Graeme Goodings
Graeme Goodings (born 1948)[1] is a veteran Australian television journalist.
Early career
Goodings's break in media came in 1963 when, after working as a panel operator at Melbourne radio station 3AW, he went on air Christmas Morning to fill-in for the sick presenter. He later worked for 7LA in Launceston and 5DN in Adelaide before leaving the media to operate a health food business in Tasmania.
However he returned to Television as a reporter for TNT-9 (now Southern Cross Television) in northern Tasmania. His work on The Saturday Night Show earned him a Logie Award.
Seven Network
In 1981, Goodings joined SAS-10 Adelaide, now SAS-7 as a sports reporter and presenter for Eyewitness News. In 1983 he became news presenter and remained in that role for over 20 years, even after SAS swapped its affiliation from the Ten Network to the Seven Network.
Goodings was joined at the news desk by Jane Doyle in 1989 and together they took Seven Nightly News to the top of the ratings. After sick leave in 2004, Goodings swapped with John Riddell to present Seven News on weekends. The weekend bulletin previously presented by John Riddell was consistently beaten for many years by National Nine News, hosted by Georgina McGuiness. However, since Goodings took over weekends the ratings steadily climbed to be the number one weekend news bulletin in Adelaide.
In November 2014, Goodings contract was not renewed by the Seven Network after 34 years with the network.[2]
He also is occasionally heard on local radio station FIVEaa.
Personal life
Goodings is married to Eve and they have three children. His son Will Goodings currently also works in the media at 5AA. He hosts Rural Live TV and reads the sport on KG and the General with episodes live and podcast on www.australialivetv.com.
In 2004 Goodings announced that he was battling bowel cancer. He took several months off from his duties at Seven News but returned to present the weekend news in 2005.
He regularly gives talks to cancer support groups, is a Board member of ProstateSA and constantly promotes the need for men to take charge of their health.
A passionate fan of the Adelaide Crows AFL team, he has been a club Ambassador since 1991, and for the teams dual premierships in 1997/1998 broadcast Seven News Live from Melbourne.
He is also the No.1 Member of the Crows Supporters Group.
On Sunday 19 July 2015 Goodings was involved in a controversial incident at the end of Showdown 39 between The Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide Football Clubs, the first showdown following the tragic death on 3 July 2015 of former Port Adelaide Assistant Coach, Port Adelaide Football Club Life Member and coach of the Adelaide Football Club, Phil Walsh.
Goodings caused offence to many Port Adelaide and neutral supporters by posting on his Facebook page comments describing Port fans who jeered at the end of the derby as “pretty pathetic” and “an embarrassment to your club". The comments led Port Adelaide Football Club Chief Executive, Keith Thomas to send an email to all Port Adelaide members on 22 July criticising Goodings' comments and reflecting on the true meaning of the showdown following Walsh's death. [3]
References
- ^ http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/tv-newsreaders-graeme-goodings-quits-channel-7-after-34-years/story-fni6uo1m-1227133416755
- ^ http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/entertainment/confidential/tv-newsreader-graeme-goodings-axed-by-channel-7-after-34-years/story-fnnspw2t-1227133416755
- ^ http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/port-adelaide-ceo-keith-thomas-takes-issue-with-graeme-goodings-criticism-of-power-fans-in-showdown-39/story-fnia6ojc-1227452869967?sv=9d81ac8fb2b4c278200492f46200f359
- "Graeme Goodings", The Advertiser, 1 January 2009.