Telum Media caught up with Jason Dasey to reflect on his career, the differences in reporting in different locations around the world, and how he's seen journalism develop and change since his return to Australia. Jason is a contract host at 4BC Brisbane and also contributes to ABC local radio and Singapore’s Money FM as a news analyst and pundit.

Tell us about your career history, and what led you to where you are today. 
The highlights of my career have been working as a TV presenter on BBC News (the first Australian), being the first Australian sports presenter on CNN, and working on-air all over the world. It all began in the late 1970s in my hometown of Sydney as a weekend reporter for the Australian Associated Press, before I won a cadetship with The Sydney Morning Herald at the start of 1980. After a few years, I moved to television with Seven Network, and then SBS in Sydney. But the majority of my career was spent overseas - in the U.K, U.S, and Asia for more than 25 years.
 
What goes into working and reporting in so many different markets? 
Working in each market requires adjustments. Not just in the way that you connect with the audience as a presenter, but with many other things, like the way you dress, the language you use, and interacting with your colleagues in the office. What may be of major importance in one market could be inconsequential in another market. To be successful in bouncing between markets, you need to be a quick learner and make an effort to better know your audience.

What factors should young journalists or media professionals may not consider when working overseas?
Living and working in a country is very different to visiting, or even studying. I think as an Australian going to the U.K or the U.S, you’re already at a disadvantage compared to the locals who have grown up there. Be prepared for plenty of setbacks, particularly early on. Also, know that you will need to work harder than the locals to succeed. But through hard work, persistence, and a bit of luck, you can be successful. 

What has it been like adjusting to working in Australia again?
I’ve been back home almost five years now, having moved from Singapore to Brisbane. I've enjoyed it. I can’t lie, it hasn’t been easy, but that was what I expected. In some ways, it has been like starting again in Australia, because I don’t have anything like the professional status I enjoyed overseas in Australia.

It is hard for some Aussies to relate to my overseas experience - particularly middle managers who, unfortunately, do a lot of the hiring. Not everyone has been particularly helpful because the media is a cut-throat business to start with, and now the industry is shrinking. But I’ve always managed to get work and earn a living, for which I’m grateful. I’m also doing presentation training for aspiring TV and radio anchors, and business professionals who want to better communicate across different media platforms.

Probably the highlight for me since my return has been hosting 4BC's Summer Drive programme on Nine Radio over consecutive years, and filling in as presenter of Drive and Weekends in 2024. In many ways, doing live talkback radio and being required to express your opinions is challenging. But when it works, and the audience responds positively, it is very satisfying. Radio has become my number one love.

How do you think journalism will continue to develop here and overseas? 
Journalism is facing challenging times, both here and overseas, due to shrinking revenues and the explosion of social media feeds that reduces the potency of traditional information providers, like TV, radio news, and newspapers. I’m glad that I’m approaching the end of my career, rather than being near the start, as it is becoming increasingly difficult to earn a living through journalism.

What's a personal highlight from all the places you've travelled and worked in? 
After my on-air roles at BBC and CNN, I became a high-profile sports broadcaster across Asia, and was the original host of some successful shows, including SportsCenter Asia on ESPN from Singapore. I also fulfilled a career ambition by hosting major sporting events on-site, like Grand Slam Tennis and the FIFA World Cup. After that, I became a boss for Astro in Malaysia, built a team of media professionals, created original shows from scratch, and hosted some of them. In more recent years, I have regularly travelled to India to host sports events and shows. So, probably my Asian chapter, stretching almost two decades from 2001, is a personal highlight.

Any advice for media professionals entering into the workforce? 
Fall in love with the craft of creating media rather than any perceived glamour, fame, money, or power. Don’t cut corners, and put in the hard yards. Learn how to tell a good story in a compelling fashion, whether it’s on radio, TV or digital, and you will always have work.

I am very grateful to have enjoyed a successful career as a broadcaster. I wasn’t a natural at it - it took me until my early 30s to get the hang of being a TV presenter, which finally allowed me to break through, but I persisted and eventually got good at it. Resilience is a quality that has served me well as I succeeded despite suffering many setbacks, particularly early on. Going overseas in the late 80s and early 90s was one of the best decisions I ever made. I don’t think I would have been as successful had I remained in Australia.

What advice would you give to PRs looking to pitch a story to you? 
I’ve worked with plenty of PR professionals over the years, all around the world. When you pitch to a particular media outlet, try to think of that audience’s particular needs. If you’re pitching talent to talk on TV and radio, make sure they can make themselves available. You won’t believe the number of times I’ve received a press release, asked for an interview with someone who mentioned it, and not been able to do it, due to scheduling conflicts. That’s an opportunity lost.