ABC presenters celebrate 35 years in media after starting in regional WA

Two veteran ABC presenters, Mark Gibson and Nadia Mitsopoulos, are marking 35 years in the media industry, reflecting on their diverse career paths that began in regional Western Australia.

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Ah, OK, yeah, that's the job that sort of fits in with what I want to do.

Mitsopoulos recalled her early ambition to become a journalist after watching a premier on television. She pursued a journalism major at Curtin University and secured her first role at GWN after persistent phone calls to the news director. "I called him every day for eight days until he offered me the job. I think he was just sick of my phone calls," she said.

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I called him every day for eight days until he offered me the job. I think he was just sick of my phone calls.

Gibson, who also studied journalism at Curtin, transitioned to broadcasting after discovering a course at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. He landed a radio announcer job in Karratha during his first year, prioritizing practical experience over completing his degree. "The advice I got at the time was just go for the job. The job is better than any piece of paper," he stated.

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The advice I got at the time was just go for the job. The job is better than any piece of paper.

Both presenters highlighted the invaluable experience gained in regional postings, where they handled multiple reporting roles. Mitsopoulos noted that working in areas like Bunbury and Albany meant covering politics, local councils, sports, and environmental issues. "You do everything. You're the political reporter, the council reporter, the sports reporter, the environment reporter. You name it, you do it all," she explained. This broad exposure, she added, was crucial for learning how to build community contacts and understand local sensitivities, especially when covering difficult stories.

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Gibbo, I was making $1,000 more than you with my first job, $18,000. I thought it was absolutely the best.