New host for Landline

Landline senior reporter Pip Courtney has been named as the new presenter for the ABC show.

Brisbane-based Courtney will also continue as a reporter for the show.

Courtney’s story over coal seam gas developments on prime farmland was judged the best television entry and the best broadcast story overall by the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) at its 2011 conference, in Ontario, Canada.

She also won the prize for Excellence in Rural Reporting at the MEAA’s 2011 Queensland Media Awards (The Clarions) and is a finalist for this year’s Queensland Rural Woman of the Year. She dedicated her awards to her husband, John Bean, killed along with reporter Paul Lockyer and pilot Gary Ticehurst in a helicopter crash at Lake Eyre in South Australia last August while filming stories for Landline, 7.30 and ABC News.

Landline executive producer, Pete Lewis says, “We’ve clocked up a lot of mileage – and not all of it on bitumen – to give people an insight into what makes the bush tick,’’ he said. “The Landline team’s experience and expertise has always been its point of difference and why it remains one of the ABC’s most popular and respected programmes.

“Pip and the rest of the team has already the hit the road gathering stories for our 22nd season – which is designated the Australian Year of the Farmer.”

Kate Torney, director, ABC News said: “I’m delighted that Pip will be hosting Landline this year.

“She has worked on the program for almost as long as it’s been on-air, delivering the quality rural journalism Landline is renowned for. Pip has a genuine affinity with the bush and brings a unique style to her reporting of rural and regional issues. She has won a number of awards over the years and is a real asset to the team. We wish Pip all the best for 2012.”

Landline airs Sundays at noon and Mondays at 11am on ABC1.