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Leigh Sales to deliver the 2023 Andrew Olle Media Lecture

Austraian Story presenter to deliver annual media lecture in October.

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ABC journalist and Gold Logie nominee, Leigh Sales, will deliver the 2023 Andrew Olle Media Lecture on Friday 27 October.

Held in honour of iconic broadcaster, Andrew Olle it will be delivered at a black-tie dinner at Doltone House, Hyde Park, Sydney on Friday 27 October, hosted by Richard Glover.

“We are at a juncture in journalism where Andrew Olle’s values are more essential than ever – fairness, impartiality, accuracy, precision but even more than that, empathy and humility,” Leigh said.

“It’s an incredible honour to be asked to deliver this lecture in his shadow and to remember the best ways for journalism to win and hold the public’s trust.”

Managing Director of the ABC, David Anderson, said, “Leigh has had extensive experience as a reporter and presenter, both here and overseas, which has given her unique insights into the importance of public interest journalism across all media and the changing face of news and information brought about by the rise of social media.
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“I am looking forward to Leigh’s thought-provoking and timely take on the key issues facing the Australian media and a glimpse of what is to come.”

Previous speakers have included ABC Chair Ita Buttrose, Peter FitzSimons, Lisa Wilkinson, Caroline Wilson, Joseph Kahn, Waleed Aly, Helen McCabe, Kate McClymont, Mark Colvin, Laurie Oakes, Ray Martin, John Hartigan, John Doyle, Lachlan Murdoch, Kerry Stokes and Jana Wendt.

​Leigh is one of Australia’s most respected journalists and the presenter of ABC TV’s Australian Story.

During her award-winning career, she has interviewed dozens of world leaders and celebrities, including Hillary Clinton, Tony Blair, the Dalai Lama, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Harrison Ford, Tom Hanks, Salman Rushdie, Margaret Atwood and Bill Gates, and every living Australian Prime Minister.

Leigh has worked extensively in the field as a general news reporter and as the ABC’s Washington correspondent for the tumultuous four years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. On her return to Australia, she anchored the ABC’s flagship current affairs program 7.30 as well as the last three federal elections.

Leigh is the winner of three Walkley Awards; the author of the books Detainee 002, On Doubt, Well Hello and the recently released Storytellers: Questions, Answers and the Story of Journalism, as well as the bestselling Any Ordinary Day. She is also the co-host of the popular podcast Chat 10 Looks 3 with Annabel Crabb. In 2023, her service to journalism and the community was recognised with two honorary doctorates from Edith Cowan University and the Queensland University of Technology.

2 Responses

  1. Good to see the ABC championing voices who rarely has a platform to share their views and unique experiences. Didn’t Leigh talk to the nine papers just the other week endorsing the axing of local bulletins? I expect during the speech Leigh will show some capacity for self reflection over her appalling tone in regards to states that weren’t NSW during the covid lockdowns?

    You think that in the year of the voice referendum, the ABC would finally have an Aboriginal journalist give the lecture? Narelda Jacobs on working in commercial TV? Rangi Hirini from the West Australian? All would be interesting and less obvious than the also very deserving Stan Grant. Disappointed but not surprised.

    1. I interpreted Leigh’s criticisms of Dan Andrew’s approach to Covid was more to do with it seemed it was the one and only response whereas other states tended to use lock down as a last resort rather than the only response. WA sort of different as the shared border seemed less of an issue. In any event, Leigh is a journalist who should speak substantively – much to chew on.

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