David Speers
{{short description|Australian journalist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2015}}
{{for-multi|the South Australian politician|David Speirs|the Canadian cyclist|David Spears}}
{{Infobox person
| name = David Speers
| image = David Speers 2016.jpg
| caption = Speers in 2016
| image_size =
| birth_name = David Gordon Speers
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1974|9|9|df=y}}{{Cite tweet |number=641420577471770624 |user=David_Speers |title=Thank you! And happy birthday to all the other 9/9ers inc Natasha Stott Despoja too |first=David |last=Speers |date=9 September 2015 |access-date=9 September 2015}}
| birth_place = Sydney, Australia{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_cause =
| education = 1987–1988: Normanhurst Boys High School
1989–1992: Turramurra High School{{Cite web |date=8 October 2021 |title=CAPA news Volume 11 |url=https://turramurra-h.schools.nsw.gov.au/content/doe/sws/schools/t/turramurra-h/www/news/2021/10/capa-news-volume-11.html |access-date=10 March 2024 |website=Turramurra High School |publisher=NSW Department of Education}}
1996: Australian Film, Television and Radio School (Commercial Radio Broadcasters Course) {{cite web |title=AFRTS Alumni |url=https://www.aftrs.edu.au/alumni/our-alumni/?q=david+speers&graduated=&Apply=Apply&sort=latest |website=AFRTS |access-date=2 December 2024}}{{cite web |title=Sky News Australia - Presenter Biography |url=http://www.skynews.com.au/onair/presenters/presenter.asp?page=DSpeers |access-date=2 December 2024 |date=17 February 2006| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060217010011/http://www.skynews.com.au/onair/presenters/presenter.asp?page=DSpeers | archive-date=17 February 2006 }}
University of Canberra (BA, Communications)
| other_names =
| employer = Australian Broadcasting Corporation
| occupation = Political editor, journalist, television host
| years_active = 1999–present
| spouse = Liz
| partner =
| parents =
| children = 2
| relatives =
| website =
| known_for = Political reporting
| awards =
}}
David Gordon Speers (born 9 September 1974) is an Australian journalist and host of Insiders on ABC TV.
Previously he was political editor at Sky News Australia, as well as host of PM Agenda, The Last Word and Speers Tonight.
Career
Speers began his career in Geelong, Victoria, in the newsroom of radio station K-Rock. He then worked at 2GB, 2UE and 3AW. He has been a member of the National Press Club board since 2005{{cite web|url=http://www.icmi.com.au/david-speers|title=ICMI Speakers Bureau - David Speers|work=ICMI|access-date=21 April 2016|archive-date=21 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160421041503/http://www.icmi.com.au/david-speers|url-status=live}} and is currently a director.{{Cite web |title=Director – David Speers |url=https://npc.org.au/directors/#speers |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160421041656/https://npc.org.au/directors/ |archive-date=21 April 2016 |access-date=21 April 2016 |publisher=National Press Club}}
= Sky News =
In 2000, Speers joined Sky News as a political editor.{{Cite web |title=Sky News Team: David Speers |url=http://www.skynews.com.au/connect/sky-news-team/david-speers.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160421041207/http://www.skynews.com.au/connect/sky-news-team/david-speers.html |archive-date=21 April 2016 |access-date=21 April 2016 |website=Sky News Australia}}
During his time with Sky News, Speers hosted the channel's flagship PM Agenda program on Monday to Thursday afternoons. Additionally, he presented political updates and conducts interviews throughout the day on the 24-hour news channel.
He also previously commuted from his home in Canberra once a week to Sky News' primary studios in Sydney to host primetime program The Nation with David Speers{{cite web|work=TV Tonight|first=David|last=Knox|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2011/12/david-speers-talks-the-talk.html|date=13 December 2011|access-date=28 August 2015|title=David Speers talks the talk}} before the program ended in 2015. On 28 January 2016, Speers began hosting a new weekly Sky News format Speers Tonight from Canberra.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxtel.com.au/got/whats-on/tv-guide/Speers-Tonight/73078428 |title=Speers Tonight |website=Foxtel Guide |publisher=Foxtel |access-date=28 January 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128070046/https://www.foxtel.com.au/got/whats-on/tv-guide/Speers-Tonight/73078428 |archive-date=28 January 2016 }}{{Cite tweet |number=692626352063680512 |user=David_Speers |title=New show #SpeersTonight at 8pm. Name is pretty self explanatory. @AlboMP is my first guest. Also regulars Paul Kelly & Peter Hartcher |first=David |last=Speers |date=28 January 2016 |access-date=28 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128092325/https://mobile.twitter.com/David_Speers/status/692626352063680512 |archive-date=28 January 2016 |url-status=dead}}{{Cite interview |last=Albanese |first=Anthony |subject-link=Anthony Albanese |interviewer=David Speers |title=Transcript of television interview – Speers Tonight, SKY News |type=television interview |url=http://anthonyalbanese.com.au/transcript-of-television-interview-speers-tonight-sky-news |access-date=30 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131021013/http://anthonyalbanese.com.au/transcript-of-television-interview-speers-tonight-sky-news |archive-date=31 January 2016 |url-status=dead |date=28 January 2016 |quote=Anthony Albanese is our first guest for the year and I spoke to him a short while ago. Anthony Albanese, good evening.}}
= ABC News =
In June 2019, Speers was appointed as host of the ABC's Insiders program, replacing Barrie Cassidy from February 2020.{{Cite news |date=5 June 2019 |title=Insiders: David Speers to leave Sky for ABC in 2020 |url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/current-affairs/insiders-david-speers-to-leave-sky-for-abc-in-2020/news-story/99f76f978baf62b69dd814466bec78fb |access-date=10 March 2024 |work=news.com.au |publisher=News Corp Australia}} Speers regularly appears on ABC News, News Breakfast and ABC Local Radio including Mornings on ABC Radio Melbourne.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}
Speers was also a fill-in presenter for Michael Rowland on News Breakfast.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}
In July 2023, Speers was appointed as ABC national political lead, a new position, following the departure of former political editor Andrew Probyn.{{Cite news |last=Jaspan |first=Calum |date=5 July 2023 |title=David Speers appointed ABC News political lead after Andrew Probyn departure |url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/david-speers-appointed-abc-news-political-lead-following-andrew-probyn-departure-20230705-p5dlza.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=5 July 2023 |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |publisher=Nine Entertainment |language=en-AU}}
In 2024 Speers moved his family back to Canberra, from where he now presents Insiders.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}
= Election coverage =
Speers was chosen to moderate the leaders' debate between John Howard and Kevin Rudd for the 2007 Australian federal election{{Cite news |last=Jackson |first=Sally |date=18 October 2007 |title=Journos vie for debate |url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22604073-7582,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071020175058/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0%2C25197%2C22604073-7582%2C00.html |archive-date=20 October 2007 |access-date=10 March 2024 |newspaper=The Australian |publisher=News Limited}} and again in the 2010 Australian federal election between Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott, as well as the 2013 Australian federal election between Rudd and Abbott. Speers hosted the second leaders' debate on the ABC for the 2025 federal election.{{cite news |work=SBS News |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250417231757/https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/live-coverage-of-second-debate-between-anthony-albanese-and-peter-dutton/o9nzl2uht |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/live-coverage-of-second-debate-between-anthony-albanese-and-peter-dutton/o9nzl2uht |archive-date=17 April 2025 |access-date=18 April 2025 |first1=Ewa |last1=Staszewska |last2=Henderson |first2=Anna |first3=Naveen |last3=Razik |date=16 April 2025 |title=Trump, negative gearing and legacy: What you missed in the second leaders' debate}}
= Other =
In 2020, Speers released the book On Mutiny ({{ISBN|9780733644146}}) which covered the removal of Malcolm Turnbull as prime minister.
Speers has also written regular articles for financial website Switzer.{{cite web |title=David Speers |url=http://www.switzer.com.au/the-experts/david-speers |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160421050125/http://www.switzer.com.au/the-experts/david-speers |archive-date=21 April 2016 |access-date=21 April 2016 |work=Switzer}}
Awards
Between 2006 and 2015, Speers has been awarded with an ASTRA Award for "outstanding performance" by a presenter or journalist every year with the exception of 2010.{{Cite web |date=26 April 2006 |title=WINNERS ANNOUNCED FOR 2006 ASTRA AWARDS |url=http://www.astra.org.au/content/pdf/MediaReleases/Awards06Winners.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070830124841/http://www.astra.org.au/content/pdf/MediaReleases/Awards06Winners.pdf |archive-date=30 August 2007 |access-date=10 March 2024 |website=ASTRA Awards |publisher=ASTRA}}{{Cite web |last=Byrnes |first=Holly |date=13 March 2015 |title=ASTRA Awards 2015: Wentworth, Sky News among winners |url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/astra-awards-2015-wentworth-sky-news-among-winners/story-e6frfmyi-1227260461071 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150312222706/http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/astra-awards-2015-wentworth-sky-news-among-winners/story-e6frfmyi-1227260461071 |archive-date=12 March 2015 |access-date=13 March 2015 |website=news.com.au |publisher=News Corp Australia}} The awards were discontinued after 2015.{{cite web|url=http://mumbrella.com.au/dedicated-pay-tv-awards-scrapped-as-astra-rest-of-industry-in-the-aacta-awards-scheme-332249|title=Dedicated pay-TV awards scrapped, as ASTRA joins rest of industry in the AACTA Awards scheme|work=Mumbrella|access-date=21 April 2016|date=24 November 2015|first=Nic|last=Christensen}}
Speers won a Walkley Award in December 2014 for a notable interview with Attorney General George Brandis, in which Brandis struggled to explain what metadata was despite being the minister in charge of proposed new laws surrounding the storage and police access of metadata.{{Cite web |date=5 December 2014 |title=MCN congratulates Sky News Political Reporter David Speers on winning the Walkley Award for All Media – Interview |url=http://www.mcn.com.au/News/Detail.aspx?IdDataSource=1780&category=all |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220021504/http://www.mcn.com.au/News/Detail.aspx?IdDataSource=1780&category=all |archive-date=20 December 2014 |access-date=10 March 2024 |website=Multi Channel Network}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGURYRjEiRI |title=David Speers – PM Agenda |date=13 October 2014 |publisher=Sky News Australia |access-date=4 November 2016 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/HGURYRjEiRI |archive-date=12 December 2021 |url-status=live |via=YouTube}} Speers won the same award at the 2015 event (which Speers also hosted) for his notable "The Fixer" interview with Christopher Pyne on PM Agenda.{{Cite news |date=3 December 2015 |title='The Fixer' interview wins Walkley |url=http://www.skynews.com.au/news/national/2015/12/03/-the-fixer--interview-up-for-walkley.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151205124049/http://www.skynews.com.au/news/national/2015/12/03/-the-fixer--interview-up-for-walkley.html |archive-date=5 December 2015 |access-date=4 December 2015 |work=Sky News Australia |publisher=Australian News Channel}}
In 2016, Speers was named one of the 50 most powerful people in Australian television by News Corp Australia.{{Cite news |last=Molloy |first=Shannon |date=20 March 2016 |title=The 50 most powerful people in Australian television, from screen stars to show makers |url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/the-50-most-powerful-people-in-australian-television-from-screen-stars-to-show-makers/news-story/1155bf8060f9a0c3edc30b8d2ba4fde7 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160421044714/http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/the-50-most-powerful-people-in-australian-television-from-screen-stars-to-show-makers/news-story/1155bf8060f9a0c3edc30b8d2ba4fde7 |archive-date=21 April 2016 |access-date=21 April 2016 |work=news.com.au |publisher=News Corp Australia}}
Speers won the Subscription Television Award for Best Male Presenter at the 2017 AACTA Awards.{{cite web|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2017/12/aacta-awards-2017-utopia-little-lunch-in-early-wins.html|title=AACTA Awards 2017: Utopia, Little Lunch in early wins|work=TV Tonight|first=David|last=Knox|date=4 December 2017|access-date=4 December 2017}}
Personal life
Speers' parents are Peter Speers and Robyn (née Cowled). He lives in Canberra{{Cite news |last=Meade |first=Amanda |date=5 July 2023 |title='Insiders host David Speers takes on expanded role of national political lead at ABC': David Speers |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/jul/05/david-speers-abc-insiders-host-national-political-lead |access-date=10 March 2024 |work=Guardian Australia}} and is married to Liz, with whom he has two children who were born in 2010 and 2014.{{cite news |last=Overington |first=Caroline |author-link=Caroline Overington |date=6 December 2010 |title=7.30 line-up fails to impress all |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/line-up-fails-to-impress-all/story-e6frg996-1225966052023 |url-access=subscription |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110120010214/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/line-up-fails-to-impress-all/story-e6frg996-1225966052023 |archive-date=20 January 2011 |access-date=21 April 2016 |newspaper=The Australian |publisher=News Limited}}{{Cite podcast |url=http://www.mediaweek.com.au/david-speers-campaign-diary-2013/ |title=David Speers: Campaign Diary 2013 |website=Mediaweek |last=Manning |first=James |date=17 August 2013 |access-date=21 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160421051925/http://www.mediaweek.com.au/david-speers-campaign-diary-2013/ |archive-date=21 April 2016 |url-status=dead}}
Speers plays the trumpet and demonstrated this ability while hosting the 2010 ASTRA Awards.{{cite web|url=http://mumbrella.com.au/dr-mumbo-at-the-astra-awards-speers-blows-his-own-trumpet-28865|title=Dr Mumbo at the ASTRA Awards: Speers blows his own trumpet|work=Mumbrella|access-date=21 April 2016|date=25 June 2010|url-status=live|archive-date=21 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160421053230/http://mumbrella.com.au/dr-mumbo-at-the-astra-awards-speers-blows-his-own-trumpet-28865}}{{Cite web |last=Knox |first=David |date=25 June 2010 |title=ASTRA host blows his own trumpet |url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2010/06/astra-host-blows-his-own-trumpet.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100627070331/http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2010/06/astra-host-blows-his-own-trumpet.html |archive-date=27 June 2010 |access-date=21 April 2016 |website=TV Tonight}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{SkyNewAustralia}}
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Category:Australian television journalists
Category:Sky News Australia reporters and presenters
Category:Journalists from Sydney
Category:Australian political journalists
Category:Walkley Award winners
Category:Australian television newsreaders and news presenters