ABC broadcaster takes up international appointment

One of Australia’s most senior rural broadcasters has been appointed to represent the Australian Council of Agricultural Journalists (ACAJ) on the executive of its international counterpart.

ABC Rural National Editor Leigh Radford is replacing rural journalist and author, Liz Harfull, who has served as national delegate to the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) for more than 10 years and continues as ACAJ president.

“The ACAJ is absolutely delighted that Leigh is taking on this very important role. He is a multi-award winning rural journalist who is highly regarded by his peers, and deeply committed to furthering the interests of specialist rural journalists in Australia,” Liz said.

“As our representative to the IFAJ he will play a critical role in linking Australian rural journalists, photographers and communicators with their counterparts around the world, and in helping to deliver international opportunities for professional development.”

In accepting the appointment, Leigh said it was important that Australia continue to be engaged in relevant industry-based discussions and issues in the international arena. “The IFAJ is an opportunity to do that and to help connect rural journalists from around the world,” he said.

Leigh joined the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) in February 1987 as a trainee rural reporter, serving at regional stations in Victoria and South Australia. He was the voice of the Country Hour in South Australia from the early 1990s until January 2005, and served as the State’s Executive Producer of ABC Rural programs from 1997 until being appointed National Editor of all ABC Rural programs and online content in 2005.

A multi-award winning broadcaster, he has a number of Dalgety Awards for Excellence in Rural Journalism to his credit and several Landcare awards. In 1996 he became the inaugural winner of the South Australian Telstra Rural Journalist of the Year award.

The recent annual general meeting of the ACAJ also appointed a new vice president, Tim Powell, who is president of the Farm Writers Association of New South Wales Inc and represents that organisation on the ACAJ committee; and a new secretary, Kim Payne from the Rural Press Club of Victoria. Bob Snewin continues as treasurer.

Ian Turner was confirmed as the new representative for the South Australian rural press club, Rural Media SA, taking over from long-serving representative Ian Doyle. The new representative for the Queensland Rural Press Club is Genevieve McAulay, replacing retiring committee member Jane Milburn. Travis King continues as representative of the Rural Media Association of Western Australia.

For more information about the ACAJ visit www.acaj.org.au

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Media inquiries: contact Liz Harfull, phone 0409 674 941, or by email at lizharfull@internode.on.net; or Leigh Radford, phone 0409 678 323 or email radford.leigh@abc.net.au