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Norman Swan
Swan in 2013
Born1953 (age 71–72)
Glasgow, Scotland
NationalityAustralian and British
Alma materUniversity of Aberdeen
Occupation(s)Physician, Journalist and Broadcaster
Known forABC Radio National
Health Report (since 1982);
Notable workRevealing scientific fraud by William McBride
ChildrenAnna, Georgia and Jonathan Swan
Awards
Australian Skeptics Award 2020

Norman Swan (born Norman Swirsky) [1] is a Scottish Australian physician, journalist and broadcaster.[2]

Biography

Swan was born in Scotland[3] to a Jewish family.[4] Swan wanted to be an actor, but instead went into medical school at the University of Aberdeen[2] graduating in 1976. He later tried unsuccessfully to get into the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. [1] He then continued his postgraduate studies by specialising in paediatrics.[5]

Swan moved to Australia, to continue his training but moved away from medicine when he started work with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 1982.[2] He was the general manager of ABC Radio National for three years from 1990, and in that time increased the audience by 30%. He overhauled the schedule, created the RN current affairs breakfast program (now hosted by Fran Kelly), and recruited Phillip Adams, Geraldine Doogue and Wendy Harmer as program presenters.[3] Swan co-hosted the Radio National program Life Matters between 1996 and 2001,[5] and has produced and presented ABC radio program The Health Report from its inception in 1985.[3]

On ABC TV, Swan has presented both Catalyst and Quantum, is an occasional reporter on Four Corners, his most recent being an exposé of egregious doctors' fees and currently is a regular reporter and commentator on 7.30. On commercial television, he has appeared on the Australian version of The Biggest Loser as the resident health expert.[6]

Swan was awarded the Gold Walkley in 1988 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.[2] Swan has won four Walkley Awards, (the latest in 2020 for Coronacast), the 2020 Australian Skeptics Award, a Media Peace Award from the United Nations Association of Australia, and the highest honour in Australian science journalism, the Michael Daley Award.[2] Swan was also awarded the Medal of The Australian Academy Science in 2004.[7]

Personal life

Swan's son,[8] Jonathan, is a political correspondent, firstly for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, then The Hill and now Axios.[9] Swan's daughter, Anna, was seriously injured in an electric bike accident in a 2016 trip to Italy. Swan experienced mild PTSD after the incident, blaming himself for not hiring helmets for the bikes. [1]

Bibliography

  • Swan, Norman (February–March 2014). "Disaster averted". Health. Body Talk. Cosmos. 55: 26.

References

  1. ^ a b c "Dr Norman Swan opens up on coping with trauma after his daughter's accident, covering COVID and the question that 'stopped his world'". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 5 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.; 1953)
  2. ^ a b c d e "Dr Norman Swan". ABC Radio National. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  3. ^ a b c "Profile: Norman Swan". The Sydney Morning Herald. 25 August 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  4. ^ Datelines: Norman Swan, Sydney Morning Herald, 7 November 1998, Spectrum, p. 2s
  5. ^ a b "Honorary awards – Dr Norman Swan". University of Sydney. 13 June 2006. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  6. ^ "The quality journalism project: Dr Norman Swan's media check-up". Crikey. 29 March 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  7. ^ https://www.science.org.au/supporting-science/awards-and-opportunities/academy-medal-0
  8. ^ "Aussie named as a US political breakout star". Crikey. 17 November 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  9. ^ "Fairfax journalist Jonathan Swan awarded prestigious Wallace Brown Young Achiever Award". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
External videos
video icon One Plus One: Norman Swan, One Plus One, ABC News
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