_logo.svg){kind=logo} | |
| Company type | Division |
|---|---|
| Industry | News media |
| Founded | 1 June 1947; 78 years ago (1947-06-01) |
| Headquarters | , Australia |
Area served | Australia |
Key people | Justin Stevens (Director News, Analysis & Investigations) |
| Services | Television, radio, online |
| Parent | Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
| Divisions | ABC News channel |
| Website | www |
ABC News, also known asABC News and Current Affairs, is a public news service produced by theAustralian Broadcasting Corporation. The service covers bothlocal andworld affairs, broadcasting both nationally as ABC News, and across the Asia-Pacific under theABC Australia title.
The division of the organisationABC News, Analysis and Investigations is responsible for all news-gathering and coverage across the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's varioustelevision,radio, andonline platforms. Some of the services included under the auspices of the division are its 24-hour news channelABC News Australia TV Channel (formerly ABC News 24), the long-running radio news programs,AM,The World Today, andPM;ABC NewsRadio, a 24-hour continuous news radio channel; and radionews bulletins and programs onABC Local Radio,ABC Radio National,ABC Classic FM, andTriple J.
ABC News Online has an extensive online presence which includes many written news reports and videos available viaABC Online, an ABC Newsmobile app (ABC Listen),podcasts, and in addition, all of the ABC News television programs available via thevideo-on-demand platform,ABC iview. As of 2021,[update] the ABC News website includes ABC Sport, ABC Health, ABC Science, ABC Arts & Culture, ABC Fact Check, ABC Environment, and news in other languages.
Justin Stevens was appointed director of the division on 4 April 2022.[1]
ABC News, from its inception in 1932, with ABC radio sourced its news from multiple sources, including cable news from London,[2] its own bureaus in Europe, the Middle East, Greece and the Asia-Pacific,[3] and in a fashion similar tocommercial radio stations from local newspapers around Australia.[citation needed]
Censorship was rife during the war, particularly after theU.S. entered the conflict on 7 December 1941. After GeneralDouglas MacArthur set up his headquarters in Australia, he wielded enormous power, including on matters of censorship. Inter alia, he declared that every Australian radio station would only broadcast three news bulletins per day and that these would be simultaneous on all stations (ABC and commercial) at 7.45 a.m., midday, and 7.00 p.m.[4] Weather forecasts were banned because it was felt that these may assist the enemy.[5]
The 7:45 a.m. bulletin was the only one that did not commence on the hour or the half-hour. It was placed at this timeslot as initially the ABC sourced its news from newspapers in a deal which required that news would not be broadcast earlier, to ensure newspapers sales were not effected.[6] This bulletin continued at this time onABC Local Radio stations until 19 September 2020, before being cancelled to save costs.[7][8]
Notices[9] were issued banning radio stations from broadcasting some major wartime events, but as the federal government did not have the same power over the printed press as it did over the radio, newspapers usually reported events that radio was not permitted to mention.[5][10]
The ABC launched its first independent news bulletin on 1 June 1947 after years of negotiations with theAustralian Government.[11]
TheAustralian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983 mandates that the ABC "shall develop and maintain an independent service for the broadcasting of news and information" both within Australia on a daily basis, and also to countries outside Australia.[12]
The name of the division and director responsible has changed over the years. In 2004 it was the News and Current Affairs Division when John Cameron took over as Director from Max Uechtritz as Director.[13][14] The financial year 2008–2009 saw a lot of changes, both in the way that television content was produced as well as an "expansion of international news programming and continuous news across platforms, new programs and a range of appointments to senior positions". Kate Torney became director of the News Division in April 2009.[15]
In November 2014, a cut ofA$254 million to funding over the following five years meant that the ABC would have to shed about 10% of its total staff, around 400 people. There were several programming changes, with regional and local programming losing out to national programs, and the Adelaide TV production studio had to close apart from the news and current affairs section.[16][17]
In late 2015[18] Gaven Morris was appointed Director of the News Division.[19]
The ABC announced in November 2016 that their 24-hour television news channelABC News 24 andABC NewsRadio would be rebranded under the ABC News division with an updated logo, commencing on 10 April 2017.[20] The ABC announced on that day that ABC News 24 and ABC NewsRadio were both called ABC NEWS, with a new logo and visual branding. They would be distinguished by context or by descriptors, such as "the ABC News channel" for TV and "ABC News on radio" for radio. Social media accounts would be merged.[21]
The Director's role changed its name to Director, News, Analysis & Investigations in 2017–2018,[22] and as of June 2021[update] Morris was still in the role.[23][24] During the 2017 to 2018 financial year, the ABC launched "Regional Connecting Communities" program, which provided funding for increased jobs in the regions, as well as more resources for local news, weather and live reporting.[22]
Justin Stevens was appointed director of the division of ABC News, Analysis and Investigations on 31 March 2022.[25]
Media executive and producer Kimberly Lynton "Kim" Williams AM was appointed chair of ABC News on 7 March 2024, with the term expected to conclude on 6 March 2029.[26]
The division is responsible for all news-gathering and production of news output forABC television, the ABC network of radio stations, and forits online services. In 2018 it was estimated that online ABC news and current affairs reached about 4.8 million users in Australia each month.[22] As of 2021[update], the ABC News website includes ABC Sport, ABC Health, ABC Science, ABC Arts & Culture, ABC Fact Check, ABC Environment and news in other languages.[27]
The news theme used from the first days of ABC television from November 1956 to 1985 was "Majestic Fanfare", composed byCharles Williams. From 1956 until the early 1980s the version used was the abridged version performed by the Queen's Hall Light Orchestra, from a recording made in 1943. Each bulletin opened with a clip from the top story of the day, with the title "ABC News" superimposed over the footage. Later, this on-screen approach was replaced by a generic graphic title sequence. In 1982, to celebrate the ABC's 50th anniversary, a new version of the theme was commissioned, which incorporated both orchestral and new electronic elements.[citation needed]
With the exception of a period in the mid-1980s, during which a synthesised theme ("Best Endeavours", written byAlan Hawkshaw, which was the theme forChannel 4 News in the UK) was used for around a year, this was used on radio until August 1988, and on television until early 1985. A reworking of "Majestic Fanfare" (essentially the original orchestration up one tone) was arranged byRichard Mills and recorded in 1988 by theSydney Symphony Orchestra.[citation needed]
From 1985, a theme composed by Tony Ansell and Peter Wall was used for 20 years, even after the 1998 brand refresh. In 2010, it was sampled and remixed by the groupPendulum and this revised work went on to be placed #11 on theTriple J Hottest 100 chart onAustralia Day 2011.[clarification needed]
The theme for ABC News changed onAustralia Day (26 January) 2005, to a piece written byMartin Armiger and John Gray, and for a couple of years it bore a resemblance to the original Peter Wall / Tony Ansell work in the opening signature notes. Wall challenged the ABC and was successful in reaching an agreement. The opening notes were removed and the work was re-arranged in 2010. The theme music from the 2005–2010 era was remixed by Armiger, giving it a more upbeat, synthesised feel.[citation needed]
On 1 July 2022, ABC News used the 1985–2005 theme during the ABC's 90th Anniversary.[28]That theme, by Wall and Ansell, was remixed from the original multi-track studio recording and re-introduced to news bulletins on 19 August 2024, which was tweaked on 28 July 2025 with less prominent morse code beeps and a fuller orchestral sound.[29]
On 4 March 1985, the ABC refreshed its structure and look, when the 7 o'clock news and the following current affairs program (at that time,Nationwide) were combined to formThe National, and moved to 6:30 pm until 8 December 1985.[30] AfterThe National was deemed unsuccessful,[31] On 9 December 1985, the news was refreshed again with a new set, graphics, and theme.[citation needed]
In 1998, the set was updated, a new opener featuring a light blue globe and the ABC logo was introduced, and the theme remained the same but was tweaked. The graphics also changed to match the new look.[citation needed]
OnAustralia Day (26 January) 2005, a new look (along with theme music) was introduced. The new look made use of an orange and blue globe motif. At the same time the set and graphics received a major overhaul to fit in with this look.[33] This package was used until 21 July 2010, a day before the launch ofABC News.[citation needed]
In January 2010, the ABC announced that a dedicated 24-hourdigital television news channel, namedABC News 24 would be launched during the year.[34] The new channel commenced preliminary broadcasting with a promo loop in early July 2010, with the ABC re-numbering ABC HD channel 20 to logical channel number 24.[35] The channel was officially launched as ABC News 24 at 7:30 pmAustralian Eastern Standard Time on 22 July 2010, and simulcast its first hour of transmission onABC1.[36]
With the launch ofABC News on 22 July 2010, all 7 pm bulletins across Australia had a graphics overhaul to match the look of the new channel. The blue/orange globe style opener was replaced with a series of sliding panels, featuring images specific to each state. New sets were built in each capital city studio to match the ABC News 24 set and graphics were changed to match.[citation needed]
The news bulletins such asNews Breakfast,ABC News Mornings,ABC News at Noon, ABC News Day,ABC News Afternoons,The World,ABC Late News andWeekend Breakfast are aired on ABC News along with its own 30- and 15-minute hourly bulletins.
National news updates are presented onABC TV throughout the day, with evening updates at 7 pm presented live in most states by the respective state news presenters. Bulletins focus strongly on issues of state relevance, with a greater inclusion of national and international news items than are found in the news bulletins of commercial broadcasters. A national financial bulletin is presented on weeknights byAlan Kohler in Melbourne. The ABC's Ultimo studios produces the 8:30 pm weeknight update presented by Joe O'Brien.
News Breakfast is broadcast on weekdays from 6 am – 9 am onABC TV and theABC News channel from ABC's Melbourne studio and is presented by James Glenday andBridget Brennan, news presenter Emma Rebellato, sport presenter Catherine Murphy and weather presenter Nate Byrne. The program is also shown online and onABC Australia in theAsia Pacific region.
Weekend Breakfast is broadcast on weekends from 7 am – 11 am onABC TV and theABC News channel from ABC's main national news studio in Sydney atUltimo and is presented by Johanna Nicholson andFauziah Ibrahim.
ABC News Mornings is presented by Gemma Veness and Dan Bourchier (from the ABC's Parramatta Studio inParramatta, Western Sydney) and airs weekdays at 9 am onABC TV and on the ABC News channel. Sport is presented by Catherine Murphy and weather is presented by Nate Byrne, both from the Melbourne studios.
ABC News at Noon (launched in February 2005 to replace the less successfulMidday News and Business, preceded in turn by the long-runningWorld at Noon) is presented byRos Childs (weekdays) and Dan Bourchier (weekends) from the ABC's main national news studio in the Sydney suburb ofUltimo, and airs onABC TV andABC News channel in each Australian state and territory at midday Australian Eastern Standard/Daylight Time. A separate edition of the bulletin is produced forWestern Australia two to three hours after the original broadcast, as the time delay was deemed too long to remain up-to-date.
7.30 is presented bySarah Ferguson from the ABC's main national news studio in Parramatta, Sydney, onABC TV at 7:30 pm, weeknights. However, when a big state political event happens, the national program can be pre-empted by the local edition.
ABC Late News is presented by Michael Tetlow (Monday-Friday), broadcast from Perth onABC TV at 10:30 pm (eastern time).[citation needed] A separate edition is presented from Perth for Western Australia also by Michael Tetlow on ABC at 10:30 pm (western time) and then ABC News channel at 11pm (eastern time) and 12:30 am. Later, they also host 15-minuteNews Overnight bulletins.[37]
Other news and current affairs programs broadcast nationally includeAfternoon Briefing,ABC News at Five,7.30,Insiders,Four Corners,Behind the News,Q&A,Landline,Offsiders,One Plus One,The Business,The World,Australian Story,Foreign Correspondent,Media Watch andAustralia Wide.
News and current affairs programs are also broadcast onABC Australia, a channel broadcast to the region outside Australia. These includeFour Corners,7:30 andQ+A.[38]
ABC news television programs are available via thevideo-on-demand platform,ABC iview.
ABC NewsRadio is a radio station dedicated to news and current affairs. It features national news bulletins at :00 and :30, with rolling news coverage during the remainder of each hour. In off-peak hours, it broadcasts content from partner providers such as the BBC World Service, NPR, and Deutsche Welle.
ABC Radio Australia, which covers theAsia-Pacific region, broadcasts regular bulletins produced in Melbourne, featuring reports from foreign correspondents in the region.
State bulletins are produced by theABC Local Radio station from the capital city of each state and mainland territory. They are broadcast to all ABC Local Radio andABC Radio National stations in each state, and focus strongly on issues of state relevance, but also feature national and international stories. National bulletins air when state bulletins are not produced.
ABC Local Radio stations previously broadcast a flagship 15-minute state bulletin at 7:45 am, which in its final years was the only bulletin still introduced by the 18-second version ofMajestic Fanfare. All other bulletins were introduced by a 9-second version of Majestic Fanfare. ABC Radio National and ABC Classic FM stations did not broadcast the 7:45 am bulletin, instead broadcasting an ordinary 8:00 am state bulletin and a 10-minute 7 am bulletin respectively, and continued to broadcast bulletins every hour when Local Radio stations broadcast bulletins every 30 minutes in the early morning. This bulletin began in 1939 and was discontinued on Sunday 20 September 2020.[39][40]
ABC News produces several current affairs programs for radio. All share a quasi-magazine format, and investigate stories in greater depth compared to news bulletins.
Other news-related, factual and current affairs programs broadcast by the various radio stations of the ABC Radio network include:
All ABC radio stations are available via an ABC Newsmobile app, ABC Listen, from whichpodcasts are also available.
In March 2024, ABC News won the 2023 Gold Lizzie for Best Title at the IT Journalism Awards, a shared honour between ABC News Story Lab and ABC Radio. ABC News also won Best Gaming Coverage and Best News Coverage.[46][47][48]
The Best News Coverage award was for three stories aboutdata breaches affecting Australians:[47]
March 2007 – Revised 1 July 2008 and 1 March 2009.
The ABC chose yesterday to launch a fresh look for its TV news programs, including updated sets, graphics and titles, all broadcast in widescreen format for the first time -- and, most arrestingly, introduced by brand new theme music, written by Armiger.
The first face on the new channel will beThe 7.30 Report host Kerry O'Brien, who will introduce viewers to an hour-long launch special to be simulcast on ABC1, streamed online and on mobile devices.