ARN content chief says network is taking a ‘Jimmy Fallon Tonight’ approach to star interviews

(l-r) Julie Duff, Duncan Campbell, Alyx Gorman, David Hovenden

The Australian Radio Network’s content director has urged management and PR representatives to give shows more access to talent before interviews, after admitting he was forced to write a letter of apology to rapper Nicki Minaj’s management after a recent interview with Kyle and Jackie O on KiisFM.

Speaking at a Networx Sydney event Duncan Campbell said it was “no longer enough to have stock standard interviewers” and said the network was embracing a “Jimmy Fallon Tonight show” approach by going beyond the standard interviews, and getting talent to do more fun and engaging things, but admitted “we find that tends to be a bit of a barrier at times getting through PR to the artist”.

The issue of advertisers being given extra attention editorially was also raised by the audience of mostly PRs and publicists, with fellow panelist and B&T editor-in-chief David Hovenden admitting if a press release comes in from an advertiser “then I feel morally obliged to at least look at your story seriously.”