertainment brands, creators, and celebrities, including DC Comics and the Fox Entertainment Group.

Before that, Jessica was Audible’s Head of Content in Australia and New Zealand, overseeing the transformation of its Australian audio strategy from audiobook distribution to content licensor and original content creator.

Of her new role Jessica said: “I am excited to return to Australia and the ABC as the first Head of Audio On Demand. The ABC has a well-earned reputation, internationally and locally, for original and compelling story-telling.

“It’s an honour to have the opportunity to build on that renown, working with some of the country’s best voices and creators to produce shows that connect, inspire and entertain our listeners.”

Of her appointment ABC Head of Audio Ben Latimer said: “I am thrilled to have Jessica joining the ABC as our Head of Audio on Demand.

“Jessica’s unparalleled content experience in Australia and internationally will be an invaluable resource for the ABC as we continue to build on our success as one of Australia’s most successful podcast publishers.”

Jessica will commence in the role on 1 November.

AFTRS Alumni Shine at the 35th ACRAs: Celebrating Excellence in Australian Radio

Energy is running high from last weekend’s 35th Australian Commercial Radio Awards (ACRAs), a night that brought together the brightest talent of the radio industry at The Star in Sydney. The yearly ACRAs honours the on-air and off-air achievements that shape the world of Australian radio, podcasting, news, and entertainment. With over 1159 entries from radio stations across the nation, the competition was fierce, and the talent set the bar for excellence on the industry. 

This year, 71 winners were selected from 361 finalists, representing the metropolitan, provincial, and country commercial radio stations. From impactful local news to engaging entertainment, the ACRA winners showcase the diverse voices and practitioners that drive Australian radio.  

The AFTRS community had plenty to celebrate, with alumni taking home awards in seven distinct categories across country, provincial, and metropolitan markets, ranging from recognition for excellence in journalism to music and creative promotion. 

For the third consecutive year, Clinton Maynard was awarded the prestigious Brian White Award for Excellence in Journalism (Metro) for his outstanding work with 2GB, Nine Radio. The Brian White Award is one of the highest honours in radio journalism, recognising sustained excellence and above-and-beyond efforts in news coverage.  

In the on-air talent category, Matt Lipiarski from Mixx FM in Colac, VIC, took home the Best On-Air Team award for his work on Mixx Brekky with Jimmy & Lippi, alongside James Thwaites. This marked their second consecutive win, showcasing their unique ability to deliver engaging, entertaining content to the Great South West. 

AFTRS alumni also made waves in the music categories, with awards in three key areas. The Gudinski Award for Australian Music Champion went to Triple M Homegrown with Matty O, featuring AFTRS alum Andrew Very. Andrew’s passion for Australian music was further recognised with his win for Best Music Feature for the Taylor Swift Triple M Versions. 

Adding to the list of music accolades, Cam Hilder was named Best Music Host (Provincial) for his work at i98FM at WIN Network in Wollongong. His win follows last year’s success of AFTRS alum Sean Brown, who also received recognition for his work in the music hosting space. 

AFTRS proudly sponsors the Best New Talent Off Air award, which recognises up-and-coming talent in the radio industry. This year, the award went to Ella Kanna from KIIS 1065 (Metro) and Leesa Singleton from 864 Triple M (Non-Metro) in Toowoomba/Darling Downs. 

From news and talk to sport and music, the winners of this year’s ACRAs demonstrate the immense talent that fuels the commercial radio industry. The diverse voices and creative minds celebrated at the event highlight the power of local content in engaging audiences and delivering impactful stories that resonate.   

AFTRS is incredibly proud to be a part of this thriving industry and to see our alumni consistently recognised for their contributions. Their achievements reflect the School’s ongoing commitment to developing the next generation of radio professionals and leaders. 

Here’s the roundup of AFTRS alumni awarded and the teams they work with. You can see all the ACRA winners here. 

  • Brian White Award For Excellence In Journalism
    Clinton Maynard; 2GB, Sydney, NSW, Nine Radio 
  • Best On Air Team (Country)
    Mixx Brekky with Jimmy & Lippi Matt Lipiarski, James Thwaites 
  • The Gudinski – Australian Music Champion
    Triple M Homegrown with Matty O; Matthew O’Gorman; Kalun Townsend; Andrew Very; Shaun Gough; Julia Di Gregorio, Triple M Melbourne, VIC, SCA 
  • Best Music Host (Provincial)
    Cam Hilder; i98FM, Wollongong, NSW, WIN Network 
  • Best Music Feature
    Taylor Swift Triple M Versions; Andrew Very, David Konsky, Kalun Townsend, Triple M Network, Sydney, NSW, SCA  
  • Best Comedy Segment (Non Metro)
    Hans The Aldi Mole; Sam Archie Arenson, Henry Bretz, Power100, Townsville, QLD, ARN 
  • Most Creative Station Promotion (Non Metro)
    Lyndal & Crammy’s Origin or Bust; Lyndal & Crammy, 96.5 Wave FM, Wollongong, NSW, ARN  

The radio and podcasting industry is thriving and evolving, with AFTRS alumni setting the bar for excellence and innovation, ensuring that Australian radio remains dynamic, influential and engaged with Australian audiences.  

If radio and podcasting is of interest to you or someone you know, applications for the Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting close on 29 October.  

POWERFUL FEMALE VOICES DRIVE LiSTNR’S SEPTEMBER AUDIENCES AS LiSTNR REMAINS AUSTRALIA’S NO.1 PODCAST SALES REPRESENTATION NETWORK

– Abbie Chatfield extends partnership with LiSTNR –

– America’s leading female podcast, Call Her Daddy, joins LiSTNR –

LiSTNR’s powerful female voices have led the charge in the September Australian Podcast Ranker Top 200 Podcasts results, with key female-driven shows growing month-on-month in terms of audience and revenue generation to help secure LiSTNR’s position as Australia’s number 1 podcast sales representative for a record 25th time*.

In what has been an outstanding reporting period, Happy Hour with Nikki & Lucy grew 7.1% month on month to 273,163 monthly listeners**, It’s a Lot with Abbie Chatfield grew 22.7% to 259,965 listeners**, KICPOD, hosted by Laura Henshaw and Steph Clare Smith, grew 13.6% to 121,324 listeners** and A Life of Greatness with Sarah Grynberg re-entered the Top 200 with 38,359 monthly listeners**.

These stellar results follow confirmation that Abbie Chatfield, who is fast becoming one of this country’s most important voices, has extended her partnership with LiSTNR. In addition, LiSTNR is now the exclusive Australian sales representative for America’s leading female podcast, Call Her Daddy, hosted by arguably America’s most influential female podcaster, Alex Cooper. Collectively LiSTNR’s slate of outstanding female voices will continue to drive audiences for the network in 2025.

Sport also played a strong role in LiSTNR’s September Ranker results, with Mark Howard’s The Howie Games recording its second-highest monthly listeners for 2024 (215,613 listeners**), an increase of 26% on last month. Furthermore, Triple M Footy AFL was up 19% to 199,102 monthly listeners, Triple M Rocks NRL was up 18.9% with 82,994 monthly listeners** and Footy Talk Rugby League grew 5.3% to 53,056 monthly listeners**.

Hamish & Andy was again Australia’s number one podcast with 847,644 monthly listeners**, while Everyone Relax with Wil Anderson and Charlie Clausen grew 18% to 81,868 monthly listeners**.

“LiSTNR continues to be Australia’s number 1 podcast sales representation network, which in turn is driving increased revenue performance by the LiSTNR sales team and overall growth of the Australian podcast marketplace. More clients are using LiSTNR’s AdTech with 33% of advertisers now utilising LiSTNR’s premium AdTech to drive more effective advertising campaigns. This is an increase month-on-month,” reflected Executive Head of LiSTNR Audience and Growth, Grant Tothill.

“To see our local female podcast hosts growing their audiences, global podcast superstars such as Alex Cooper joining LiSTNR, Hamish & Andy remaining Australia’s number one podcast, Mark Howard’s The Howie Games returning to the number one sports podcast position, and our Triple M sport podcasts gaining listeners, is a great outcome for our entire LiSTNR team,” Tothill continued.

“With LiSTNR welcoming The Imperfects podcast to its sales network in January 2025, along with the ongoing investment and development of its premium LiSTNR AdTech Hub, the LiSTNR team is leading the way in both audience reach and monetisation in Australia.”

Sources:

*Australian Podcast Ranker – Top Sales Representatives – September 2024

**Australian Podcast Ranker Top 200 Podcasts – September 2024

About LiSTNR:

LiSTNR is a curated and personalised, free app offering radio, podcasts, music, and news, creating a new audio destination for all Australians. Featuring a fun and intuitive onboarding process, LiSTNR delivers an audio destination that is built for individual listeners’ routines and preferences. Highly personalised, it provides listeners a new world of audio entertainment, with their own daily feed of audio and easy discovery of new content through curated recommendations. Available across a large array of devices including both iOS and Android, CarPlay and Android Auto, Google Assistant and Alexa and Android TV, LiSTNR enables a fantastic listening experience, anytime and anywhere. Open your Ears to a new world of audio – download the free app today. LiSTNR.com

The ACMA has approved the Community Radio Broadcasting Codes of Practice 2025

The revised Community Radio Broadcasting Codes of Practice (2025) have been registered by the Australian Media and Communications Authority (ACMA).  

The new Community Radio Broadcasting Codes will commence on 1 July 2025. The existing Codes will remain active until that time. 


The 2025 Codes consist of 10 Codes, adapted from the current Codes. All changes made were designed to make the Codes easier for stations to put into practice and understand. We are grateful for the input and feedback from our sector throughout the review process. 


The new Codes are the outcome of a lengthy consultation across our sector to ensure they remain relevant and meet community standards in an environment of changing media. The 2025 Codes received overwhelming support with over 98% of responses from community broadcasters endorsing the new Codes.  


From 1 July 2025, the revised Codes (2025) will replace the current Codes (2008). Stations should continue using the current 2008 Codes in the meantime. 


The CBAA will support stations to ensure staff and volunteers understand the changes before they come into effect on July 1, 2025. We are already working on training and guidance materials to support all broadcasters understand and comply with the Codes.  

The new Codes will be accompanied by practical easy-to-use guidance material to help every station and broadcaster to understand how to comply with the new Codes. This guidance material will provide templates for policies, processes to follow and suggestions for best practice. 
  

View the new 2025 Community Radio Codes Broadcasting Codes of Practice here.

9News podcast Hannah’s Story wins podcast of the year

9News podcast Hannah's Story wins podcast of the year

9News Queensland presenter, Melissa Downes and producer Jess Lodge, added another gong to their collection, for their podcast sensation Hannah’s Story, at the 2024 Australian Commercial Radio Awards (ACRAs).

The powerhouse team were awarded for their top-tier investigative journalism, taking out Podcast of the Year (National), with Jess Lodge also taking home the title of Best Podcast Producer (National).

Hannah’s Story, presented by 9News Queensland presenter Melissa Downes, produced by 9News Queensland’s Jessica Lodge, and edited by Adam Buncher of 9Podcasts, has become the benchmark for 9News podcasts since its release in 2023.

Hannah’s Story delivered a compelling account of domestic violence, focusing on one of the most horrifying cases in Australia’s history; the horrific murder of Hannah Clarke and her three children by her estranged husband Rowan Baxter. Its powerful storytelling has raised awareness and ignited important conversations about coercive control, extending beyond the ears of listeners, now playing a pivotal role in education initiatives.

The true crime-hit has been recognised previously for its riveting storytelling, winning the Mid-Year Walkley Award for Excellence in Reporting on Violence Against Women, the Kennedy Award for Outstanding Podcast, the Australian Podcast Spotlight Award, as well as the prestigious Gold Award at the New York Festival Radio Awards.

Melissa Downes said: “It is an honour to be recognised at the ACRAs for Hannah’s Story. To have shared the Clarke family’s story and to watch it embraced by listeners, has been a privilege. Adam, Jess and I are thrilled that it has sparked conversations and raised awareness of such an important topic.

“We also couldn’t be more proud of Jess and her very deserved recognition for best podcast producer.”

Jess Lodge said: “It has been incredibly gratifying to see our podcast make an impact. Being able to share Hannah Clarke and her children’s story on a national and international stage has been an absolute privilege, it is a credit to the Clarke family and Small Steps 4 Hannah for helping us share their story.”

Kylie Blucher, Managing Director of Nine Queensland, said: “It is clear that Hannah’s Story has captivated listeners across the country and the recognition that the team behind it has received is so well deserved. We are incredibly proud. What Melissa, Jess and Adam have achieved underlines the 9News commitment to deep exploration of issues such as domestic violence, delivering stories that really matter. It is a testament to their empathy and hard work that Hannah’s Story leaves a lasting impact, making a real difference in people’s lives.”

Melissa and Jess’ award-winning talent is evident in their follow-up podcast, The Ultimate Sacrifice, which details the terrible events that claimed the lives of two brave Queensland police officers, Constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold, who were murdered in a shocking ambush at Wieambilla, Queensland.

Statement on the passing of George Negus

We are deeply saddened by the passing of George Negus, a giant of Australian journalism and a fondly-remembered veteran of SBS.

George’s dogged pursuit of truth and his unique ability to connect with people through his authentic, down-to-earth approach to storytelling left an indelible mark on our industry.

Joining SBS in 2005 to present Dateline, George was instrumental in shaping the program during his tenure to 2010 into the ground-breaking current affairs program it is today, bringing global stories into Australian living rooms with his trademark insight and empathy. His dedication to journalism, passion for social justice, and love for the craft will inspire future generations of reporters and producers.

George will be remembered as much for his warmth and character off-screen as for his contributions to Australian media.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to George’s family and loved ones.

ACMA agrees to new rules for community radio

The ACMA has registered a new community radio broadcasting code of practice, establishing an updated set of rules about what can and can’t be played on community radio.

The code was developed by the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA). It is the first broadcasting industry code to be registered since the ACMA asked all industry bodies to review their codes in 2022.

ACMA Chair Nerida O’Loughlin has welcomed the new code and its strengthened community safeguards.

“The new community radio code is the result of substantial work undertaken by CBAA over several years. The ACMA acknowledges the highly collaborative way the review was undertaken and the broader community broadcasting sector’s commitment to the development of the code.

“We are particularly pleased to see stronger protections around news content on community radio, including requirements for impartiality and for reporters to take special care where facts may be contested and not settled,” Ms O’Loughlin said.

Under the new code community radio broadcasters are also committed to align their programming decisions with contemporary community standards, prioritise First Nations voices when reporting on or discussing First Nations issues, and strengthen complaints-handling processes.

The ACMA expects all broadcasters to regularly update their rules to reflect changing broadcasting practices and contemporary audience expectations. This includes providing safeguards to those accessing their content in new ways.

“We remain of the view that it is high time that the broadcasting industry voluntarily extend their rules to cover all TV- and radio-like content they make available online. This would ensure audiences benefit from the same safeguards, regardless of how they access the content,” Ms O’Loughlin said.

The new community radio broadcasting code will commence on 1 July 2025. The existing code will remain active until that time.

The new community radio code is available at: https://www.acma.gov.au/industry-codes-practice

Further information about the code review process is available on the CBAA website.