ABC hires The Australian’s Patricia Karvelas as RN Drive host replacing Waleed Aly
The ABC has appointed Patricia Karvelas as the new host of Radio National’s drive program replacing Waleed Aly.
The well respected Karvelas is the Victorian editor and Melbourne bureau chief of national broadsheet The Australian and has been a regular fill-in for Rafael Epstein on ABC 774 for much of 2014.
A formal announcement is expected later today, but it is understood that Karvelas’s strong news breaking background and expertise in federal political reporting, social and indigenous affairs were a key factor in the appointment.
In a note to RN staff this morning Michael Mason, acting manager of RN, noted: “Patricia has been a prominent senior journalist in the Australian media for 15 years, beginning her professional career in broadcast journalism at the ABC and SBS as both a producer and presenter.”
The drive post became vacant earlier this month after Waleed Aly announced he was moving over to Ten to host The Project.
Karvelas had been touted as a future editor of The Australian. Her departure comes after the Melbourne bureau of The Australian recently also lost Ewin Hannan its industrial relations editor to the Australian Financial Review.
She will take up the role from late January.
Nic Christensen
Update 8.30am – The ABC has just issued the following statement:
ABC RN today announced Patricia Karvelas will be the new presenter of RN Drive, the network’s popular flagship evening program, broadcast Monday—Friday, 6.00–7:30pm.
Patricia has been a prominent senior journalist in the Australian media for 15 years, beginning her professional career in broadcast journalism at the ABC and SBS as both a producer and presenter.
She has worked for The Australian newspaper since 2002 covering federal politics, most recently working as the Victorian Bureau Chief and Editor and Senior National Affairs Journalist.
Patricia is a regular fill-in presenter on 774 ABC Melbourne, and frequently appears on a range of television and
radio programs including RN’s Sunday Extra and ABC TV’s The Drum.
“RN is the network of ideas – and there are few people better placed in the Australian Media than Patricia to take up the role of RN Drive presenter,” said Deborah Leavitt, Manager, ABC RN.
“She brings to the role a strong track record in breaking stories, a highly-tuned analytical mind and an interest in Indigenous affairs, as well as a natural curiosity about what matters most in the lives of Australians.”
Patricia will commence on air on Monday 26 January 2015.
As a listener to RN I hope that she can resist management’s wishes to ‘keep it light’.
That’s what Waleed Aleed succumbed to, spending a lot of air time trying to brighten up serious matters with unnecessary banter.
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More leftie dribble from her.
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Rubbish myriad. Perhaps less formal would best describe his style. Same goes for Green. Management have done a great job with RN. I wish they would move a few more on…… Doogue, Adams, Wiliams. Keep refreshing that’s what I say. There are lots of smart young people out there.
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@ Jennifer, Try listening to Amanda Vanstone’s excruciating attempts at being moderately right wing. It’s comedy gold.
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Well, Garry Wilson, RN’s ratings don’t appear to have shot up since they’ve tried new presenters or formats. As for Walled Alee, no doubt well informed, a new presenter of RN Drive might just be able to find more listeners for the important timeslot.
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There is no need for RN. It’s just more Leftie drivel that doesn’t rate and which soaks up tax dollars which could be spent better elsewhere.
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I loved Waleed and he was able to provide some great interviews with intelligence and depth…I’m not really familiar with Ms Karvelas but she brings a lot of the Oz baggage with her.
We need more transparency now more than ever.
I only hope she delivers in that respect
Good journalism is on the decline in the m.s.m
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I’ve become a loyal RN Drive listener. I will be annoyed if it loses interactivity with the audience.
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Karvelas is a fabulous choice for RN Drive. Now if only management would let James Carleton permanently fill in for Fran Kelly rather than hyped up jockey sounding fill in’s, all will be fine.
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Reading Patricia Karvelas’ excellent coverage of indigenous affairs and social issues for so many years I am sure she will prove enormously popular with ABC Radio National ‘ Drive’ listeners who will value an experienced journalist and commentator, who can be trusted!
Congratulations to ABC and to Karvelas on this appointment, we will look forward to hearing you as we prepare the evening meal or drive home!
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