Journalism Masterclass with ABC Presenter - Jeremy Fernandez

The School of Arts and Social Sciences was honoured to host Jeremy Fernandez, one of Australia’s most recognisable anchors from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), for a Journalism Masterclass on 20 August 2025. The session was moderated by Prof Meera Sivasothy and drew an engaged audience of students and staff.

Born in Kuala Lumpur and raised in Sabah before moving to Australia at the age of 13, Jeremy shared his journey into journalism and the experiences that shaped his 25-year career across radio, television, and digital platforms. He reminded students that journalism is, above all, an act of public service, helping people understand and care about the stories that shape their lives. For him, the goal has never been celebrity or headlines, but to talk to people, explore their stories, and serve the public.

Jeremy emphasised that while media formats continue to evolve, shifting from television to digital platforms, the principles of journalism remain unchanged: “Media isn’t dying, it’s evolving. The need for reliable journalism is still alive; it’s just moving to new formats.”

A recurring theme throughout his talk was the importance of trust. “Trust is the most valuable thing a journalist can earn. It’s easily broken and hard to rebuild,” he noted.

He also underscored the strict code of conduct followed at the ABC, which requires journalists to report fairly, accurately, and impartially. Transparency, he added, is essential in maintaining credibility: “Wherever we go wrong, we are very open about it. That transparency is key to maintaining public trust.”

The session concluded with a lively Q&A, where students explored issues such as bias, press freedom, and sensationalism in the digital age. The Masterclass left the audience inspired to reflect on their role in shaping a media ecosystem grounded in fairness, responsibility, and public trust.