A-SPAN - Australia's Public Affairs Network - Announces Laurie Wilson As Program Anchor

Printer-friendly versionPDF version

A-SPAN – the Australian Subscription Public Affairs Network – today announced the appointment of respected political journalist and current National Press Club director, Laurie Wilson, to serve in a key programming role with the new channel.

A-SPAN was launched today in Canberra by the Prime Minister the Hon Kevin Rudd, MP. A-SPAN is an initiative of subscription television leaders FOXTEL, AUSTAR and Australian News Channel, the provider of Sky News and Sky News Business Channel.

Wilson, who is also a former secretary of the Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery, will host a dedicated program series which will focus on the key players in Australian democracy including interviews of politicians and public policy newsmakers of the day.

ANC CEO Angelos Frangopoulos said: "Laurie Wilson is a highly regarded political journalist and I am delighted he has decided to join the new A-SPAN service. His knowledge of parliament and the democratic system will also play an important role in the educational aspects of A-SPAN, and well qualifies Laurie to be a facilitator of discussion and debate. He is our first major appointment and we will be announcing more shortly."

Mr Wilson said: "A-SPAN is a genuinely ground-breaking service and I am excited about rolling up my sleeves and being part of it. The channel will play a unique and increasingly important role in informing Australians about the political process that affects us all."

A-SPAN will commence on January 20 2009, with comprehensive coverage of that day's inauguration of US President-elect Barack Obama.

About Laurie Wilson:
1993-2004 - Political Correspondent, Nine Network
1989-1993 - Political and Economics Correspondent, Seven Network
1983-1986 – Program anchor Newsworld and Seven Nightly News, HSV7 Melbourne
1982-1983 – News anchor, CTC7 Canberra
1974-1981 - Political Correspondent and Canberra Bureau Chief (1974-76 & 1979-81), Seven Network

Further information:
Australian News Channel,
Belinda Achterstraat,
+ 61 2 9886 8009