The ABC has announced Justin Stevens has been appointed director, ABC News, Analysis and Investigations.
In his former role as 7.30 executive producer, Stevens has for four years been responsible for leading and managing the ABC’s flagship daily current affairs program.
His appointment as director follows a recruitment process involving both internal and external applicants. Stevens replaces Gaven Morris who left the ABC in late 2021.
Justin Stevens’ appointment is effective from Monday 4 April.
ABC managing director David Anderson commented: “Justin has a proven track record in editorial leadership across complex issues and events. Together with the ABC News executive team, Justin will lead the next stage of the ABC News strategy to be more accessible, valuable and relevant to Australians across all platforms, with the highest quality journalism always at the core.
“Justin fully understands the challenges and opportunities the ABC faces as an essential public service in the digital media era.
“I want to thank the members of the ABC News executive for their support during this recruitment process, especially Gavin Fang, who has done an exceptional job acting in the news director role and who will continue to play a crucial role in the work of ABC News into the future.
“This is a key appointment for the ABC and it comes amid major news events – the continuing effects of the COVID pandemic, the war in Ukraine, domestic issues such as the rising cost of living, and the upcoming federal election.
“It’s a position that requires exceptional editorial leadership, and Justin will be outstanding in the role.”
Justin Stevens said: “I’m incredibly proud to be part of ABC News and it’s an honour to be given the opportunity to lead this great team.
“The ABC celebrates 90 years this year and ABC News is a huge part of its proud heritage.
“Australians trust ABC News to deliver the quality public interest journalism and services they need and which are a key part of a healthy democracy. That job is more vital than ever.”
CV: Justin Stevens
Stevens’ first job in the media was in 2005 as a researcher for the Nine Network on Sunday and for Geoffrey Robertson’s Hypotheticals.
He joined the ABC in December 2006 and worked as a producer and a supervising producer on 7.30 until 2014. His work there included producing key Australian political and feature interviews for presenters Kerry O’Brien and Leigh Sales, including with Barack Obama, Tony Blair, Sir David Attenborough, Woody Allen and the Dalai Lama, and working on breaking news coverage.
In 2013 he was a producer on the four-part ABC series Keating: The Interviews with Kerry O’Brien.
In 2014-2015 he was a producer on the three-part series The Killing Season with Sarah Ferguson, which won an AACTA Award for Best Documentary and a Logie Award for outstanding public affairs report.
From 2015-2017 Stevens worked on Four Corners, producing programs including the Hillary Clinton interview special; a money-laundering investigation; the “Leaders” election special; profiles of Clive Palmer and Bill Shorten; and a program on territorial disputes in the South China Sea. He produced “The Siege”, the two-part special on Sydney’s Lindt Café siege which won the 2018 Logie Award for outstanding news coverage.
In 2018 Stevens was appointed executive producer of national nightly current affairs flagship 7.30.
The ABC noted that under Stevens, 7.30 has grown its broadcast and digital audience. In 2021 its national audience averaged 980,000 viewers a night with an audience share of almost 13% in metro markets and 12.5% in regional areas.
See also: ABC news director Gaven Morris to leave the public broadcaster