From headlines to healthcare: New chapter for ARN’s James Fennessy

Award-winning journalist and podcaster James Fennessy is stepping away from radio to embark on a new life chapter in the healthcare industry.

After five years with ARN at 2EC/Power FM on the New South Wales Far South Coast, James is starting a new job as Digital Communications Manager with Southern NSW Local Health District.

Today (Friday, January 31) will be his final day broadcasting local news on 2EC and Power FM.

But whilst he might be bidding farewell to the studio, James takes with him a deep passion for storytelling, audio and the connections he’s built along the way.

His time at 2EC/Power FM included hosting a magazine-style morning radio show on 2EC – where he interviewed everyone from Prime Ministers to posties.

James also managed promotions across both stations before moving into the newsroom in 2021, where he delivered local news bulletins for the region between Batemans Bay and Mallacoota.

On top of that, he presented national news bulletins via ARN’s digital news podcast Your News Now.

One of James’ proudest achievements was the iHeart Far South Coast podcast, a weekly local news and current affairs project partly funded by the NSW Regional Media Fund to support innovation in regional journalism.

The podcast allowed James to explore key local issues in-depth, showcasing the power of audio storytelling to engage and inform.

Within months of its launch last year, the podcast tied for Best News Podcast at the 2024 Radio Today Podcast Awards alongside the ABC’s Global Roaming podcast with Hamish McDonald and Geraldine Doogue.

It also earned two nominations at the 2024 Australian Podcast Awards for Best News and Current Affairs Podcast and Editor’s Choice.

On reflection, James says whilst it’s not about winning awards, it is nice to be recognised for something you put your heart and soul into.

“We were able to push the boundaries of what regional news can achieve and tell local stories that deserve to be told and that matter, and we did it with a fairly conversational tone.”

During his days as Mornings Announcer on 2EC, whilst Dalmeny local and snowboarding champ Valentino Guseli was competing at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, James ran a memorable social media campaign to change the name of the town from Dalmeny to Valmeny.

James’ love for audio runs deep, and he’s grateful for the opportunities he’s had with ARN.

“I’ve had the privilege of working alongside some incredibly hardworking and talented people at ARN.”

“Radio, journalism and podcasting are some of my key passions, and I’m proud of what we’ve been able to achieve together as part of the Bega Bay radio team, the iHeart regional podcast team and the wider ARN news team.”

Whilst today is James’ last day on air, listeners can still hear his dulcet tones for a few more weeks on the iHeart Far South Coast podcast, which will continue after James departs.

As he focuses on making a difference in his new healthcare role, James won’t miss the 4am alarms and looks forward to spending more time with his wife and two young children.

And whilst his immediate focus is on digital communications in the health industry, James hasn’t ruled out returning to podcasting in the future.

It may be a farewell to radio for now, but it’s certainly not the end of James’ storytelling journey.