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David Speers

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For the South Australian politician, see David Speirs. For the Canadian cyclist, see David Spears.
David Speers
Speers in 2016
Born
David Gordon Speers

(1974-09-09) 9 September 1974 (age 50)[1]
Sydney, Australia[citation needed]
Education1987–1988: Normanhurst Boys High School
1989–1992: Turramurra High School[2]
Occupation(s)Political editor, journalist, television host
Years active1999–present
EmployerAustralian Broadcasting Corporation
Known forPolitical reporting
SpouseLiz
Children2
David Speers.

David Gordon Speers (born 9 September 1974) is an Australian journalist and host of Insiders on ABC TV.

Previously he was political editor at Sky News Australia, as well as host of PM Agenda, The Last Word and Speers Tonight.

Career

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Speers began his career in Geelong, Victoria, in the newsroom of radio station K-Rock. He then worked at 2GB, 2UE and 3AW. He has been a member of the National Press Club board since 2005[3] and is currently a director.[4]

Sky News

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In 2000, Speers joined Sky News as a political editor.[5]

During his time with Sky News, Speers hosted the channel's flagship PM Agenda program on Monday to Thursday afternoons. Additionally, he presented political updates and conducts interviews throughout the day on the 24-hour news channel.[6]

He also previously commuted from his home in Canberra once a week to Sky News' primary studios in Sydney to host primetime program The Nation with David Speers[6] before the program ended in 2015. On 28 January 2016, Speers began hosting a new weekly Sky News format Speers Tonight from Canberra.[7][8][9]

ABC News

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In June 2019, Speers was appointed as host of the ABC's Insiders program, replacing Barrie Cassidy from February 2020.[10] Speers regularly appears on ABC News, News Breakfast and ABC Local Radio including Mornings on ABC Radio Melbourne.[citation needed]

Speers is also a fill-in presenter for Michael Rowland on News Breakfast.[citation needed]

In July 2023, Speers was appointed as ABC national political lead, a new position, following the departure of former political editor Andrew Probyn.[11]

Election coverage

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Speers was chosen to moderate the leaders' debate between John Howard and Kevin Rudd for the 2007 Australian federal election[12] and again in the 2010 Australian federal election between Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott, as well as the 2013 Australian federal election between Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott.

Other

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In 2020, Speers released the book On Mutiny (ISBN 9780733644146) which covered the removal of Malcolm Turnbull as prime minister.

Speers has also written regular articles for financial website Switzer.[13]

Awards

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Between 2006 and 2015, Speers has been awarded with an ASTRA Award for "outstanding performance" by a presenter or journalist every year with the exception of 2010.[14][15] The awards were discontinued after 2015.[16]

Speers won a Walkley Award in December 2014 for a notable interview with Attorney General George Brandis, in which Brandis struggled to explain what metadata was despite being the minister in charge of proposed new laws surrounding the storage and police access of metadata.[17][18] Speers won the same award at the 2015 event (which Speers also hosted) for his notable "The Fixer" interview with Christopher Pyne on PM Agenda.[19]

In 2016, Speers was named one of the 50 most powerful people in Australian television by News Corp Australia.[20]

Speers won the Subscription Television Award for Best Male Presenter at the 2017 AACTA Awards.[21]

Personal life

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Speers' parents are Peter Speers and Robyn (née Cowled). He lives in Canberra[22] and is married to Liz, with whom he has two children who were born in 2010 and 2014.[23][24]

Speers plays the trumpet and demonstrated this ability while hosting the 2010 ASTRA Awards.[25][26]

References

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  1. ^ Speers, David [@David_Speers] (9 September 2015). "Thank you! And happy birthday to all the other 9/9ers inc Natasha Stott Despoja too" (Tweet). Retrieved 9 September 2015 – via Twitter.
  2. ^ "CAPA news Volume 11". Turramurra High School. NSW Department of Education. 8 October 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  3. ^ "ICMI Speakers Bureau - David Speers". ICMI. Archived from the original on 21 April 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  4. ^ "Director – David Speers". National Press Club. Archived from the original on 21 April 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  5. ^ "Sky News Team: David Speers". Sky News Australia. Archived from the original on 21 April 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  6. ^ a b Knox, David (13 December 2011). "David Speers talks the talk". TV Tonight. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  7. ^ "Speers Tonight". Foxtel Guide. Foxtel. Archived from the original on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  8. ^ Speers, David [@David_Speers] (28 January 2016). "New show #SpeersTonight at 8pm. Name is pretty self explanatory. @AlboMP is my first guest. Also regulars Paul Kelly & Peter Hartcher" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2016 – via Twitter.
  9. ^ Albanese, Anthony (28 January 2016). "Transcript of television interview – Speers Tonight, SKY News" (television interview). Interviewed by David Speers. Archived from the original on 31 January 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2016. Anthony Albanese is our first guest for the year and I spoke to him a short while ago. Anthony Albanese, good evening.
  10. ^ "Insiders: David Speers to leave Sky for ABC in 2020". news.com.au. News Corp Australia. 5 June 2019. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  11. ^ Jaspan, Calum (5 July 2023). "David Speers appointed ABC News political lead after Andrew Probyn departure". The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  12. ^ Jackson, Sally (18 October 2007). "Journos vie for debate". The Australian. News Limited. Archived from the original on 20 October 2007. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  13. ^ "David Speers". Switzer. Archived from the original on 21 April 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  14. ^ "WINNERS ANNOUNCED FOR 2006 ASTRA AWARDS" (PDF). ASTRA Awards. ASTRA. 26 April 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 August 2007. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  15. ^ Byrnes, Holly (13 March 2015). "ASTRA Awards 2015: Wentworth, Sky News among winners". news.com.au. News Corp Australia. Archived from the original on 12 March 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  16. ^ Christensen, Nic (24 November 2015). "Dedicated pay-TV awards scrapped, as ASTRA joins rest of industry in the AACTA Awards scheme". Mumbrella. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  17. ^ "MCN congratulates Sky News Political Reporter David Speers on winning the Walkley Award for All Media – Interview". Multi Channel Network. 5 December 2014. Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  18. ^ David Speers – PM Agenda. Sky News Australia. 13 October 2014. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2016 – via YouTube.
  19. ^ "'The Fixer' interview wins Walkley". Sky News Australia. Australian News Channel. 3 December 2015. Archived from the original on 5 December 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  20. ^ Molloy, Shannon (20 March 2016). "The 50 most powerful people in Australian television, from screen stars to show makers". news.com.au. News Corp Australia. Archived from the original on 21 April 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  21. ^ Knox, David (4 December 2017). "AACTA Awards 2017: Utopia, Little Lunch in early wins". TV Tonight. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  22. ^ Meade, Amanda (5 July 2023). "'Insiders host David Speers takes on expanded role of national political lead at ABC': David Speers". Guardian Australia. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  23. ^ Overington, Caroline (6 December 2010). "7.30 line-up fails to impress all". The Australian. News Limited. Archived from the original on 20 January 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  24. ^ Manning, James (17 August 2013). "David Speers: Campaign Diary 2013". Mediaweek (Podcast). Archived from the original on 21 April 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  25. ^ "Dr Mumbo at the ASTRA Awards: Speers blows his own trumpet". Mumbrella. 25 June 2010. Archived from the original on 21 April 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  26. ^ Knox, David (25 June 2010). "ASTRA host blows his own trumpet". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 27 June 2010. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
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