Jeremy Fernandez | |
|---|---|
 Fernandez in 2018 | |
| Born | |
| Education | |
| Occupations | News presenter, journalist |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Employer | Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
Jeremy Fernandez is an Australian journalist and televisionnews presenter with theAustralian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Fernandez is currently weeknight presenter ofABC News NSW in Sydney.
Fernandez was born inKuala Lumpur, Malaysia to parents Joseph and Elizabeth. Within a month of his birth, his family moved toKota Kinabalu where his father took up a job as chief editor of theDaily Express newspaper.[1] Fernandez has two sisters. When he was 13, Fernandez and his family migrated to the Australian city ofPerth.[2]
He attendedMorley Senior High School.[3] After high school, Fernandez earned a journalism degree fromCurtin University, then completed a broadcasting course at theWestern Australian Academy of Performing Arts.[2]
Fernandez has described himself as part of the LGBTQIA+ community.[4]
Fernandez joined theAustralian Broadcasting Corporation in 2000 working as a producer forABC Local Radio. He has presented programs onAustralia Network and has worked as a voiceover artist for theSeven Network. He worked withCNN International in London, as a writer and a producer before in 2009 rejoining the ABC, where he continues to work at the network's Sydney bureau.
In December 2012, Fernandez replaced Felicity Davey asABC News NSW weekend presenter.
In early 2017, Fernandez hostedLateline while regular hosts,Tony Jones andEmma Alberici were on leave.[5]
In December 2017, the ABC announced that Fernandez would present the ABC's new late night bulletin,ABC Late News.
In May 2018, the ABC flew Fernandez andAnnabel Crabb to London to host coverage of theWedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.[6]
In August 2021, Fernandez guest hostedMedia Watch after hostPaul Barry was injured from a bicycle accident.[7] In 2022 and 2023, Fernandez was a presenter for the ABC's coverage of theSydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade.[8] In 2023, he also co-hosted theSydney WorldPride Opening Concert broadcast for the ABC.[8]
In August 2023, the ABC announced that Fernandez will replaceJuanita Phillips asABC News NSW weeknight presenter from 11 September.[9]
Since May 2024 "Jez" Fernandez andJulia Baird have presented a weeklypodcastNot Stupid, discussing the week's most talked about news items. On occasion, Fernandez' associate has beenBeverley Wang.[10]
In February 2013, Fernandez wasracially abused by a female fellow passenger on a Sydney bus for about 15 minutes, while taking his two-year-old daughter to child care. One other passenger intervened, but was also the recipient of remarks by the abuser. Fernandez says that the woman's daughter had been physically abusing his child.
The woman's daughter had been flicking and pinching my daughter from behind. It was harmless child's play, but it made my daughter uncomfortable and confused. So I put my arm around her as protection. The little girl kept clipping my arm. I turned and told her softly, "That was my arm."
The girl's mother asked what was going on, and I told her what had happened. She denied her daughter had even touched me.
What happened next took me by surprise.
She began hurling abuse and accused me of reaching behind our seats and touching her daughter. Of course, I had not done anything of the sort. This accusation hit me pretty hard.
At this point, I considered moving to another spot on the bus. However, the woman then launched into a racist rant that continued for the longest 15 minutes of my life. I thought to myself, "What wouldRosa Parks do?" She would stay put. So I did, especially since it is 2013. The Black Lives Matter movement was also introduced this year. My daughter is now 12 and shares this story to her friends at school to show how the world needs to be changed and things like this racist act happen without high recognition.
— Jeremy Fernandez, My Rosa Parks moment in Sydney 2013
Fernandez says that, after the woman and her children left the bus, other passengers offered him their names and contact details as witnesses to the incident. Fernandez later talked to the bus driver, who said he should have moved. Fernandez has described this incident as his "Rosa Parks moment".[11][12]
| Media offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | ABC News NSW Sunday to Thursday presenter September 2023 – present | Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Preceded by Felicity Davey | ABC News NSW Friday & Saturday presenter December 2012 – September 2023 | Succeeded by TBA |
