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ABC launches regional current affairs program, Australia Wide

The ABC has announced the launch of a new weekday evening regional current affairs program, Australia Wide.

The new show is part of the radio restructure announced late year that saw the national evening current affairs show, PM, cut to a half hour segment.

The program, which will be hosted by journalist and presenter Sinéad Mangan, shares its name with the former ABC television program hosted by Yassmin Abdel-Magied.

The first episode is set to air on January 22.

Presenter of ABC Australia Wide, Sinéad Mangan

Last March, the ABC announced its Connecting Communities initiative which saw a funding boost of $15.4 million to its regional teams for the creation of up to 80 content producing roles. That announcement was followed in November with a restructuring of all of the ABC’s production divisions.

The 25-minute program will appear on ABC regional stations at 6.05pm weekdays, with a focus on issues affecting rural and regional Australia.

It will be replayed to national and international audiences on Radio National and ABC Radio Australia each weeknight at 7.35pm.

“The launch of Australia Wide gives those living in local communities a stronger voice in national conversations and builds on our commitment as Australia’s national broadcaster to reflect the whole of Australia in our news and information,” said director of ABC Regional, Fiona Reynolds.

“We’ve put a great team behind the program, headed by WA-based presenter Sinéad Mangan and senior producer, Bridget Fitzgerald.”

The program will be produced from the ABC’s Perth studios, where Mangan has held a number of reporting, producing and presenter roles over the past 16 years, including the WA Country Hour and filling in on ABC Radio Perth programs.

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