Norman Swan
| Norman Swan | |
|---|---|
| Born | Glasgow, Scotland |
| Nationality | Australian and British |
| Alma mater | University of Aberdeen |
| Occupation | Physician, journalist and broadcaster |
| Known for |
ABC Radio National Medical Host, Biggest Loser; Co-founder Tonic Health Media, a health television channel aimed at correcting information assymetry in healthcare; Health and healthcare commentator; Host, Tonic, ABC Television; Columnist Cosmos magazine Founder and Editor, CHOICE Health Reader; Creator, narrator 'Invisible Enemies' four part documentary series for Channel 4 (UK) on disease and civilisation; Narrator and script editor 'The Opposite Sex' documentary series, ABC Television |
| Notable work | Revealing scientific fraud by William McBride |
| Children | Jonathan, Anna, Georgia |
| Awards |
MD Hon Causa Univ Sydney, FRCP (UK) |
Norman Swan is a Scottish Australian Physician, journalist and broadcaster.[1]
Biography
Swan was born in Scotland[2] and studied medicine at the University of Aberdeen[1] graduating in 1976.[3]
Swan moved to Australia, where he started work with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 1982.[1] He was the general manager of ABC Radio National for three years from 1990, and in that time increased the audience by 30%, created the RN current affairs breakfast program (now hosted by Fran Kelly), overhauled the schedule and recruited Phillip Adams, Geraldine Doogue and Wendy Harmer as program presenters.[2] Swan co-hosted the Radio National program Life Matters between 1996 and 2001,[3] and has produced and presented ABC radio program The Health Report from its inception in 1985.[2]
On ABC TV, Swan has presented both Catalyst and Quantum, hosted and been Executive Producer of Tonic and, on commercial television, appeared on the Australian version of The Biggest Loser as the resident health expert.[4]
Swan was awarded the Gold Walkley for revealing scientific fraud conducted by gynaecologist Dr William McBride. Swan's investigation sent "shock waves throughout the medical world" and led to McBride's de-registration as a medical practitioner.[1] Swan has won three Walkley Awards, a Media Peace Award from the United Nations Association of Australia, and the highest honour in Australian science journalism, the Michael Daley Award.[1]
Personal life
Swan's son, Jonathan, is an award-winning national political correspondent firstly for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, then The Hill and now Axios. [5]
From SMH (Aug. 2010),
Biggest achievement - "I know it's trite but I'm desperately proud of my three children [aged 25, 23 and 21]. And helping Radio National survive in the early '90s [when he ran the station for three years]. I feel that's contributed to Australian cultural life."
Personal philosophy - "I want to live in a country where everyone can achieve their potential. Britain [where he lived until 1978] is still a bit class-bound. And, secondly, I'm Jewish and I believe in the Talmudic principle to do unto others as one would have done to oneself."
Bibliography
- Swan, Norman (Feb–Mar 2014). "Disaster averted". Health. Body Talk. Cosmos. 55: 26.
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Dr Norman Swan". ABC Radio National. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
- 1 2 3 "Profile: Norman Swan". The Sydney Morning Herald. 25 August 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
- 1 2 "Honorary awards – Dr Norman Swan". University of Sydney. 13 June 2006. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
- ↑ "The quality journalism project: Dr Norman Swan's media check-up". Crikey. 29 March 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
- ↑ "Fairfax journalist Jonathan Swan awarded prestigious Wallace Brown Young Achiever Award". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 April 2015.