Fran Kelly

Fran Kelly grew up in Adelaide, South Australia, one of six siblings. Her mother's name was Margaret Tribe, and her father was Francis (Frank) Kelly, who was a chiropractor and World War Two veteran.Related Party{{better source|date=March 2024}}

She matriculated from St Dominic's Priory College in North Adelaide in 1974 and, after missing out on a cadetship at The Advertiser, a couple of years later went to the University of Adelaide,{{cite web |url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/making-radio-waves-20120313-1uxoe.html |title=Making radio waves|first=Tim| last=Elliot|work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=13 March 2012 |accessdate=30 November 2020}} completing an arts degree and majoring in literature and classicsABC Radio National, [http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/fran-kelly/2913202 "Fran Kelly"]. while also being involved in the women's movement, theatre and music.

She then worked as an activities officer, booking bands and organising events, first at Flinders University and then La Trobe University in Melbourne from 1980. In Melbourne she fronted an all-female band called Toxic Shock, which released a single, "Intoxicated" in 1981.

After realising that what she really wanted to do was journalism, in 1988 Kelly moved to Sydney to work on The Drum on Triple J. In 1990 she became a reporter for ABC Radio National's current affairs programs AM and PM. Kelly became Canberra bureau chief, chief political correspondent with AM and PM, political editor for ABC's Radio National Breakfast and ABC television's The 7:30 Report and the ABC's Europe correspondent. In 2005 she returned to Australia to host Radio National Breakfast.Same Same 25, [http://www.samesame.com.au/25/2008/FranKelly/ Fran Kelly: Presenter, Radio National] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120429020816/http://www.samesame.com.au/25/2008/FranKelly# |date=29 April 2012 }}." 2008.

Kelly was involved with the documentary series The Howard Years in 2008, for which she interviewed former US president George W. Bush. She has appeared as a panellist and commentator on ABC TV's Insiders,{{cite web | title=Fran Kelly | website=Platinum Speakers and Entertainers Bureau | date=30 June 2017 | url=https://www.platinumspeakers.com.au/Speakers/Fran-Kelly.aspx | access-date=21 October 2021 | archive-date=21 October 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021014017/https://www.platinumspeakers.com.au/Speakers/Fran-Kelly.aspx | url-status=dead }} and hosted the show from August to December 2019.{{cite web | last=Moran | first=Robert | title=Fran Kelly to host ABC's Insiders until David Speers joins the broadcaster | website=The Sydney Morning Herald | date=31 July 2019 | url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/radio-national-s-fran-kelly-to-host-abc-s-insiders-for-the-rest-of-the-year-20190801-p52cqn.html | access-date=21 October 2021}}

On 21 October 2021 Kelly announced that she was leaving RN Breakfast, although she would continue to work of the ABC in roles such as covering federal elections, continuing as co-host of the podcast The Party Room, and other future projects.{{cite web | last=Johnson | first=Natasha | title=RN Breakfast host Fran Kelly announces she's leaving the program after 17 years | website=ABC News| publisher= Australian Broadcasting Corporation | date=20 October 2021 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/backstory/2021-10-21/fran-kelly-announces-leaving-rn-breakfast-after-17-years/100555380 | access-date=21 October 2021}} Her last show was on 2 December 2021.

In August 2022, Kelly was announced as the host of a new chat show on ABC TV called Frankly.{{cite news|last=Knox|first=David|date=10 August 2022|title=Fran Kelly to host ABC chat show, Frankly |url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2022/08/fran-kelly-to-host-abc-chat-show-frankly.html|work=TV Tonight|location= |access-date=10 October 2022}} Her appointment attracted criticism from a number of newspaper columnists who all opined that the job should have been given to someone much younger.{{cite news |last=Mitchell|first=Thomas|date=15 August 2022|title=Fran Kelly is fine and familiar, but she's not the future of the ABC|url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/fran-kelly-is-fine-and-familiar-but-she-s-not-the-future-of-the-abc-20220812-p5b9c9.html|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|location= |access-date=|quote=The possibilities are … oh wait, it’s Fran Kelly. On Wednesday, ABC confirmed the former RN Breakfast broadcaster, who is aged in her 60s, would be the host of Frankly, and frankly, I don’t know why I got my hopes up.}}{{cite news |last=Buckmaster|first=Luke|date=8 October 2022|title=Fran Kelly's Frankly shows the ABC is making only the safest of safe choices|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/oct/08/fran-kellys-frankly-shows-the-abc-is-making-only-the-safest-of-safe-choices|work=The Guardian|location= |access-date=|quote=a smidge awkward for anyone aware of the criticism that’s been levelled at the ABC for selecting Kelly for such a gig over somebody younger}}{{cite news |last=Faruqi|first=Osman|date=7 October 2022|title=Ita Buttrose has revealed she doesn't understand the ABC's biggest problem |url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/ita-buttrose-has-revealed-she-doesn-t-understand-the-abc-s-biggest-problem-20221007-p5bnyr.html|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|location= |access-date=|quote=Buttrose and Kelly’s Breakfast replacement Patricia Karvelas dismissed this critique as an example of 'ageism'... Buttrose patronisingly discarded the criticism as the 'ignorance of youth'.}} This prompted a public debate about the apparent ageist attitudes and discrimination towards older women in the media.{{cite news|last=Foster|first=Ally|date=22 August 2022|title=Reason ABC star Fran Kelly is at the centre of a furious debate|url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/current-affairs/reason-abc-star-fran-kelly-is-at-the-centre-of-a-furious-debate/news-story/0314ed314259e999635018b322abd2bf|work=news.com.au|location= |access-date=10 October 2022}}{{cite news |last=Kenny|first=Chris|date=22 August 2022|title='Ageist': Fran Kelly criticised for being 'too old' to host talk show|url=https://www.skynews.com.au/opinion/chris-kenny/ageist-fran-kelly-criticised-for-being-too-old-to-host-talk-show/video/74bfd16564130a070cc0cec1a51b699d|work=Sky News Australia|location= |access-date=10 October 2022}} ABC chair Ita Buttrose and Kelly's successor at RN Breakfast Patricia Karvelas were also criticised after they both defended Kelly against what they perceived to be ageist attitudes.{{cite news |last=Madigan|first=Mary|date=10 October 2022|title=Ita Buttrose calls out the ageist criticism being swung Fran Kelly's way|url=https://www.bandt.com.au/ita-buttrose-calls-out-the-ageist-criticism-being-swung-fran-kellys-way|work=B & T|location= |access-date=10 October 2022}}

Frankly debuted on ABC TV on 7 October 2022 with Shaun Micallef, Richard Harris and Kirsten Banks appearing as Kelly's first guests.{{cite news |last=Knox|first=David|date=8 October 2022|title=Frankly leaves them wanting more |url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2022/10/frankly-leaves-them-wanting-more.html|work=TV Tonight|location= |access-date=10 October 2022}} The program received generally mixed to positive reviews.{{cite news |last=Quinn|first=Karl|date=8 October 2022|title=Was Fran Kelly's new ABC chat show really worth staying in for?|url=https://www.theage.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/was-fran-kelly-s-new-abc-chat-show-really-worth-staying-in-for-20221007-p5bo2b.html|work=The Age|location= |access-date=10 October 2022|quote=It was OK, nothing more, nothing less...there's no reason to think Frankly can’t become a decent addition to the genre, but it will take time}}

In early 2024, Kelly started presenting a podcast called Yours Queerly.{{cite web | title=More from Yours Queerly | website=ABC listen | date=25 February 2024 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/yours-queerly/episodes | access-date=8 March 2024}} In February 2024, Noongar journalist and TV presenter Narelda Jacobs appeared with Pasifika New Zealander drag artist Kween Kong on the show.{{cite web | title=Why journalist Narelda Jacobs and drag star Kween Kong have been admiring each other from afar|last=Schafter | website=ABC News | date=27 February 2024 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-27/narelda-jacobs-kween-kong-yours-queerly/103512284 | access-date=8 March 2024}}

In 2025, Kelly will host a new program on ABC's Radio National entitled Radio National Hour.{{cite news |work=ABC News |date=21 November 2024 |title=Fran Kelly returns to daily broadcasting, Linton Besser to replace Paul Barry as Media Watch host in 2025 |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-21/abc-staff-shakeup-2025-media-watch/104628686 |access-date=14 December 2024 |archive-date=14 December 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241214052922/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-21/abc-staff-shakeup-2025-media-watch/104628686}}

In 2008 Kelly received a Same Same 25 award, recognising her as one of the country's most influential gay and lesbian Australians.Andrew Georgiou, "[http://www.au.timeout.com/sydney/gay-lesbian/features/3783/same-same-25-honoured. "Same Same 25 Honoured"] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130105172916/http://www.au.timeout.com/sydney/gay-lesbian/features/3783/same-same-25-honoured.# |date=5 January 2013 }}, Time Out Sydney. 18 December 2008. She was named by the(sydney)magazine{{efn|Published by The Sydney Morning Herald{{cite web | title=Tribute to the (sydney) and (melbourne) magazines – now expired ! | website=Dedece Blog | date=27 March 2014 | url=https://www.dedeceblog.com/2014/03/28/the-sydney-magazine-to-close/ | access-date=21 October 2021}}}} as one of Sydney's 100 most influential people of 2011, and was described by the Australian electronic magazine Crikey as "one of the most influential media players in the country" in the same year.Jason Whittaker, [http://www.crikey.com.au/2011/10/26/fran-kelly-quality-journalism-project/ "The quality journalism project: early bird Fran Kelly"], Crikey, 26 October 2011.

Kelly has described herself as an activist. Kelly is a feminist, and stated in a 2012 interview that she's identified as such since her school years.

In 2007, Kelly launched the Australian Human Rights Commission's "Same-Sex: Same Entitlements" inquiry. She has been involved with One Just World's speaker forums, moderating a "Women of the World" forum for WOMADelaide and speaking on the "Stand Up Against Poverty" forum in 2009.{{Cite web |title=One Just World – Fran Kelly |url=https://www.onejustworld.com.au/Speakers/Fran-Kelly |archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20190412131616/http://www.onejustworld.com.au/Speakers/Fran-Kelly |archive-date=12 April 2019 |access-date=2023-09-25 |website=One Just World |language=en |url-status=live }}

In August 2021, it was reported that Kelly had been with her partner, Marion Frith, for almost 30 years. Kelly is step-parent to Frith's three children from a previous relationship.{{Cite web|last=Souter|first=Fenella|date=20 August 2021|title='A shout-out to all the step-parents out there': Fran and Marion on 30 years of love|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/a-shout-out-to-all-the-step-parents-out-there-fran-and-marion-on-30-years-of-love-20210730-p58eja.html|access-date=2021-08-20|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en}}

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Category:Australian radio journalists

Category:ABC radio (Australia) journalists and presenters

Category:Living people

Category:Australian women radio journalists

Category:Australian television talk show hosts

Category:Australian women television journalists

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Australian political journalists

Category:Australian LGBTQ broadcasters

Category:Australian LGBTQ journalists