Phoebe Bennett Named Triple J’s New Content Producer

The ABC has announced three key senior audio appointments in its Content division, including Phoebe Bennett as the new content director for triple j and Double J.

It’s a major promotion for Bennett, who previously worked as an executive producer for Double J. Notably in that role, she worked to adapt the Zan Rowe podcast Take 5 for ABC TV. She comes to her new role with than a decade of experience in radio and podcasts across Australia and the UK, including other work with the ABC and a tenure at BBC Radio 6.

In a press statement, Bennet said she’s “pumped to be working with the best music brains in the business and an epic team of young creatives”. She added: “It’s an exciting time to be stepping into the role.” 

Elsewhere at the ABC, ex-Triple M head Mike Fitzpatrick – who ran the network for 11 years, and also worked as Head of Digital Radio for Austereo’s Listnr platform – joins the national broadcaster as its Head of Capital City Network and Sport.

He’ll report to ABC’s Head of Audio Content, Ben Latimer, who said in a statement of his own: “Mike’s exceptional leadership skills, combined with the expertise of ABC’s Audio leadership team, position us perfectly to enhance our Capital City Network and Sports output.  We eagerly anticipate Mike’s contributions and are excited to welcome him to the ABC family.”

Fitzpatrick shared the sentiment, saying: “Growing up in regional NSW my love of radio was ignited listening to ABC local radio, and I feel privileged to be chosen to work with the many talented people within the organisation. I’m looking forward to focussing on growing the capital city audience, and the vital role ABC Radio plays in entertaining and informing all Australians.” 

Last but certainly not least, Beverley Wang has been named the ABC’s new National Culture Correspondent. In addition to her existing role as the host of Stop Everything! and Friday episodes of Life Matters, it’s said in the press release that she’ll “combine her extensive knowledge of pop culture with her experience in journalism and broadcasting to provide analysis and commentary across all ABC platforms”.

“As a kid who was raised on pop culture, I learned to speak English from Sesame Street – I feel like my whole life has been driving toward this moment,” Wang said in her statement. “I’m super excited to bring the pop culture analysis we’ve been deep diving into for the past six years on Stop Everything! to a wider audience across multiple ABC platforms. We’re awash in pop culture, but in our time-poor world, we often have little time to process its significance. I hope to help people think more deeply about our constantly shifting culture and be entertained along the way.” 

Addressing all three of the new appointments, Latimer said the ABC is “proud of its position as the most comprehensive radio and on-demand audio offering of any media organisation in Australia”. The new roles, he explained, “reflect ABC’s ongoing commitment to providing unmatched audio experiences to our Australian audiences”.