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Steve Ahern

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Steve Ahern
OAM
Born
Stephen Roderick Ahern

1959 (age 64–65)
NationalityAustralian
OccupationMedia

Stephen Roderick Ahern (OAM) (born 1959), is a media executive, strategist, trainer and international consultant in modern broadcast media. He was the station manager at three Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) radio stations (1988 to mid-1990s), Director of Radio at Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS) (1998 to 2009) and CEO of Ahern Media & Training (AMT) (from mid-1990s). His Order of Australia Medal, awarded in June 2009, recognised his "contributions to radio broadcasting as an educator, media trainer and author."

Biography

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Stephen Roderick Ahern was born in 1959.[1][2] He completed a Bachelor of Arts/Diploma of Education at Macquarie University in 1982.[3] He had started his career in radio in the late 1970s and by 1987 was acting station manager at Australian Broadcasting Corporation's (ABC's) Canberra-based 2CN and 2CY.[4][5] He became 2CN's manager in the following year and had previously managed 2NC, Newcastle.[6] After six years at 2CN, in 1993, Ahern became manager of Melbourne's 3LO.[7] From 1997 to 2009 he worked for Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS),[8] and was its Director of Radio for ten years,[9][10][11] in 2020 he took on the role of Director of the ABU Media Academy in Kuala Lumpur.[12] Ahern was awarded an Order of Australia medal in 2009 "for his contributions to radio broadcasting as an educator, media trainer and author."[2][13][14]

After leaving the ABC in the mid-1990s, Ahern founded Ahern Media and Training (AMT) and soon after he established the website, radioinfo.com.au. AMT publishes several trade journals. He consulted as a media futurist, advising broadcasters how to adapt to the new smartphone, smart speaker, podcast and social media environments, as well as advising on how to restructure radio and television media companies in the new digital media era. His presentations and articles include how media can be useful in fighting fake news,[15] radio in media-dark countries[16] journalism in dangerous environments[17] and media reform in Australia.[18] Ahern works with TV, radio and new media broadcasters to modernise their news gathering and broadcasting techniques[19] and consults on organisational change for various international broadcasting organisations. In 2018 Ahern developed a successful business news-talk station called Money FM for commercial radio and publishing company SPH Singapore.[20]

Ahern has commented in the media about the radio industry in Australia.[10][21] He is the editor and an author of the book, Making Radio: a Practical Guide to Working in Radio (2000), which was published by his organisation, AFTRS.[22][23] (2nd Edition 2011, 3rd Edition 2013).[24][25][26] In 2022, the book was updated to an international edition, include podcasting and digital audio and is now called Making Radio and Podcasts, published by Routledge.[27] Ahern wrote a crime thriller, Harbour Terror (2007), which is set in a community radio station.[28][29] He provided an entry on the first Director of AFTRS, Jerzy Toeplitz (1909–1995), for the Australian Dictionary of Biography [30] and contributed two chapters to a book about South African media.[31]

Ahern has published articles and conference papers on the future of media, including the importance of media in developing countries.[32] He trains media professionals through AMT and was the CEO of the International Media & Broadcasting Academy (IMBA).[33][34] He was a board member of the Community Broadcasting Foundation of Australia.[35] In 2000 he was the founding consultant and curriculum developer for the National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa (NEMISA) and in 2012 was founding consultant for Nai Media Institute, the first professional media training organisation in Afghanistan.[13] In 2014 Ahern and business partner Peter Saxon bought AsiaRadioToday.com[36] and in 2015 he and his business partners were the first to develop and launch a 'catch-up radio' product called Rewind Radio.

Ahern has been active in training radio and television industry organisations for the transition to digital radio, digital television, and new OTT services. He lectures about the future of media in Australia and internationally,[14][37] and in 2020 joined the Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) to Head the organisation's Media Academy.

In Paris in July 2022 he spoke at a UNESCO presentation on the importance of media and information literacy and professional journalism.[38] Highlighting the difference between professional media and social media he said: "The common threads that make up professional media are: A commitment to the greater good of society, Internal editorial checks and balances, External rules and regulations... This distinguishes responsible professional media from unregulated social media."

In 2022 Ahern joined at ABC as Manager of ABC Radio Sydney.[39] He left the ABC in 2024 to rejoin AMT Pty Ltd as the company's CEO to expand the Radiodays Conference in Asia and the associated Asia Podcast Awards[40] and continue his international training and consultancy work.

Personal life

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Steve Ahern is married to Serena (née Poggi),[18][41] a teacher-librarian at Saint Ignatius' College, Riverview,[42] and they have two children.[18][41] One of their children is Daniel Ahern p.k.a. Bus Vipers, who also worked in radio management at 2SER and then FBi Radio.[18][43]

References

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  1. ^ Ahern, Steve, ed. (1999). "Steve Ahern". Online Radio Industry Newsletter. Crows Nest, NSW: Ahern Media & Training (AMT). ISSN 1446-9251.
  2. ^ a b "Award Extract – Australian Honours Search Facility". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C). 8 June 2009. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  3. ^ "Stephen Ahern". Macquarie University Alumni Web Community. 20 April 2011. Archived from the original on 5 March 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ Tingle, Greg (2 April 2003). "Interview with Steve Ahern". Media Man Australia – The Online Home of Greg Tingle – Journalist and TV Presenter. Archived from the original on 15 August 2004. Retrieved 14 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ Waller, Hugh (15 April 1987). "ABC radio is the loser in ratings war". The Canberra Times. Vol. 61, no. 18, 821. p. 3. Retrieved 14 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "Manager for 2CN". The Canberra Times. Vol. 62, no. 19, 082. 3 January 1988. p. 3. Retrieved 14 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ Wallace, Mark (22 November 1993). "High Frequency: 2CD Managaer Lands Plum Victoria Job". The Canberra Times. The Guide. Vol. 68, no. 21, 405. p. 4. Retrieved 14 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "Steve Ahern to leave AFTRS". Community Broadcasting Online. 12 January 2009. Archived from the original on 19 September 2009. Retrieved 14 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ Javes (4 September 2003). "Generation next". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 11 September 2003. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  10. ^ a b Jackson, Sally (15 February 2010). "Commercial radio wants to match TV rebate". The Australian.[dead link‍]
  11. ^ Jackson, Sally (15 February 2010). "Commercial radio wants to match TV rebate". auPAYTV.com. Archived from the original on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia. Note: Repost of The Australian article.
  12. ^ "ABU Media Academy Up and Running – ABU". Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  13. ^ a b Smith, Trevor (12 March 2012). "Trouble in Paradise: 3MTR Abandons Talk Format in Melbourne". Talkers.
  14. ^ a b "Digital radio guru Steve Ahern addresses SAJAA members". South Asian Times. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  15. ^ "The antidote to fake news is better professional media | radioinfo". radioinfo.com.au. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  16. ^ CBAA, Australia (9 November 2017). "CBAA 2017 Conference Program" (PDF). CBAA Conference. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  17. ^ Commercial Radio Australia (October 2017). "Journalism in a Dangerous World". www.commercialradio.com.au. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  18. ^ a b c d Ahern, Steve (29 June 2017). "My holiday … and why media reform is necessary". radioinfo. Archived from the original on 13 May 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ^ "Smartphone Video Course transforming broadcasting habits". Asia Radio Today. 7 October 2015.
  20. ^ riasia_admin (28 January 2018). "Raining money at new SPH station launch". RadioInfo Asia. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  21. ^ Lia Timson (7 March 2007). "On-air Heads". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  22. ^ Ahern, Steve; Australian Film, Television and Radio School (2000), Ahern, Steve (ed.), Making Radio : a Practical Guide to Working in Radio, St. Leonards, N.S.W.: Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS). Allen & Unwin, ISBN 978-1-876351-07-6
  23. ^ Participative Marketing for Local Radio – Dennis List – Google Books
  24. ^ Making radio : a practical guide to working in radio / edited by Steve Ahern | National Library of Australia
  25. ^ CSU Radio Students embark on work attachment | radioinfo.com.au
  26. ^ Ahern, Steve (2022). Making Radio and Podcasts (4th ed.). Abingdon, Oxon, UK: Routledge. ISBN 9781032020723.
  27. ^ "Making Radio and Podcasts: A Practical Guide to Working in Today's Radio and Audio Industries". Routledge & CRC Press. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  28. ^ Ahern, Steve (2007), Harbour Terror, Trafford Pub, ISBN 978-1-4251-5611-4
  29. ^ Roper, John E (2013). "Professional Book Reviews: Harbour Terror by Steve Ahern – Trafford Publishing". The US Review of Books. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  30. ^ Ahern, Steve (2021). "Toeplitz, Jerzy Bonawentura (1909–1995)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 19. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  31. ^ Sewlal, Robin (2021). Sewlal, Robin (ed.). REFLECTIONS of the SOUTH AFRICAN MEDIA: 1994 - 2019. Durban University of Technology. doi:10.51415/DUT.3. ISBN 978-0-620-94662-9.
  32. ^ "Letter from Liberia for #WorldRadioDay | AsiaRadioToday.com". www.asiaradiotoday.com. 11 February 2017. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  33. ^ Talkback switch leads to drop in listeners – AdNews
  34. ^ Radio broadcasters discuss new challenges | VOV Online Newspaper
  35. ^ "Board of Directors". www.cbf.com.au. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  36. ^ AsiaRadioToday sold to Radioinfo Australia | Asia Radio Today
  37. ^ "Radio Asia 2013: Social media workshop". Asia Radio Today. 29 July 2013.
  38. ^ staff writer (4 July 2022). "Broadcasters and Educators Working with UNESCO on Media & Information Literacy". RadioInfo Australia. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  39. ^ Stamm, Wayne (18 January 2023). "Steve Ahern appointed Manager of ABC Radio Sydney". RadioInfo Australia. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  40. ^ Saxon, Peter (5 July 2024). "We've reserved a discounted seat for you at the 2024 RadioDays Asia Conference". Radioinfo. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  41. ^ a b "Welcome Wall - search/browse". Australian National Maritime Museum. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 13 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  42. ^ "Leading Learning through Literacy & Literature – Workshop Abstracts". Australian School Library Association of New South Wales (ASLA-NSW). 2008. Archived from the original on 20 July 2008. Retrieved 15 February 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  43. ^ "This Week's Media Movements". Melbourne Press Club (MPC). Australian Associated Press. 2 November 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
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