One of the ABC’s longest-running, most popular and awarded programs, Landline, has returned to our screens after a summer break and to mark the event, an ABC veteran has penned a personal article.
Peter Lewis, who was a long-time reporter for, and Executive Producer of, the renowned show, has written a loving memoir piece for the ABC Alumni group’s website.
Lewis writes about the origins and early days of rural radio and television, before reflecting on what it was like to adhere to Landline’s extremely high production values.
“The real pleasure and privilege of this kind of storytelling was that it brought you in contact with people who did interesting, important work often in spectacular parts of Australia.
The other main point of difference was that we had time to do their stories justice – not just some fly-in fly-out, ‘once over lightly’ treatment like mainstream news and current affairs programs that focussed more on the cult of personalities rather than content.
The Landline stories themselves tended to flow like cold molasses and there was careful attention to how music and editing could enhance the experience for viewers.
The real pleasure and privilege of this kind of storytelling was that it brought you in contact with people who did interesting, important work often in spectacular parts of Australia.
The other main point of difference was that we had time to do their stories justice – not just some fly-in fly-out, ‘once over lightly’ treatment like mainstream news and current affairs programs that focussed more on the cult of personalities rather than content.
The Landline stories themselves tended to flow like cold molasses and there was careful attention to how music and editing could enhance the experience for viewers.
The show features stories that ranging across agricultural politics and economics, business and product innovation, animal and crop science, regional infrastructure, climate and weather trends, regional and rural services and music and lifestyle.
But it also provides its large urban following with context about life and work in the bush.
Two years ago Landline celebrated its 30th anniversary by producing a special episode:
Watch the Landline 30th anniversary blooper reel
A huge selection of highly crafted Landline stories is available on YouTube.
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