AFR political editor Laura Tingle to join ABC’s 7.30
Walkley award-winning AFR political editor Laura Tingle is to join the ABC as chief political reporter for the network’s TV current affairs show, 7.30.
Tingle spent her 35 year career in print working for both Fairfax and News at The Australian, Business Review Weekly, The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald. She was appointed the AFR’s political editor in 2008.
Laura Tingle: “Looking forward to exploring the very different opportunities that television provides”
“After 35 years as a print reporter, I am looking forward to exploring the very different opportunities that television provides to report on, and shine a light on, the workings of Australian politics and policy,” said Tingle in a media statement.
While the role will be Tingle’s first at the ABC, the broadcaster runs in her blood.
Her father, veteran broadcaster turned politician John Tingle, was a reporter with the ABC between 1951 and 1968 before moving to commercial radio.
“Laura is one of the great political journalists of her generation,” said ABC director, News Gaven Morris. “More than ever, audiences want political analysis that clearly explains what is unfolding in the political arena, provides analysis of the why, and puts it all into context – and no one does that better than Laura Tingle.
AFR editor Michael Stutchbury announced the move in a memo to staff earlier today:
“Our long time political editor Laura Tingle has decided to make a career change to join the ABC and broadcast journalism.
“Laura began at The Australian Financial Review as a 19-year-old cadet in 1981. After a stint on BRW she returned to the Financial Review in 2002 as chief political correspondent and was appointed political editor in 2008. She has been writing Canberra Observed since 2003.
“During her past 16 years back at the masthead, Laura has won two Walkley Awards and the Paul Lyneham Award for press gallery journalism. She has just departed for two weeks in Europe to study European defence and security arrangements as a result of winning last year’s Qantas European Union Journalism Award.
“Among other important contributions during her time back at the masthead, Laura was the first to report that Labor power brokers were finally moving against Simon Crean, was the first to call the Rudd assassination a political disaster for Labor and correctly pinpointed gaps in Tony Abbott’s election costings. She has been very much in the Financial Review tradition of high politics and deep policy.
“While sad at her departure, I’m sure everyone at the Financial Review will wish her well in her new pursuit.
“Laura will be around for more than the next month. We are discussing an ongoing association with her. But we also have started thinking about how best to bolster our political coverage as Phil Coorey leads our Canberra bureau.”
Tingle’s slightly batty stream of consciousness about the state of the nation on late night RN is gold; this feels like the kind of appointment that the ABC needs (& exists) to make now & forever. Kudos!
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