Ben Fordham
Encyclopedia
Ben Fordham is an Australian journalist and radio presenter.
Fordham is currently a sport presenter on the Nine Network
's Today
and drive presenter on 2GB
.
radio station, for which he won a Walkley Award for his coverage of the 1997 Thredbo landslide
. In 1998, Fordham moved to television and joined Sky News Australia
as a reporter and presenter.
After less than a year at Sky News Australia
, Ben joined the Nine Network
, working on tabloid
current affair programs such as 60 Minutes
, A Current Affair, Nine News and Today
.
Fordham filled in for Stuart Bocking on 2UE
Nights in the 2008/09 summer period, he also filled in for Ray Hadley
on 2GB
in the 2009/10 summer period.
In 2010, Fordham joined Nine News and Today
as a reporter, he also covered the 2010 Australian Federal Election.
In January 2011, Fordham joined Today
as sport presenter replacing Cameron Williams
.
He also joined 2GB
in January 2011 replacing Jason Morrison
to present 'Sydney Live'.
, a catholic college in Chatswood
.
He is managed by The Fordham Company which is run by his father John.
In October 2011, Ben married Seven News
reporter Jodie Speers.
and A Current Affairs producer Andrew Byrne were also charged.
On 20 July 2010 NSW Supreme Court judge Elizabeth Fullerton called Fordham's attitude "disrespectful" when he failed to appear in court to hear her judgment on the charges of breaching the Listening Devices Act. Justice Fullerton found him guilty of one of four charges against him, that he knowingly recorded a conversation on 28 May 2008. Byrne was convicted of four charges of breaching the act.
The conversation was aired on ACA in May 2008, claiming to show former Waverley mayor James Markham ordering a fatal hit on a male escort. Although found guilty, Fordham and Byrne each escaped conviction, with Justice Fullerton saying it was "an appalling lack of judgment by two senior journalists who are otherwise held in esteem by their colleagues".
Fordham is currently a sport presenter on the Nine Network
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
's Today
Today (Australian TV program)
Today and Weekend Today are Australian breakfast television programmes, the show is often referred to as The Today Show. The show has been broadcast live by the Nine Network each morning since 1982...
and drive presenter on 2GB
2GB
2GB is a commercial radio station in Sydney, Australia broadcasting on 873 kHz, AM. It is one of Australia's most popular talk-back radio stations, and is the number one station in Sydney.-History:The station commenced broadcasting in August 1926...
.
Career
Fordham began his career on Sydney's 2UE2UE
2UE is a commercial radio station in Sydney, Australia owned by Fairfax Media. It is Sydney's and Australia's oldest commercial radio station, first broadcasting on 26 January 1925 on 1025 kHz AM before moving to 950 kHz in 1935 when virtually all Australian radio stations were assigned new...
radio station, for which he won a Walkley Award for his coverage of the 1997 Thredbo landslide
1997 Thredbo landslide
The Thredbo landslide was a catastrophic landslide that occurred at the village and ski resort of Thredbo, New South Wales, Australia, on 30 July 1997. Two ski lodges were destroyed, and a total of 18 died.- Landslide :...
. In 1998, Fordham moved to television and joined Sky News Australia
Sky News Australia
Sky News Australia is an Australian 24 hour cable and satellite news channel available in 2.5 million homes on Foxtel, Austar, Optus Television and Neighbourhood Cable subscription platforms....
as a reporter and presenter.
After less than a year at Sky News Australia
Sky News Australia
Sky News Australia is an Australian 24 hour cable and satellite news channel available in 2.5 million homes on Foxtel, Austar, Optus Television and Neighbourhood Cable subscription platforms....
, Ben joined the Nine Network
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
, working on tabloid
Tabloid journalism
Tabloid journalism tends to emphasize topics such as sensational crime stories, astrology, gossip columns about the personal lives of celebrities and sports stars, and junk food news...
current affair programs such as 60 Minutes
60 Minutes
60 Minutes is an American television news magazine, which has run on CBS since 1968. The program was created by producer Don Hewitt who set it apart by using a unique style of reporter-centered investigation....
, A Current Affair, Nine News and Today
Today (Australian TV program)
Today and Weekend Today are Australian breakfast television programmes, the show is often referred to as The Today Show. The show has been broadcast live by the Nine Network each morning since 1982...
.
Fordham filled in for Stuart Bocking on 2UE
2UE
2UE is a commercial radio station in Sydney, Australia owned by Fairfax Media. It is Sydney's and Australia's oldest commercial radio station, first broadcasting on 26 January 1925 on 1025 kHz AM before moving to 950 kHz in 1935 when virtually all Australian radio stations were assigned new...
Nights in the 2008/09 summer period, he also filled in for Ray Hadley
Ray Hadley
Raymond Morris Hadley OAM is an Australian talkback radio broadcaster. He presents 2GB Sydney's morning show, and leads the Continuous Call Team, a rugby league-based talkback radio panel program.-Early Life:...
on 2GB
2GB
2GB is a commercial radio station in Sydney, Australia broadcasting on 873 kHz, AM. It is one of Australia's most popular talk-back radio stations, and is the number one station in Sydney.-History:The station commenced broadcasting in August 1926...
in the 2009/10 summer period.
In 2010, Fordham joined Nine News and Today
Today (Australian TV program)
Today and Weekend Today are Australian breakfast television programmes, the show is often referred to as The Today Show. The show has been broadcast live by the Nine Network each morning since 1982...
as a reporter, he also covered the 2010 Australian Federal Election.
In January 2011, Fordham joined Today
Today (Australian TV program)
Today and Weekend Today are Australian breakfast television programmes, the show is often referred to as The Today Show. The show has been broadcast live by the Nine Network each morning since 1982...
as sport presenter replacing Cameron Williams
Cameron Williams
Cameron Williams is an Australian journalist.Williams is currently co-host of Weekend Today alongside Leila McKinnon.- Career:Williams's journalism career began 1984 with a cadetship at The Courier-Mail newspaper in Brisbane. From there he moved to The Australian offices in Melbourne, where he...
.
He also joined 2GB
2GB
2GB is a commercial radio station in Sydney, Australia broadcasting on 873 kHz, AM. It is one of Australia's most popular talk-back radio stations, and is the number one station in Sydney.-History:The station commenced broadcasting in August 1926...
in January 2011 replacing Jason Morrison
Jason Morrison (radio broadcaster)
-History:Jason was born in 1971 and raised in Hornsby, which is a suburb of Sydney's North. He went to St. Leo's College at Waitara and is Catholic. He has given little away about his family but has revealed that his father is an Engineer and his mother is a Librarian.He trained at 2GB in a...
to present 'Sydney Live'.
Personal life
Fordham was educated at St Pius X CollegeSt Pius X College
St Pius X College is a Roman Catholic, non-selective, independent high school for boys, located in Chatswood, a North Shore suburb of Sydney, Australia....
, a catholic college in Chatswood
Chatswood, New South Wales
Chatswood is a suburb on the North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Chatswood is located 10 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of the City of Willoughby. Chatswood West is a separate suburb...
.
He is managed by The Fordham Company which is run by his father John.
In October 2011, Ben married Seven News
Seven News
Seven News is the television news service of the Seven Network in Australia.National bulletins are presented from Seven's high-definition studios in Martin Place, Sydney, while flagship 6pm bulletins are produced in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth. The network also produces Seven...
reporter Jodie Speers.
Court
On 26 February 2009 Fordham was charged with concealing a serious crime and breaching the Listening Devices Act. The Nine NetworkNine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
and A Current Affairs producer Andrew Byrne were also charged.
On 20 July 2010 NSW Supreme Court judge Elizabeth Fullerton called Fordham's attitude "disrespectful" when he failed to appear in court to hear her judgment on the charges of breaching the Listening Devices Act. Justice Fullerton found him guilty of one of four charges against him, that he knowingly recorded a conversation on 28 May 2008. Byrne was convicted of four charges of breaching the act.
The conversation was aired on ACA in May 2008, claiming to show former Waverley mayor James Markham ordering a fatal hit on a male escort. Although found guilty, Fordham and Byrne each escaped conviction, with Justice Fullerton saying it was "an appalling lack of judgment by two senior journalists who are otherwise held in esteem by their colleagues".