In an email shared with ABC colleagues, Director of News Justin Stevens said Peter Ryan OAM is retiring from the broadcaster after 45 years in the industry, due to ill health.
Peter has metastatic thyroid cancer, first diagnosed in 2014, and is moving to palliative care focusing on time with family and friends.
Peter Ryan has been the ABC’s Senior Business Correspondent since 2016 reporting for AM, The World Today, PM and part of the ABC Radio National Breakfast show team.
ABC Radio National breakfast team clockwise from top left: Sally Sara, Melissa Clarke, Peter Ryan and Luke Siddham Dundon
Listen to The World Today’s tribute to Peter here.
Peter won a Walkley Award in 2017 for breaking the story that the Commonwealth Bank had allowed money launderers to exploit its deposit machines. In 2022 he was recognised with the Order of Australia medal for his significant service to journalism.
Peter shared reflections on working in the media:
So what have I learned from 45 years in journalism? This is for younger and older colleagues alike.
When I look back at my start on Sydney’s Daily Mirror in 1980, as an 18-year-old straight out of school, we were still printing newspapers off hot metal. People were smoking in newsrooms and there was a lot of yelling as deadlines ran down to the wire.
My parents were absolutely delighted when I was finally hired by the ABC in 1984. Our TV always seemed to be stuck on Channel 2 and we were forced to watch the 7pm news every night and I had to listen to AM and PM in the kitchen.
But for me in the end it’s all about being a reporter out in the real world telling it as it is. I’m always chuffed when I hear people tell me you’re able to take complex issues and break them down into three good parts. When someone tells me that, that’s more important than a whole lot of awards.
A few words of editorial advice. Avoid cynicism – be passionate. A good team can often be a very small team – I’ve worked in some of the best. Be proactive – come to the table with a great story so no one else comes up with a dud that might waste your time.
Work closely with top people – shut up and absorb like a sponge. Maintain a fastidious contact book – some low-profile contacts could soon move into higher powered roles or more importantly work in backrooms where the big decisions are often made.
Show up to work early and prove that you’re ready to take on the big story of the day. Try to have a Plan B in your back pocket just in case your original brilliant idea doesn’t go anywhere and the EP comes walking your way.
Finally: Be kind and caring to people who need it.