These days staying in one job for longer than five years is considered something of an achievement. So, imagine spending 40 years in the same job … and still loving every minute of it.
That’s exactly how Rick Ardon and Susannah Carr feel about presenting the news behind the 7NEWS Perth desk.
Their groundbreaking achievement stands alone on the global stage, a testament to their relentless commitment to journalism and the strong bond they’ve built with the WA community.
Mediaweek sat down with Ardon and Carr to learn more about their legacy.
How do you feel about clocking up such an incredible achievement?
Susannah: When you enjoy something, you just keep doing it. I think the fabulous thing about news, and I know Rick feels the same, is that every day is different. You know, the procedure might be the same for presenting it, but the content is so wildly different. Each day never stops surprising you.
Rick: I can’t think of another job where every day is different and exciting. We just love news tremendously. It’s just a thrill to be able to say to our audience – this is exactly what happened today and you can see it here. We’ve got all the latest pictures and we’ve got all the latest facts so we can also say that the news is delivered accurately.
What has changed in the way news is delivered?
Susannah: Everything! It’s gone from reading scripts on the desk to auto queue machines to massive changes in technology. The fact that news is now so instant and can be broadcast from anywhere. Before, we used to have to have satellite towers, and you had to be in certain parts of the city. Now you could broadcast from just about anywhere. News is so immediate.
Rick: Everybody’s got a smartphone these days and many of them are broadcast quality, so content is much more immediate.
How connected have you become to your fans over the past four decades?
Susannah: We meet people all the time who talk to us as though we’re old friends, and halfway through, they’ll pull themselves up and go, sorry, I actually haven’t met you before, but I feel like I know you! We always say that’s fine because you do know us to a certain degree as we’ve been invited into your home every day. We’ve also grown up with so many people. Some people have people have grown up who’ve only known us as the news readers on Seven and it’s a real privilege.
Rick: We love meeting people. It’s lovely when they come up to us too, because we just want to thank them for watching our news and being loyal to us.
Seven Network’s Rick Ardon and Susannah Carr in 1986.
You’ve both been on air for such a long time – is there a standout news event that you covered?
Susannah: Obviously, we go to 911 every time. That was something that just changed the whole world – the War on Terror started, security at airports we ramped up, and people never felt quite safe again. So, that was a turning point. Also the way that the whole thing unfolded too, because both of us had gone home from the news desk that night and turned on the television to see these amazing pictures. All of us then raced back into work and manned the desk all night. It was something that was just astonishing to see.
Rick: I’ll never forget those early hours of the morning watching the Twin Towers across the other side of the world coming down, crumbling and then watching people jumping to their death because the alternative was being burnt alive. It was just, it was, was just frightening.
What is the advice for young journalists come through?
Susannah: Being on television should be a by-product, rather the actual ambition. The whole point is to actually investigate, to enjoy news, to enjoy learning, to enjoy understanding everything about the world, and then if you end up on television, that’s great, but don’t make that the be all and end all.
Rick: My advice would be to check your facts. Make sure you do your research. Don’t take for granted what some government or opposition person will tell you. Don’t take for granted what someone tells you. Check your facts, because you’ve got the responsibility of writing something or presenting something to people out there, on mass, ‘this is what happened today’. You must always have your facts right.
To celebrate the 40 the anniversary, 7NEWS Perth will present a half hour television special on Wednesday 26 February at 7.00pm. Viewers will also have the opportunity to share their memories with Rick and Susannah via 7NEWS.com.au and at a series of local appearances.