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Director of ABC Regional & Local, Michael Mason, announces his departure from the ABC

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Director of ABC Regional & Local, Michael Mason, announced today that he would be leaving the ABC in early December. In a statement to staff Mr Mason said that when he accepted the new role as Director Regional & Local, he did so with a view that he would revisit that decision after twelve months.

“After 34 years at the ABC and the last five years as Director of Radio and then Regional & Local, I can honestly say I have been privileged to have had the opportunity to work alongside some of this country’s greatest broadcasting and media talent – both in front of and behind the mic.”

“I am aware that we have just experienced significant change at the highest levels within the ABC. I am also keenly aware of the incredible depth and talent that exists in both the ABC’s executive leadership team and the Regional & Local executive team and it is for this reason that I believe now is the right time for me to step down as Director,” Mr Mason said.

Mr Mason said his decision to leave the ABC was made in early August before the departure of former Managing Director Michelle Guthrie and former Chairman, Justin Milne and was in no way linked to those events.

The role of Director of Regional & Local will be advertised internally as soon as possible with the aim of appointing a new director before Michael’s departure in mid-December. Until that process is completed, Head of Specialist, Judith Whelan, will act as Director of Regional & Local.

Judith Whelan has worked in the media for more than 30 years and was most recently in the role of ABC Head of Specialist, where she oversaw coverage of Arts, Science, Health & Technology, Religion & Ethics, Education and Society & Culture across all the ABC’s platforms. She has also overseen RN, Grandstand and the ABC’s Capital City local radio network in her former position as Head of Spoken Content within the former Radio division.

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