Did podcasts kill the radio star – or completely revitalise storytelling for the 21st century? Join a special line-up of crime podcasters for a discussion about the rise of the medium and how it is changing journalism. They consider how the format fosters creativity and intimacy, and why it may yet rank among the most exciting cultural innovations of our times.
Featuring Patrick Abboud, Kate McClymont, and Hedley Thomas, on stage with the Schwartz Media’s 7am host, Ruby Jones.
Patrick Abboud (Australian)
Patrick (Pat) Abboud is a Walkley award-winning investigative journalist, documentary director and TV/radio host. Pat is a three-time winner at the New York Festivals TV & Radio Awards, a Walkley Foundation/Media Diversity Australia, and Kennedy Award recipient. Pat’s work has been nominated for the prestigious Rose D’Or in Europe and SXSW’s Innovation Award. He’s also been honoured as LGBTQIA+ Journalist of the Year twice. Pat is the founder of Only Human, a production company making original factual films, television, podcasts and interactive documentaries for global audiences. His most recent eight-part queer true crime documentary series has won nine international awards. Pat was the founder of SBS TV program The Feed, where he was a reporter/producer/director and presenter for seven years. He also co-hosted and directed content for the annual SBS Mardi Gras live TV broadcast for seven years. Pat has directed and presented several documentaries for Dateline from across the globe. As a correspondent, to date he’s explored 53 countries, scouring almost every continent for untold stories. As an interviewer, his popular TV series #PatChat where he sits down with pop stars, politicians and everyday people with extraordinary stories has clocked up more than 50 million views across social media. He continues to report for The Project on Network 10, and his next three-part screen documentary/eight-part podcast series is currently in development. Recently awarded one of Australia’s 45 World Pride Rainbow champions medals for his ongoing commitment to the queer community, Pat is ambassador for Twenty10 and Wear it Purple advocating for LGBTQIA+ young people.
Kate McClymont (Australian)
Kate McClymont is an investigative journalist with The Sydney Morning Herald. She is an nine-time Walkley winner, including the Gold Walkley for her coverage of the Bulldogs salary cap rorts. She was named the 2012 NSW Journalist of the year for her investigations into the fraudulent activities of union boss Michael Williamson and the now-jailed former Labor MP, Eddie Obeid. In 2017 she was inducted into the Media Hall of Fame for her contribution to the industry and in 2020 she was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her services to the print media and to investigative journalism. Kate's most recent book is Dead Man Walking.
Hedley Thomas (Australian)
Hedley Thomas has been a journalist for more than 35 years. He focuses on long-form podcast investigations into the unsolved murders of women. In 2017 and 2018, Hedley investigated the suspected murder in 1982 of Sydney mother of two Lyn Dawson by her husband, Chris Dawson. The investigation unfolded in his podcast series, The Teacher's Pet, which has achieved more than 70 million downloads and won a Gold Walkley – journalism's highest prize. In 2021–22, Hedley's third major podcast series, Shandee's Story, investigated the savage stabbing murder of a young woman in Queensland in 2013. The podcast uncovered gross negligence in testing and reporting on crime scene by the State's DNA laboratory, triggering a royal commission inquiry and the current reinvestigation and solving of murders and rapes and other serious crimes. Hedley is the author of Sick to Death in 2007, a book about a dangerous surgeon, Dr Jayant Patel who got a job as director of surgery at a Queensland public hospital despite having been struck off for gross negligence in surgery in the United States. Hedley has won eight Walkley Awards including two Gold Walkleys.
Ruby Jones (Australian)
Ruby Jones is a Walkley-nominated investigative journalist and documentary host who has worked across Australia. She is now the host of 7am, Australia's number one daily news podcast. She was previously the Marchbanks Young Journalist of the Year. Her non-fiction book Barrenjoey Road was released in 2021.
