The ABC is next week launching a weekday regional radio current affairs program, Australia Wide.
The 25-minute program will launch on more than 40 ABC regional stations from next Monday January 22 at 6.05pm weekdays.
Stories will be sourced from the ABC’s regional radio network and its national rural and regional reporting team focusing on the issues that affect those living in regional Australia.
The program will be replayed to national and international audiences on Radio National and ABC Radio Australia each weeknight at 7.35pm.
Australia Wide presenter Sinéad Mangan
Director of ABC Regional Fiona Reynolds said the conversational style program is a significant addition to the news and current affairs lineup on the ABC’s regional network, providing a roundup of the day’s leading stories as well as breaking news.
“We’ve put a great team behind the program, headed by WA-based presenter Sinéad Mangan and senior producer, Bridget Fitzgerald,” she said.
The program will be produced from the ABC’s Perth studios.
Mangan has held a number of reporting, producing and presenter roles with the ABC in Western Australia during the past 16 years. She has presented the WA Country Hour as well as presenting mornings, afternoons, drive and Saturday breakfast on ABC Radio Perth.
Senior producer Fitzgerald has held several reporting, producing and presenting roles with the ABC in Melbourne and Perth over the past five years. She has recently presented the WA Country Hour.
In March 2017, the ABC announced its Connecting Communities initiative which saw a funding boost of $15.4 million to its regional teams for the creation of up to 80 reporter, presenter and producing roles.