PM (radio programme)

PM (radio programme)
Name	PM
Format	News and current affairs
Runtime	30 minutes
Country	Australia
Language	English
Home station	ABC Radio
First aired	1969
Audio format	Stereo

PM (radio programme) PM is an Australian radio programme broadcasting nightly on ABC Radio that covers national and international news, analysis, and features. The programme provides summaries and reports drawn from Australian and global events, combining field reporting, interviews, and investigative segments. PM has become a staple of Australian broadcasting, influencing public debate and informing policy discussions across media, political, and academic institutions.

Overview

PM is produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and airs on ABC Radio, ABC Local Radio, ABC Radio National and the ABC News Radio network. The programme situates Australian news alongside international developments, often referencing events in Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and foreign capitals such as Washington, D.C., London, Beijing, Canberra (do not link variants), and Jakarta. PM's editorial remit places it in the context of major organisations and institutions including the Australian Parliament, the High Court of Australia, the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Health Organization. PM routinely reports on proceedings involving parties, governments, and agencies such as the Liberal Party of Australia, the Australian Labor Party, the Australian Greens, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, and the Reserve Bank of Australia.

History

PM was launched in 1969 amid a period of expansion for public broadcasting associated with the tenure of Gough Whitlam and shifts in media policy influenced by figures like Sir Robert Menzies earlier in the century. Early coverage intersected with major events including the Vietnam War, the Moon landing, and trade negotiations linked to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. Over decades PM covered episodes involving leaders such as Harold Holt, John Gorton, Malcolm Fraser, Bob Hawke, Paul Keating, John Howard, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Tony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull, and Scott Morrison. The programme adapted to changes in broadcasting technology alongside organisations such as ABC Television, Australian Associated Press, and international partners like the British Broadcasting Corporation and NPR.

Format and Content

PM's half-hour format blends news bulletins, packages, interviews, and features. Content often includes reports from correspondents in locations including Canberra, Darwin, Alice Springs, Hobart, Adelaide and international bureaus in Washington, D.C., Tokyo, Beijing, London, New Delhi and Jakarta. Interviews have featured public figures from institutions such as the Australian Defence Force, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Electoral Commission, and the Australian Bureau of Statistics. PM also covers judicial matters involving the High Court of Australia, inquiries like the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, and economic developments tied to the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

Presenters and Production

Presenters, producers and editors associated with PM have included journalists and broadcasters linked to organisations like the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Australian Financial Review, The Australian, The Guardian (Australia), and international outlets including the New York Times, The Guardian, and BBC News. Production teams coordinate with ABC bureaus in Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, and overseas bureaux in London and Washington, D.C.. Technical production involves studios and facilities managed by the ABC and governed by standards comparable to the Australian Communications and Media Authority guidelines.

Notable Episodes and Impact

PM has broken and followed major stories such as political scandals involving figures associated with the Australian Parliament, investigations tied to inquiries like the Cole Royal Commission (as an example of royal commissions), and reporting on international crises including the Iraq War, the Asian Financial Crisis, and the Global Financial Crisis of 2007–2008. Coverage of natural disasters and emergencies has intersected with agencies like the Bureau of Meteorology, State Emergency Service, and international relief efforts coordinated by United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. PM reporting has at times led to parliamentary questions in the House of Representatives, coverage in national newspapers such as the Courier-Mail and The West Australian, and citations in academic work from universities such as the Australian National University, University of Sydney, and Monash University.

Audience and Reception

PM's audience includes listeners across metropolitan and regional Australia, subscribers through ABC digital platforms, and international audiences via partnerships with networks including BBC World Service and NPR. The programme's reception has been discussed in media analysis from outlets like Crikey, Media Watch (ABC program), The Conversation, and journalism reviews produced by institutions such as the Walkley Foundation and university media centres. Ratings and audience metrics are tracked alongside calculations from organisations like the Australian Communications and Media Authority.

Awards and Recognition

PM and its journalists have received recognition from Australian and international journalism bodies, including nominations and awards from the Walkley Awards, the Radio Academy Awards, and acknowledgements from the Logie Awards for broadcast journalism. Individual reporters associated with PM have been finalists and winners in categories administered by the Australian Press Council and the Walkley Foundation, and have been cited in academic and industry awards administered by institutions such as the University of Melbourne and the Griffith Review.

Category:Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio programs