Australia’s most popular and successful talkback presenter Alan Jones, has today announced that, acting on doctors’ advice, he will step down as the host of the 2GB and 4BC breakfast program at the end of May.
During his broadcast this morning Jones told listeners: “We are living in the world of Coronavirus. The most repeated statement we hear is ‘we must listen to the experts’.
“Well, the experts are telling me in no uncertain terms, and not for the first time I might add, ‘continuing with the present workload is seriously detrimental to your health’.
“I have listened to the experts and I am taking this opportunity to indicate to my radio family that I will be retiring from radio at the end of this month.”
During a distinguished career that has spanned 35 years behind the microphone, Alan Jones has dominated the breakfast radio timeslot, recording an unequalled 226 survey wins.
He told listeners that “After 35 years, the full stop has to go in somewhere.” He also credited John Brennan who mentored and coached him in the early part of his career with his success. “Whatever success I’ve had was due to John Brennan,” he said.
The first caller to pay tribute after Jones’ announcement was former PM, Tony Abbott followed by John Laws.
Jones’ broadcasting career began in 1985 when he was recruited to join Radio 2UE as its mornings host.
He moved to the breakfast shift in 1988 and soon shot to #1 with his unrivalled ability to break down complex issues and communicate them simply and clearly, and his passionate championing of struggle street , the people and listeners he was closer to than anyone.
In 2001, he moved from 2UE to 2GB driving the station to #1 in the Sydney market, a position it has held ever since.
Chairman of Nine, Peter Costello, says, “Alan Jones has a unique place in Australian media. His ratings record makes him the outstanding broadcaster of his generation. His ratings record will never be matched.
“Alan’s interests across politics, sport, the arts, business, made him a broad and stimulating commentator. He was always passionate and relentless in pursing issues on behalf of his listeners. And he was tough – as I can attest when I was on the other side of the microphone.
“Away from the microphone, Alan was warm and generous. Many people benefited from his support. He neither advertised nor sought recognition for it. Alan Jones will be given many accolades, and he deserves them. A great career. An outstanding contribution.”
Nine’s CEO Hugh Marks says, “I want to acknowledge Alan for his contribution to 2GB, and prior to that 2UE, over many years. Alan has shown a dedication to his craft unlike any other and with that dedication comes excellence.
“This focus on his program’s content has given him outstanding audience loyalty demonstrated over decades. We wish him well and thank him for all he has done.”
Nine’s Managing Director – Radio, Tom Malone, says “Alan’s radio career is without peer. The most telling indicator of his greatness was the switch from 2UE to 2GB – when Alan moved stations and the audience followed in lockstep. Alan did not miss a beat at #1. Sydney’s listeners repaid his advocacy with loyalty – Alan has always put them first.”
“Alan is a giant of Australian radio. We look forward to celebrating his soaring achievements at the appropriate time. We wish him well and thank him for everything he has achieved.”
Malone also paid tribute to the retiring broadcaster in a note to to the employees of Nine Radio this morning.
Hi all,
As you may have just heard on-air, Alan has just announced that due to the overwhelming advice of his doctors, he will be stepping down as host of the 2GB/4BC breakfast program. It’s very hard to capture the influence and success of Alan Jones on 2GB, the radio industry, and media, business and politics. He is without peer.
During a distinguished career that has spanned 35 years behind the microphone, Alan has dominated the Breakfast radio timeslot, recording an unequalled 226 survey wins – one of the greatest radio broadcasters in Australian history.His broadcasting career began in 1985 when he was recruited to join Radio 2UE as their Mornings host. He moved to the Breakfast shift in 1988 and soon shot to Number 1 with his unrivalled ability to break down complex issues and communicate them simply and clearly, and his passionate championing of struggle street – the people and listeners he was closer to than anyone. In 2001, he moved from 2UE and immediately drove 2GB to #1 in the Sydney market, a position it has held ever since.
Loyalty is at the centre of everything Alan does. He has been loyal to this company and to his listeners – their greatest advocate – and they have repaid him in kind with their ears and their hearts.
His success in radio stemmed from an already rich and experienced life in teaching, sport, and politics. He can talk with equal ease to Prime Ministers and the everyday person. Of course, we know and love him for his unique turn of phrase and warm sense of humour. I’ll always remember one of my first days in the 2UE newsroom as a cadet in the late 90s, when Alan advised me: “If you’re going to be a dog, be an Alsatian.”
He is a giant of Australian broadcasting probably best measured by the fact that a simple reference to “Alan” could only mean one person – Alan Jones.
As I noted in the media release, the greatest indicator of his success was when he switched stations and took the audience with him – you can count on one hand the number of broadcasters who have done that.
He will be greatly missed by all of us for his intellect, wit, compassion and loyalty. He steps down with all of our best wishes.
But as Alan would say – the show must go on. I’m thrilled to announce that Ben Fordham has agreed to take over as the new host of 2GB breakfast. He will bring a great energy and style to the program, to make sure it continues the great legacy of setting the daily agenda, and holding business and government to account.
With Ben in Breakfast, Ray Hadley in Mornings – with more than 30 stations taking his show across Australia, and Deb Knight in Afternoons, we have the best line up to continue to drive 2GB’s success through the next decade.
We’ll be appointing a new Drive host for 2GB and launching a new Breakfast program on 4BC with announcements to be made in the coming weeks.Tom
Jones, who just turned 79 last week, will continue to broadcast on Sky News and will also continue writing for The Daily Telegraph and The Australian. He has a one year exclusion clause which will not permit him to work for any rival radio station for one year.
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Alan interviewed Prof. Peter Nilsson of Lund University Sweden lauding Sweden's policies on covid19 on 2GB, 12-05-2020.
Reiterating a comment I made earlier on this site if Australia implemented covid19 policies of other countries and if other countries implemented Australia's policy.
If Australia implemented Sweden's policies, we'd have 8365 deaths compared to 97.
Conversely if Sweden implemented Australia's policies, they'd have 38 deaths instead of 3313.
While there is nothing wrong with broadcaster Alan Jones describing the incidents or mortalities of a disease in parts per million, the percentages are confusing and a shift in the decimal point of the parts per million computation seem insignificant.
The other part I don't like is that you cannot compare "apples with oranges". Applying this comparison, you cannot compare the incidence of flu deaths with covid19 deaths. Yes both diseases are contagious. Many survivors of covid19 say it is worse than the flu.
Both policies of Sweden and Australia have had a significant decrease in the mortality rate. In the early days of the covid19 epidemic, epidemiologists in Australia reported infections in the order of 1.5 million. Why 1.5 million? While the epidemiologists did not say when this would occur, it is known that uncontrolled spread follows an exponential equation.
Anybody with a knowledge of year 12 mathematics and/or first year university statistics can apply this knowledge and develop the models based on data available from site covid19data.com.au. The data to calculate the model is based on a particular state's daily incidents of infection. I chose NSW's.
I will not publish my models and or calculations. Suffice to say that if there were no policies to control the spread of a disease, you'd be shocked at the daily incidents of infection for NSW. Thankfully after the 26th March 2020, the policies for incidents of infection in NSW clearly indicated a linear trend downwards.
Consequently, if there were no policies to control the spread of infection, our health system would not be able to cope with the incidents of infections especially if the patients required treatment. That is true if there were no policies in controlling the spread of the disease.
Clearly from the information, I am lucky to be living in Australia. The policies and societal mores of one country in establishing how to "live/cope/control with" the covid19 virus explain why the methods of controlling the spread of the virus produce different results.
I have made my point elsewhere on this site of the creeping utilitarianistic attitude which places economics above the number of lives lost. The deceased can't come back and no-one will have on their tombstone or plaque, "..in loving memory of 'person' who died to put her/his life for the economy...". Economies can come back though.
Now as Australia proceeds with rebuilding the economy, let's hope and pray that there are no spikes in incidents of infection and that we are not overwhelmed by too many spikes.
It is true that Alan Jones is one of the greatest broadcasters in Australia. His analysis and research on topics is thorough and consistent.
However in this case for arguing for Sweden's implementation of controlling the spread of the covid-19 disease are incorrect.
In addition, Alan's criticism of mathematical modelling throughout his broadcasting career is not correct. It is true that the model is only as good as the assumptions built into a model. The adage is garbage in garbage out. But mathematical modelling has been available since the invention of the calculus by Newton and Leibniz. Mathematical modelling also applies to statistical modelling used by epidemiologists as a planning tool and to test whether medicines are efficacious.
Like the PM and Premiers who relied on the experts, Alan had to rely on experts in order to reduce his workload. I wish Alan Jones good health.
Thank you,
Anthony of analytical Belfield
Calculations:
Based on data as at 13-05-2020 at 0000.
If Australia adopted the Sweden's covid-19 policies:
No deaths = pop(Aus)/pop(UK)*deaths(Sweden) = 25499884/10099265*3313 = 8365
If Sweden adopted Australia's covid-19 policies
No deaths = pop(Sweden)/pop(Aus)*deaths(Aus) = 10099265/25499884*97 = 38
Data:
Country, pop, density, deaths
Sweden: 10099265, 25, 3313
Australia: 25499884, 3, 97
Source:
https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/population-by-country/
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?utm_campaign=homeAdUOA?Si
Commentators such as Alan Jones have been admiring of the way Sweden was handling the coronavirus. Alan interviewed Prof. Peter Nilsson of Lund University Sweden lauding Sweden's policies on covid19 on 2GB, 12-05-2020.
In an article in the AFR, 03-06-2020 at 1843, "Sweden's top epidemiologist has admitted his strategy to fight COVID-19 resulted in too many deaths, after persuading his country to avoid a strict lockdown", https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/wall-st-trends-higher-amid-broad-gains-20200603-p54ywr - note the dynamic nature of the page means the article may or may not appear the next day. The same article appears at Bloomberg, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-06-03/man-behind-sweden-s-virus-strategy-says-he-got-some-things-wrong.
The no-lockdown policy that Alan promoted appears to have had no benefit to the economy, https://www.ft.com/content/93105160-dcb4-4721-9e58-a7b262cd4b6e and is in a deep economic crisis.
Just as we are critical of economists acting like epidemiologists, the same could be said of epidemiologists in Sweden acting like economists, Commentators such as Alan Jones have been admiring of the way Sweden was handling the coronavirus.
The no-lockdown policy that Alan promoted appears to have had no benefit to the economy, https://www.ft.com/content/93105160-dcb4-4721-9e58-a7b262cd4b6e .
Just as we are critical of economists acting like epidemiologists, the same could be said of epidemiologists in Sweden acting like economists.
Even though Alan is no longer presenting his breakfast program, we have to be equally critical and not take commentators as 'gospel' in the media in general.
Thank you,
Anthony of researching Belfield