ACRA’s Finalists Fever – #5

There are thousands of hard-working, dedicated and amazingly creative people throughout the radio industry – and every year a small fraction of those people make the short list as a finalist in the ACRA’s.

Just like we did last year, over the next few weeks, Radio Today will shine a spotlight on the best of the best.

The ACRA's Finalists Fever – counting down the days to the big event on October 18 by profiling the finalists across all categories. You can get involved by emailing us here.

Today the spot light is on:  Derek Peterson from Fairfax Radio Network  and Jonathon Moran from Nova Entertainment. 

Let's Roll Out the Red Carpet….

DEREK PETERSON

BRIAN WHITE MEMORIAL

 2UE, Sydney NSW – Fairfax Radio Network

Give us a quick snapshot of your radio background…

I came into radio relatively late in life, after a semi-successful career in public relations with a retail company. i98FM in Wollongong gave me my first break in 1995, followed by WS-FM in Sydney. From there it was on to 2GB, 2SM and 2UE where I spent many years editing the breakfast news shift at each station. After a stint at ABC NewsRadio I returned to 2UE in 2011 to be State Politics Reporter.

Tell us about your ACRAs entry?

My entry includes coverage of a Sydney bank robbery (I happened to be in the area); a bushfire; and the release of Schapelle Corby from prison in Bali. I covered all these stories while still needing to be across my state politics round. It's an example of the flexibility needed in busy commercial radio newsrooms.

https://radiotoday.com.au/music/acras – brian white – derek peterson.mp3

Your speech, if you were able to make one…

As everyone who works in commercial radio news knows, we cover so many stories it's almost impossible to remember what we've done. So thanks to my bosses Matt McDonald and Clinton Maynard for encouraging me to reflect on the year and dig out some examples of my work. Thanks to my friend Felicity Barrington in 2UE Production for helping with the digging and putting it all together. Thanks to Fairfax for sending me to Bali, when money for news is so tight. And to all radio execs – please think about investing money in news, it will pay off in the long term, especially at news-talk stations!. We all know our industry is suffering from falling revenues, but listeners will not be lured back by an inferior product! I am grateful to be recognised in these awards, and proud to work at a station which delivers reliable, responsible news – and always separates news from editorial comment.

JONATHON MORAN

BEST NEWCOMER ON-AIR

Nova Network, Nova Entertainment M

Where and when did it all start for you before Nova?

Funnily enough I did a short stint reading weekend news at FM104.7 and Mix106.3 when I was studying print and broadcast journalism at Canberra Uni. That lasted about three months so that's where I thought my radio career started and ended. Low and behold I got a second crack with Confidential on Nova and I'm loving it sick. Together with Elle Halliwell, we've been going a year and a bit now so I've created a new record for myself. 

What's the best part of your job?

I live and breathe my work so broadening my job to cover print, TV and radio is super exciting and I love every minute of it. It's been a real buzz learning the ropes of radio and nothing beats having a good chat with a great guest on air. It's just a different energy and chemistry.

https://radiotoday.com.au/music/best newcomer on air_j.mo.mp3

This is something new for you, because you have never covered an "awards ceremony" with Nova Confidential before… pretending you won…. what would you say?

I'm sick of hearing people on red carpets like the Logies and the ARIAs tell me they're just happy to be nominated but in all honesty, as a newcomer to national radio, that's the case here and I have to admit I'm a bit chuffed to be mentioned in the same category as Mel Doyle, Miranda Devine, Tommy Little and Dave Thornton. If I were to actually win I would keep it short and sweet, I'd rattle off a few names, particularly Paul Jackson, Brendan Taylor, Peter Clay, Tony Thomas, Jane Elliott, Elle Halliwell, Mikey Watson, Sophie Ainsworth, Chris Sioris and Shaun Heron at Nova and Mick Carroll, Paul Whittaker, Ben English, Miranda Wood and Genevieve Brammall at News Corp. Still keeping it short (not) I'd thank my twin sister, Alison, her three girls, Olivia, Grace and Chloe and my late mum, Trish, who I would have loved to have shared this moment with. Thanks. 

Are You an ACRAs Finalist?
If you're a finalist in Metropolitan, Non-Metropolitan, Provincial or Country drop us a line and we'll shine the spotlight on you. Email Blair here.

You can view our other Finalist so far here. and here or here.