Peter Couchman

Peter Couchman
Born 1941
Nationality Australian
Occupation Television presenter, radio presenter, author and journalist
Employer Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Television This Day Tonight Four Corners

Peter Couchman is an Australian journalist, author and presenter. He had a long career with the Australian Broadcasting Commission, working on current affairs programmes including This Day Tonight and Four Corners.

Career

Couchman studied at the National Institute of Dramatic Art and worked for two years as an actor with the Young Elizabethan Players.[1] Once he decided he wanted to be a reporter, he joined the ABC, starting in their Sydney mailroom.

Peter Couchman worked on This Day Tonight, the ABC's evening current affairs programme in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1973, he was Singapore correspondent for the ABC. Couchman travelled to Cambodia in May 1973 with cameraman David Brill[1] to report for Four Corners on the ultimately successful campaign of the Khmer Rouge. He was detained while reporting in the Philippines in 1973 during a period of martial law imposed by President Ferdinand Marcos.[2]

He was a reporter for Four Corners for three terms: 1968-1969, 1974-1975 and 1987-1989.[3]

He was the host of the Victorian edition of This Day Tonight during the 1970s.

In 1978, he moved to Network Ten, hosting The Peter Couchman Show, a daytime talk show and the late night Peter Couchman Tonight. In August 1979, he moved to a prime time slot with magazine programme Peter Couchman's Melbourne.[4]

In 1980, Couchman presented an afternoon radio programme on 3AW.[2] In 1981, he returned to the ABC as compere of Nationwide.[5] There was a contractual dispute between 3AW and the ABC, where 3AW believed they had an agreement to renew Couchman's contract for 1981. The Supreme Court found for the ABC.[6]

When the ABC revamped its news and current affairs with the new programme The National in 1985, Couchman was appointed Asian correspondent, based once more in Singapore.[2]

In 1986, Couchman wrote, produced and presented an ABC news special Coup D'Etat, a world exclusive following the political crisis in the Philippines, the end of Marcos' regime and the swearing in of new president Cory Aquino. The programme won a 1987 Logie award for Most Outstanding Achievement In Public Affairs.[7]

Couchman turned down an offer to present Seven Network's Holiday to return to Four Corners in 1987.[8]

From 1989 to 1992, he hosted the eponymous Couchman forum programme with a similar format to Robert Moore's Monday Conference (1971-1978) and the current Q&A.[9]

In January 1994 he hosted the ABC's 7.30 Report in Sydney. In November of that year, Couchman was arrested during the "Save Albert Park" protests against the Australian Grand Prix being run at Albert Park in Melbourne. He was released without charge.[10]

In 1995-1997, Couchman hosted the morning slot on 774 ABC Melbourne radio, formerly known as 3LO, taking over from Ranald McDonald. He had a combative relationship with Premier Jeff Kennett, who was a regular guest on the programme.

Peter Couchman now works on the speakers circuit as an MC and moderator.

Notable work

Personal life

Peter Couchman married wife Trish. They had two children, Sophie and Simon.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 Little, John, The Man Who Saw Too Much: David Brill, combat cameraman
  2. 1 2 3 4 The Age, 2 February 1985
  3. ↑ Four Corners People
  4. ↑ Talking Television
  5. ↑ Sydney Morning Herald, 6 July 1986
  6. ↑ The Age, 29 January 1981
  7. ↑ Talking Television
  8. ↑ The Age, 4 Dec 1986
  9. ↑ The Age, 6 April 1989
  10. ↑ Going Hammer and Tongs Over Tacks, The Age, 24 October 1995 (login required)


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