Австралийская программа текущих событий на радио "AM"

Australian current affairs radio program

AM is an Australian radio program. It is the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's flagship current affairs radio program, aired each morning on both the ABC Radio National and ABC Local Radio networks. First broadcast on 4 September 1967, AM is one of Australia's longest running radio programs.

Robert Peach was the first host of AM when it first aired on the morning of 4 September 1967 on the ABC Radio 1 (metro) and ABC Radio 3 (regional) networks (now ABC Local Radio). The show aired on stations such as 2FC in Sydney, 2NA in Newcastle, 2CN in Canberra and 3AR in Melbourne. Aired every morning at 8:00am immediately after the 7:45am news bulletin, AM soon became Australia's most popular morning radio current affairs program. Two years later, ABC Radio's evening current affairs program, PM was created as a companion program, which became the ABC's flagship evening current affairs program. AM did have its critics in the early years. In January 1968, AM was described by a journalist Harry Robinson in The Sydney Morning Herald as a flop. He said that this was due to "lifeless stories" and "dim presentation". Robinson also opined that Wright deserved better material to deliver and that listeners deserved better stories to hear. Lee hosted the show for six months before Robert Peach returned to the role in July 1969. However, Lee had to temporarily return to hosting duties when Peach sustained serious injuries when he and his wife were hit by a car while walking in Sydney. Peach suffered facial lacerations, broken ribs and two broken legs in the accident. Peach returned to AM on 18 May 1970 while still undergoing physiotherapy. With the introduction of a public affairs program was launched on ABC Radio 1 in 1976 called City Extra, Dowsett was appointed as the inaugural host of that show, forcing him to stand down as the host of AM. Hamish Robertson, who had already been filling in for Dowsett on AM was appointed to the role of AM host permanently. After hosting AM for two years, Richards was replaced by Steve Cosser and demoted back to being a reporter which prompted a protest by the Australian Journalists Association and caused friction between Richards and the ABC. However, Richards was placated with a new role as an associate producer of ABC TV's new current affairs program Six O'Clock Statewide. Replacing Steve Cossar in 1982 was Red Harrison who commenced his tenure as AM host. Harrison had a deep baritone voice which had been described by some colleagues as "whisky soaked" and a unique stern presentation style. Harrison was described as sounding like "a British Army officer who never heard the 1918 Armistice bugle". AM was later introduced to ABC Radio 2 (now Radio National) with a new early edition at 7:05am after the 7:00am news bulletin but in 1994, concerns were raised by staff at 2BL in Sydney about the possible issues arising out of having two near identical editions of the same program competing against each other in two different timeslots on the two stations. In 1987, the program celebrated its 20th anniversary. Past presenters Robert Peach, Red Harrison, Steve Cosser and Hamish Robertson as well as former reporter Bob Carr and host of PM Paul Murphy, gathered at the ABC studios in Sydney to record a commemorative anniversary program which went to air at 10am during Margaret Throsby's Mornings program on 2BL on 4 September 1987. Fanning continued in the role until the end of 1996 when she decided to concentrate on television journalism. Fanning's successor was foreign correspondent Peter Cave, who took over in 1997. When the program celebrated its 30th anniversary in 1997, Cave presented a special edition of AM which explored the future of broadcast journalism in Australia. Among the program's high profile guests were ABC managing director Brian Johns and original reporter Ray Martin. He was succeeded on AM by Linda Mottram who became the show's second female host. In 2007, the program celebrated its 40th anniversary when former presenters recalled various memories of working on the program. At the start of 2014, it was announced that Virginia Trioli from ABC TV's News Breakfast would succeed Eastley the new host of AM. However, in a surprising turnaround less than a week later, Trioli decided against hosting the AM and returned to her television role, co hosting News Breakfast with Michael Rowland. Former 7.30 senior political editor Chris Uhlmann was appointed as the host of AM instead. In 2017, AM celebrated the 50th anniversary of its first program. Early that year, it was announced Sabra Lane would be the host of AM replacing Brissenden who moved to ABC TV's Four Corners. It was also announced that as part of the program's 50th anniversary, new theme music would be introduced for the show to have "a fresh, contemporary sound."

In March 1987, the ABC faced accusations of having senior management interfere with the editorial decision making of AM when a planned live interview on AM with John Pilger was cancelled. This occurred during the fallout from Pilger's controversial interview with prime minister Bob Hawke which had aired on ABC TV's The 7.30 Report. The heavily edited pre recorded interview promptly drew criticism for its apparent bias, with Hawke's press secretary Barrie Cassidy and former New South Wales premier Neville Wran among those to complain. ABC chairman David Hill described the Pilger interview as not measuring up the ABC's standards of professionalism which prompted Pilger in turn to claim Hill had intervened in editorial decisions under the guise of protecting journalistic standards. He denied that he had been advised by ABC management to dump the interview. In May 2003, Senator Richard Alston requested an urgent investigation into AM's coverage. An internal complaints review rejects 66 allegations of bias but upholds two complaints. In October 2003, an independent review overruled the ABC's original investigation and upholds 17 of the original complaints. In January 2004, Alston lodged a complaint about AM to the Australian Broadcasting Authority, claiming the program had breached the ABC's codes of practice 43 times. Finally in 2005, after a 13 month investigation, the ABA found the ABC had on four occasions failed to make reasonable efforts to ensure AM was balanced and impartial while covering the Iraq war. Although the ABA upheld six of Alston's allegations, three related to the same AM segment so therefore amounted to four breaches. Alston's persistent campaign and his determination to have his complaints about AM resolved in his favour was criticised by political reporter Michelle Grattan.

One of the most memorable events of the 2004 Australian federal election campaign occurred in the doorway of the AM studio at the ABC's Sydney headquarters. Howard, however, claimed Latham simply wanted to create the impression of dominance. The ABC received a number of complaints about the report, concerned that the coverage had unduly favoured only one perspective at the meeting, taking particular umbrage at the suggestions that there had been elements of white supremacy, and failing to fully cover the differing views which had been expressed at the meeting. The Ombudsman's Office upheld 19 complaints, finding the AM report had breached impartiality standards. The ABC re edited the story, attached an editor's note and acknowledged the error on the "Corrections and Clarifications" webpage. ABC managing director David Anderson admitted that there had been a failure in the ABC's processes during the production of Williams' report. Anderson told a Senate Estimates hearing that the report did not contain the necessary perspectives for a balanced report which had prompted him to ask ABC news director Justin Stevens to investigate how it had occurred. Paterson also claimed that he called an end to the meeting when a small minority of attendees resorted to racist language and name calling. The AM report also prompted local businessman and meeting convener Garth Thompson to lodge a legal complaint against the ABC. He claimed to have had his reputation damaged by the suggestion of he had condoned white supremacy, and also claimed to have received abuse from those who had believed what was reported in the AM story. A full 25 minute edition of AM is aired on the ABC Local Radio network, commencing at 8:05am. Until 2020, it had previously commenced at 8:00am immediately following the iconic 15 minute edition of ABC News at 7:45am. However, after the axing of the 7:45 bulletin, a new five minute news bulletin was introduced at the top of the hour, reducing AM to 25 minutes in duration. A separate edition of AM is presented for ABC Radio Perth and regional Western Australian ABC stations at 10:00am EST due to the time difference between the eastern states and WA. AM is also broadcast on Saturday mornings on Radio National, 7.10 am, as This Week. Like its weekday counterpart, This Week is also presented at 8:05am on ABC Local Radio. AM is not broadcast on Sundays.

The original 1967 signature was "Crossbeat", a 30 second electronic music piece sourced from the BBC, composed and realised by David Cain of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. The theme for AM which was used throughout much of the program's history until 2017 was one of the most recognisable themes in Australia and was composed by Tony Ansell and Peter Wall. In 2017, a new theme for AM was introduced to commemorate the program's 50th year.