Radio National Breakfast
Encyclopedia
Radio National Breakfast (sometimes shortened to ‘Breakfast’) is a national early morning news programme in Australia
. The programme is broadcast live in the eastern states (and on delay in other states) on the ABC
Radio National
network. It can also be listened to online. The programme is hosted by award winning journalist Fran Kelly.
at 7.00.
Talking Point is listen, learn and be enteratained on ABC Radio Australia
is broadcast from Sydney
.
A weekend edition, called Saturday Extra, is hosted by journalist Geraldine Doogue
and is broadcast from 7.30 am to 9.00 am AEST.
The programme has a familiar tune, during which the presenter indicates the main stories which will be covered during the programme, including the interviews which are planned.
About four items are presented each hour, with longer items earlier in the programme. These will include a mix of reports from ABC correspondents, reports from the BBC
and CNN
, as well as interviews with a variety of people, including federal and state politicians, prominent commentators, persons of interest, celebrities and ordinary people who are in the middle of news stories.
. AM is the ABC’s flagship radio current affairs programme, along with its sister programs The World Today
and PM
. AM is usually presented by Tony Eastley
, an award winning ABC journalist. The programme runs from 7.10 am until 7.30 am, after which listeners are ‘returned’ to Fran Kelly and the Breakfast programme.
and classics
, she appeared first as a lead singer for the all-girl new wave band ‘Toxic Shoc’, before becoming the Activities Director for Adelaide's Flinders University. She moved to Melbourne to take up the post of Entertainment Director for La Trobe University. From 1984 Fran broadened her experience in arts management as the co-ordinator of the Women's Arts Festival for Victoria's 150th Anniversary celebrations. Following a stint on Melbourne’s RRR Backchat programme, featuring women’s current affairs, issues and talkback, Fran applied for a current affairs position at the ABC. While she was knocked back initially, she got a foot in and found work at Triple J
. Following this she worked for AM
and PM
before taking up a position for the ABC in the Canberra Press Gallery, which included reporting for Radio National Breakfast. In 2001 she was made the 7.30 Report’s political editor. In 2003 she became the ABC’s European correspondent. Since March 2005 she has been presenter of Radio National Breakfast.
, was known to be a ‘fan’ of the programme and regularly appeared for interviews.
In early 2007 Mr Howard cited an interview that Fran Kelly had conducted on ‘Breakfast’ with indigenous community leader Noel Pearson
as being the motivation behind his ‘Federal Indigenous Intervention’ project, a controversial policy aimed at ending child sexual abuse in remote indigenous communities.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The programme is broadcast live in the eastern states (and on delay in other states) on the ABC
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
Radio National
Radio National
ABC Radio National is an Australia-wide non-commercial radio network run by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.Radio National broadcasts national programming in areas that include news and current affairs, the arts, social issues, science, drama and comedy...
network. It can also be listened to online. The programme is hosted by award winning journalist Fran Kelly.
Background
Radio National Breakfast programming combines news, analysis, commentary, interviews and special features broadcast live daily from 6.00 am to 8.30 am. AEST. The programme is broadcast in two segments (6.00 to 7.00 and 7.30 to 8.30) before and after the current affairs programme AMAM (ABC Radio)
AM, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's flagship current-affairs radio program, is one of Australia's longest-running productions. Its tagline is Ensure you are informed.-History and timeslots:...
at 7.00.
Talking Point is listen, learn and be enteratained on ABC Radio Australia
Radio Australia
Radio Australia is the international broadcasting and online service operated by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation , Australia's public broadcaster.- History :...
is broadcast from Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
.
A weekend edition, called Saturday Extra, is hosted by journalist Geraldine Doogue
Geraldine Doogue
Dr Geraldine Doogue AO is an Australian journalist and radio and television host.Doogue was the host of Radio National's Life Matters program for 11 years. She received a United Nations Media Peace Prize and two Penguin Awards for her role in ABC TV's coverage of the Gulf War...
and is broadcast from 7.30 am to 9.00 am AEST.
Format
The format of the programme, while not always the same, is usually consistent. The programme begins officially at 6.10 am following the hourly news broadcast. The news broadcasts are state-based and occur on the hour - and every hour - with the traditional ‘Majestic Fanfare’ tune.The programme has a familiar tune, during which the presenter indicates the main stories which will be covered during the programme, including the interviews which are planned.
About four items are presented each hour, with longer items earlier in the programme. These will include a mix of reports from ABC correspondents, reports from the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
, as well as interviews with a variety of people, including federal and state politicians, prominent commentators, persons of interest, celebrities and ordinary people who are in the middle of news stories.
AM
At 7.10 am, after the 7.00 news, Breakfast switches over to AMAM (ABC Radio)
AM, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's flagship current-affairs radio program, is one of Australia's longest-running productions. Its tagline is Ensure you are informed.-History and timeslots:...
. AM is the ABC’s flagship radio current affairs programme, along with its sister programs The World Today
The World Today
BBC World News is the standard news bulletin featuring the latest international news broadcast throughout most of the day on BBC World News. Some editions also feature brief business and sport reports as well...
and PM
PM (ABC Radio)
PM is one of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's flagship current-affairs radio programs, and is one of Australia's longest-running productions. It is the sister program to AM...
. AM is usually presented by Tony Eastley
Tony Eastley
-Journalism career:Eastley began his journalism career in the 1970s with The Examiner newspaper in Launceston, Tasmania before joining the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 1979.With ABC-TV he spent stints in Singapore and Hong Kong as a foreign correspondent....
, an award winning ABC journalist. The programme runs from 7.10 am until 7.30 am, after which listeners are ‘returned’ to Fran Kelly and the Breakfast programme.
Hosts
- Fran Kelly March 2005 - present
- Peter Thompson January 1994 – December 1999, January 2003 - December 2004
- Vivian Schenker January 2000 - December 2002
- Geraldine DoogueGeraldine DoogueDr Geraldine Doogue AO is an Australian journalist and radio and television host.Doogue was the host of Radio National's Life Matters program for 11 years. She received a United Nations Media Peace Prize and two Penguin Awards for her role in ABC TV's coverage of the Gulf War...
Weekend host and first backup for weekday hosting - Dr Norman Swan second backup host
Fran Kelly
Fran Kelly went through many careers before joining the ABC. Following her arts degree at Adelaide University, majoring in literatureLiterature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
and classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
, she appeared first as a lead singer for the all-girl new wave band ‘Toxic Shoc’, before becoming the Activities Director for Adelaide's Flinders University. She moved to Melbourne to take up the post of Entertainment Director for La Trobe University. From 1984 Fran broadened her experience in arts management as the co-ordinator of the Women's Arts Festival for Victoria's 150th Anniversary celebrations. Following a stint on Melbourne’s RRR Backchat programme, featuring women’s current affairs, issues and talkback, Fran applied for a current affairs position at the ABC. While she was knocked back initially, she got a foot in and found work at Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
. Following this she worked for AM
AM (ABC Radio)
AM, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's flagship current-affairs radio program, is one of Australia's longest-running productions. Its tagline is Ensure you are informed.-History and timeslots:...
and PM
PM (ABC Radio)
PM is one of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's flagship current-affairs radio programs, and is one of Australia's longest-running productions. It is the sister program to AM...
before taking up a position for the ABC in the Canberra Press Gallery, which included reporting for Radio National Breakfast. In 2001 she was made the 7.30 Report’s political editor. In 2003 she became the ABC’s European correspondent. Since March 2005 she has been presenter of Radio National Breakfast.
Contributors
There are several regular contributors to the programme.- Michelle GrattanMichelle GrattanMichelle Grattan AO , Australian journalist, was the first woman to become editor of an Australian metropolitan daily newspaper. Specialising in political journalism, Grattan has written and edited for many significant Australian newspapers....
, the political editor of MelbourneMelbourneMelbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
’s AgeThe AgeThe Age is a daily broadsheet newspaper, which has been published in Melbourne, Australia since 1854. Owned and published by Fairfax Media, The Age primarily serves Victoria, but is also available for purchase in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and border regions of South Australia and...
newspaper, delivers a daily take on federal politics; - Warwick Hadfield wraps up sport daily;
- James Carleton covers newspaper headlines;
- Mike Woods - Melbourne reporter;
- Madeleine Genner - Sydney reporter;
- Sheryle Bagwell - business editor;
- Alison Carabine - Canberra reporter;
- Chris SmithChris Smith, The Naked ScientistDr Chris Smith - "the Naked Scientist" - is a medical doctor and a clinical lecturer in virology at Cambridge University where he is a fellow of Queens' College...
, from the Naked ScientistsThe Naked ScientistsThe Naked Scientists is a one-hour audience-interactive science radio talk show broadcast live by the BBC in the East of England, nationally by BBC Radio 5 Live and internationally as a podcast. The programme was created and is edited by Cambridge University Pathology Department clinical lecturer...
, appears on Fridays with the latest developments in science; - Peter MarksPeter B MarksPeter B Marks is the weekly technology reviewer for Radio National Breakfast. He also co-produces a weekly technology podcast and blogs regularly on computing, photography, music, and philosophy at ....
reviews recent technology trends and news on Wednesdays;
Recognition and Acclaim
Radio National Breakfast, while lower in ratings than most other state and local radio programmes, has, as a national programme, one of the highest listener numbers for any early morning program in Australia. In particular it is regarded as the programme which federal Australian politicians listen to, particularly given its focus on national politics. Former Australian Prime Minister, John HowardJohn Howard
John Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
, was known to be a ‘fan’ of the programme and regularly appeared for interviews.
In early 2007 Mr Howard cited an interview that Fran Kelly had conducted on ‘Breakfast’ with indigenous community leader Noel Pearson
Noel Pearson
Noel Pearson is an Aboriginal Australian lawyer, academic, land rights activist and founder of the Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership, an organisation promoting the economic and social development of Cape York....
as being the motivation behind his ‘Federal Indigenous Intervention’ project, a controversial policy aimed at ending child sexual abuse in remote indigenous communities.