Leigh Sales to deliver 2023 Andrew Olle Media Lecture – ABC journalist and author, Leigh Sales AM, will deliver the 2023 Andrew Olle Media Lecture.
The lecture will be held in Sydney on Friday 27 October.
Leigh is one of Australia’s most respected journalists and the presenter of ABC TV’s Australian Story.
During her award-winning career, she has interviewed dozens of world leaders and celebrities, including Hillary Clinton, Tony Blair, the Dalai Lama, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Harrison Ford, Tom Hanks, Salman Rushdie, Margaret Atwood and Bill Gates, and every living Australian Prime Minister.
Leigh has worked extensively in the field as a general news reporter and as the ABC’s Washington correspondent for the tumultuous four years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. On her return to Australia, she anchored the ABC’s flagship current affairs program 7.30 as well as the last three federal elections.
Leigh is the winner of three Walkley Awards; the author of the books Detainee 002, On Doubt, Well Hello and the recently released Storytellers: Questions, Answers and the Story of Journalism, as well as the bestselling Any Ordinary Day. She is also the co-host of the popular podcast Chat 10 Looks 3 with Annabel Crabb. In 2023, her service to journalism and the community was recognised with two honorary doctorates from Edith Cowan University and the Queensland University of Technology.
“We are at a juncture in journalism where Andrew Olle’s values are more essential than ever – fairness, impartiality, accuracy, precision but even more than that, empathy and humility,” Leigh said.
“It’s an incredible honour to be asked to deliver this lecture in his shadow and to remember the best ways for journalism to win and hold the public’s trust.”
Managing Director of the ABC, David Anderson, said there was never a more important time to endorse the crucial role public interest journalism plays in Australian life.
“Leigh has had extensive experience as a reporter and presenter, both here and overseas, which has given her unique insights into the importance of public interest journalism across all media and the changing face of news and information brought about by the rise of social media.”
“I am looking forward to Leigh’s thought-provoking and timely take on the key issues facing the Australian media and a glimpse of what is to come.”
Previous Andrew Olle Media Lecture speakers include ABC Chair Ita Buttrose AC OBE, Peter FitzSimons, Lisa Wilkinson, Caroline Wilson, Joseph Kahn, Waleed Aly, Helen McCabe, Kate McClymont, Mark Colvin, Laurie Oakes, Ray Martin AM, John Hartigan, John Doyle AM, Lachlan Murdoch, Kerry Stokes AC and Jana Wendt.
The lecture is held in honour of one of the ABC’s iconic broadcasters, Andrew Olle. It will be delivered at a black-tie dinner at Doltone House, Hyde Park, Sydney on Friday 27 October. ABC Radio Sydney Drive presenter Richard Glover will host the evening.
Tickets are available Andrew Olle Media Lecture 2023 – ABC Sydney.
The Andrew Olle Media Lecture will be broadcast nationally on Nightlife on Friday 27 October from 11.00pm on ABC Radio. The lecture will also be available on the ABC News channel and ABC iview, with times to be announced.
Media Release – ABC
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