Radio National Breakfast

Radio National Breakfast (sometimes shortened to Breakfast) is a national early morning news program in Australia. The program 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 program is hosted by award-winning journalist Fran Kelly.[1]

Radio National Breakfast
GenreNews: analysis, commentary, features, interviews, specials
Running time105 min. weekdays;
including breaks
Country of originAustralia
Home stationABC Radio National
Hosted byFran Kelly
Original releasepresent incarnation began in 1999 – present
Websitewww.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/breakfast/
Podcastwww.abc.net.au/radionational/feed/2890356/podcast.xml

Background

Radio National Breakfast programming combines news, analysis, commentary, interviews and special features broadcast live daily from 6.00 am to 9.00 am.[2] The program is broadcast in two segments (6.00 to 7.00 and 7.30 to 8.30) before and after the current affairs program AM at 7.00.

A weekend edition, called Saturday Extra, is hosted by journalist Geraldine Doogue and is broadcast from 7.30 am to 9.00 am AEST.

Format

The format of the program, while not always the same, is usually consistent. The program 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 program has a familiar tune, during which the presenter indicates the main stories which will be covered during the program, including the interviews which are planned.

About four items are presented each hour, with longer items earlier in the program. 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

At 7.10 am, after the 7.00 news, Breakfast switches over to AM. AM is the ABC's flagship radio current affairs program, along with its sister programs The World Today and PM. AM is presented by Sabra Lane, an ABC journalist. The program runs from 7.10 am until 7.30 am, after which listeners are "returned" to Fran Kelly and the Breakfast program.

Hosts

Fran Kelly

Fran Kelly went through many careers before joining the ABC. Following her arts degree at Adelaide University, majoring in literature 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 coordinator of the Women's Arts Festival for Victoria's 150th Anniversary celebrations. Following a stint on Melbourne's RRR Backchat program, 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.

Contributors

There are several regular contributors to the program.

  • Warwick Hadfield - sport reporter.
  • Matt Bevan - Newsreader and international reporter
  • Sheryle Bagwell – business reporter
  • Alison Carabine – Canberra reporter

Recognition and acclaim

Radio National Breakfast, while lower in ratings than most other state and local radio programs, has, as a national program, one of the highest listener numbers for any early morning program in Australia. In particular it is regarded as the program which federal Australian politicians listen to, particularly given its focus on national politics. Former Australian Prime Minister, John Howard, was known to be a ‘fan’ of the program 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.

References
  1. "About – RN Breakfast". Radio National. Retrieved 2016-11-14.
  2. "Broadcast Schedule". ABC Radio National. Retrieved 2016-11-14.
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