Radio’s Greatest Newsreaders: The Future

There’s been a lot of debate about the future of radio journalism. In an era of easily accessible information online and networked newsrooms, there have been some who’ve suggested the ‘glory days’ have passed us by.

Fortunately, there are still plenty of people who are chasing the stories and delivering the news around the clock.  

For the past few weeks, Radio Today has been highlighting the greats of the past and present, with the input of key industry figures.

This week, we look at the ones who are on on the rise.


Kate O’Bree started out in radio in 2012 and is already an ACRA winner (Best Talk Presenter – Non-Metropolitan, 2016). She joined the ARN Sydney newsroom in 2016 where she delivers news for WSFM, KIIS, 97.3 and 4KQ.

ARN is also home to Jennie Lenman in Adelaide and Vanessa Gibson in Brisbane.

Lenman reads weekend breakfast news on Mix 102.3 FM and Cruise 1323 and is also a casual producer at ABC Radio Adelaide.

She shares and ABC background with Gibson, who is also a producer at ABC Radio Brisbane and a casual reader at 97.3 and 4KQ.

After an early TV career with Southern Cross Austereo and time in the 3AW newsroom, Ashleigh Gardner is now breakfast newsreader at Nova 100.  She is also a nominee for Best News Presenter at this year’s ACRAs.

From the 3AW newsroom comes police reporter Pat Mitchell, who also presents news on the Melbourne talk powerhouse.  Mitchell is a graduate of RMIT University.

Jordan Tunbridge is another from the Macquarie Media stable.  A 2013 Deakin University graduate, Tunbridge can also be heard on 3AW.

NOVA Entertainment’s Katie Hill is another whose star is on the rise.  She launched her career at GWN7 in Bunbury in 2014 and it’s taken her to 2SM, Fox Sports and Nova 96.9 in Sydney.

Erin Ramsay is a ‘snow reporter’ at Thredbo Resort. Since January this year, she’s also been a casual newsreader for NOVA Entertainment based in Sydney.

Given the extent of SCA’s regional network, it’s no surprise that it has become a training ground for young journalists and news readers, many of whom have gone on to forge cap city careers.

Among the ‘current crop’ is Katya-Rose Brownjohn-Moss. Currently working in Mildura, Brownjohn-Moss started her radio career as a copywriter in Albury but discovered a love for ‘news’.

Alex Darling is another of SCA’s regional journos who are making a name for themselves. Discovered at an SCA ‘boot-camp’, Alex is currently based at Gosford, where he delivers news for Sea and 2GO FM.

Also in the SCA stable is Abbey Donaldson, who can be heard in breakfast on Hit Cairns.  She started her radio journey as a casual in Adelaide just over a year ago.

In Rockhampton is Aroha Liebhart, who moved from the Army into a sales co-ordinator’s role and then into news. Her radio career has also included 12-months with Macquarie Media in Brisbane.

Also honing their craft in the bush is ACE Radio Network’s Chris Guscott, who hails from Adelaide but is now based in Swan Hill. Chris reads news for 3SH and Mixx FM.

Whilst there have been many changes to the industry over the past 10 years, it’s clear news is looking very healthy.  


Who’ve we missed? Let us know about other ‘up and coming’ stars of newsreading in the comments, and catch up on the Greatest Newsreaders Of The Past, The Present (AM), and The Present (FM).

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Recent comments (4)
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Daran Murphy
24 Sep 2018 - 9:17 am

Hannah Rose Hamer who does the SCA regional news springs to mind here.

James Royce
24 Sep 2018 - 9:54 am

Sally Spicer is a glaring omission from this list as far as I’m concerned. I haven’t met anyone with as hard a work ethic, desire to succeed and winning attitude in my time in radio. Sally is going places!

Lester Pasley
24 Sep 2018 - 1:01 pm

Natalie Peters who reads the news during the breakfast show on 2CH. She belongs to the Macquarie Newsroom and is a very good newsreader.

JASON ANDREW TOPPIN
25 Sep 2018 - 5:59 am

AGREE WITGH JORN\DAN TUNBRIDGE HE MIGHT REPLACE JIHN NBURNS WHEN OR IF HE RETIRES FRIM 3AW BREAKJFAST

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