John Barron appointed as ABC Fact Check presenter
Barron, ABC Fact Check presenter
Journalist and author John Barron will be the presenter for ABC Fact Check when it launches later this year.
An email to staff was sent out by ABC head of current affairs Bruce Belsham yesterday evening saying Barron had got the job due to his “fine credentials in fact-based research”and his regular TV and radio appearances.
The public broadcaster moved to set up the fact checking unit after it received an extra $10 million in funding from the Government.
The email said:
“I’m delighted to announce that John Barron will fill the presenter role for ABC Fact Check. John has ideal skills for this role. He is a broadcast professional practised in studio presentation both on radio and TV.
“In recent times he has worked as a presenter on ABC News 24 and as a host for the discussion program The Drum, as well as being co-host of Planet America. John has long radio experience as a presenter and journalist for ABC News Radio. He has written extensively for online publications, as well as for newspapers including the Washington Post.
“John Barron also has fine credentials in fact-based research. Since 2009 he has been a Research Associate at the US Studies Centre, University of Sydney. He lectures at Sydney University in US politics. His book Vote for Me about US presidential politics (UNSW Press and Washington University Press) is used to teach students at universities in both the USA and Australia.
“John brings to ABC Fact Check an on-air presence honed by hours on TV and radio, and augmented by solid journalistic skills and the disciplines of evidence-based research. He will be a great asset to this project.”
Russell Skelton was appointed as the editor of the fact checking unit in May. The ABC says it will also employ a supervising producer, a digital and social media producer, and analysts/researches for the unit.
How will this be an objective show when the gov’t is funding it? Oh wait, the ABC is subjective anyway! sorry….
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Hi John
I like your Planet America however you seem to get your info mostly from CNN and you are missing the biggest conspiracy scandal in USA history Please check with Sean Hannity pf Fox news Iwould like to see the views of both sides Regards
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