The ABC is celebrating its 90^th birthday in 2022. The public broadcaster reaches more than two-thirds of the Australian population each week through its radio, television and online offerings. From current affairs, education and science, to Indigenous programming and regional and international news services, the ABC has played a major role in Australian culture and conversation for decades.

To celebrate this major milestone, the ABC's Director (News, Analysis and Investigations) Justin Stevens spoke to Telum about the broadcaster's evolution in its 90-year history.  

You first joined the ABC back in 2006, working on the 7.30 programme. How has the broadcaster changed over the years?
The ABC has changed in a number of ways, always in line with audiences, including the growth in rolling and digital news, the use of social media and now the shift towards on-demand streaming services. The way we can source stories and tell them has also changed, for example, how we covered the pandemic or the war in Ukraine would have been completely different in 2006 compared to now. Mobile phones and other technologies have given us the ability to hear from people around the nation and the globe with more immediacy.  
 
You started your new position as Director (News, Analysis and Investigations) in April this year. Can you walk us through a day in the life of your role?
Every day has been different. A key focus has been talking with people from our teams around the country to get as rich a perspective as possible on the opportunities and challenges ahead. There were also a number of key appointments to make, both in front of and behind the camera, so that was an important early focus. 
 
The ABC turns 90 this month. What are you doing to celebrate? What role has the broadcaster played in Australian culture during this time?
This year the ABC turns 90 and also marks 75 years since it started an independent news service. There was a two-hour special celebrating that history on Thursday 30^th June. The ABC has played a central role as Australia’s public broadcaster - we have a unique and important remit on behalf of all Australians to tell stories fearlessly and independently, to hold the powerful to account, to document the biggest stories as they happen and help make sense of them, and to reflect the rich diversity of our country. 
 
10 years from now, when the ABC is celebrating its 100^th birthday, what do you think will have changed?
We will have seen a continuation of the digital transformation in the way audiences watch, listen to and read what we do. The way we tell our stories and the tools at our disposal to tell them will have further evolved. What won’t have changed is our commitment to doing strong, quality journalism in the public interest and to remain the most trusted news organisation in the country. 
 
What does the ABC offer as a public broadcaster that a typical media outlet cannot?
We offer an independent service free of commercial obligations. We are held to higher standards and are more accountable for what we do than any other outlet in this country, which means Australians can count on the ABC providing fair, accurate and impartial programming and news. We have more people in more locations around the country and the globe than any other Australian media outlet, and that uniquely positions us to tell the stories of our nation, region and world. 
 
Do you have a most memorable story you’ve covered during your time at the ABC?
There are many memorable stories and programmes I’ve been fortunate enough to be involved in during my time at the ABC. What makes them memorable is the teamwork and collaboration that goes into making the best journalism - people coming together and combining their skills and talents to serve the audience.