Below are many of the people that make up the AIR News team. Some are experienced journalists, others have a radio pedigree and yet others are developing their skills to make themselves available for the radio newsrooms of Australia, and the world.

At July 2011, 19 of our people have been snapped up by Commercial Radio, Commercial Television, the ABC and Print Media. So someone is doing something right.

If you are a person with an interest in radio news broadcasting, and you have completed or are in the process of completing a journalism course, or have been developing experience on air with Community radio stations with a leaning to News or Sport then perhaps we can help you on your way. For further details, click here

He's been a broadcaster in one form or another since 1969 after starting out as a weekly Soccer reporter on Shepparton's 3SR. In the 70's he worked in production in the television industry with the Seven and Nine Networks returning to Commercial radio in the 80's with Melbourne's 3KZ/KZFM/Gold 104, including a stint in the newsroom during the original Gulf War.

He's also produced and packaged the original highly successful Magic 693 Football programs with Ian Major/Alan Jeans, then Kevin Bartlett/Stephen Quartermain/Sam Kekovitch and spent a couple of years as a producer at Sport 927.

He ran the online newsroom for Informatel for 10 years, employing and training a number of well-known Australian news presenters over the time.

He's been heavily involved with Community radio for over 18 years, was the Program Manager at South Gippsland's 3MFM until September 2006 and still assists them with automation concerns as well as hosting the Friday Night Funbag at 6pm. He also provided production support for Vision Australia Radio Melbourne and Regional Victoria from 1993-2010. Artie was very pleased to accept Trade Membership of the Southern Community Media Association in 2007 (www.scma.org.au)

David got his first taste of broadcasting in Community Radio 10 years ago. He then decided that News was really where he wanted to be, and joined Air News shortly after it was launched and hasn't looked back since.
He says there is nothing quite like the immediacy and thrill that presenting broadcast news brings. The idea that you are keeping people as up to date as possible with what is going on in the bigger world is very satisfying.
David can be heard Tuesdays from 10am - midday.

Emily graduated with a dual degree in journalism and international relations from the University of Queensland.

She has presented news for two community radio stations and has her heart set on becoming an international news anchor.

Emily has relocated to Vancouver Canada, from where she will be filing stories from America and Canada's west coast.

Fiona studied at Perth’s Academy of Radio before taking her first broadcasting job with Radiowest/Hot FM in Kalgoorlie doing news, copywriting and announcing.

It was there that she really developed her passion for news and interviewed many politicians and prominent people including two interviews with then Prime Minister John Howard.

Fiona’s next move was to Bunbury to be breakfast co-host and news presenter for Hot FM’s WA network and producer of the AM network’s current affairs programme.

Fiona is back on air handling the Western Australia State News bulletin and from late March presenting the National bulletins Thursday and Friday 1pm-3pm.

Gareth started his radio career at Murdoch University, where he was involved in a number of different radio and journalism endeavours.

He graduated from there in 2008 with a Bachelor of Media and since then has been making a name for himself in the industry. His first job in the media was at local Perth station Sonshine FM where he started in 2007 as a part time announcer, before moving into the newsroom in late 2009.

Gareth joins AIR news direct from affiliate Sonshine FM.

Gary Newton has worked in the Australian radio and television industry for a very long time, in fact he has over 30+ years experience as a broadcaster and voice over presenter for a vast range of radio stations such as 3AW, 5RM, 3MP, 7HT, Magic693, GOLDFM, Bay-FM Nelson Bay & Geelong, 3GL and many more.

With an interest in current affairs, writing and editing news reports, commentaries and stories for newspapers, magazines, web, radio, TV & Social Media, Gary is hoping to start a Bachelor of Business (Journalism) course later this year to expand his experience in Journalism first gained in the 70’s at 3KZ, Melbourne.

Graham has been on-air since 2002 presenting the Saturday Evening programme on Vision Australia Radio in Melbourne before moving on to the Racing Show.

His interest in cricket started in the UK following the county cricket circuit. More recently he has combined this 40 year passion for sport, travel and broadcasting with the reporting of Test matches for the BBC World Service, Melbourne’s Radio Sport National, UK’s TalkSport and AIR Sports attending international matches in all 10 Test playing countries. He has provided Test reports direct from Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, the West Indies, Sri Lanka and Australia so far.

Graham also reports on A-league football matches and has provided updates for a number of Socceroos matches including a friendly in Ireland and the 2011 Asian Cup in Qatar.

Joel Helmes has had quite a varied career in the radio industry having held positions as diverse as racing co-ordinator, talk back host, program director and senior news editor.

Since 2007 Joel has been running his own business Helmes Media Solutions which provides radio stations with segments and programs such as the nationally syndicated Behind the Wheel.

Julie started her career in radio last year at the newly established Sydney Radio School operated by Joel Helmes.

She is currently presenting Travel Tips, a daily travel segment, on the Radio School webstream, and is very excited to be breaking into news presenting with the Air News Team.

She has a love of travel, news and current affairs and hopes to begin studies in journalism this year.

Lesley Yeomans began her radio career in the 1980’s...moving to Hobart for her first radio job presenting the evening shift on 7HO. After a year, she moved back to Victoria to 3GL Geelong, where she worked in News and on-air, presenting shifts right across the day

Her first real “gig’ in a newsroom though was at 3XY in Melbourne where she got to work alongside some of the best journalists and broadcasters in the country.

Lesley has also worked in Sydney and Brisbane before heading back home to Melbourne where she took up positions at Triple M, 3AW and more recently Radio Sport National, where she stayed for almost 12 years producing and presenting the breakfast news bulletins

In the past few years, she’s worked for Fox News Radio in New York as their Australian correspondent, covering major stories like the Queensland floods and the Victorian bushfires

Prior to her radio career, Lesley worked as an actress and voice-over artist.

Michael has been with Air News for over 5 years now. He has completed a journalism degree at UWS in Sydney and has come a long way since joining the team with no prior on air experience.

Catch him on the Wednesday Afternoon and Friday Drive shifts, and now handling Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Mike started out in Radio during University in Derby, UK.
He became the production manager at his student radio station, as well as volunteering for the local Hospital Radio station.
Once Mike finished his Degree in Music Technology he moved up to Liverpool, becoming Head of Sport at KCC Live, a local Community radio station, alongside a work experience stint in the News Room at Radio City 96.7.
Mike took the plunge to move down under in May 2011, where he joined affiliate station Sonshine FM as a producer, doing a bit of punditry on the side with 91.3 Sport FM.
Mike can be heard on the PM Edition of Air Sport Australia, and regularly reports from A League Fixtures and all things English Premier League.

Pamela began her radio experience with stints in university and community stations in Canberra while completing her politics and journalism degree. Seeking to build her radio skills, she then completed a Post Graduate certificate in Radio Broadcasting at AFTRS.

Since then she’s had experience as a producer and reporter for commercial and public radio stations across Sydney, Hobart and Canberra, as well as her local community station. She currently manages radio content projects for a national public broadcaster.

She’s enjoying gaining more experience as a reporter and learning from the AIR News team, and can be heard on Saturday morning from 7-10am and Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 7 & 8pm.

Peter has been around radio since he was a 14 year old back in 1995! His first on air experience was reporting basketball scores for his local community radio station.

It's no surprise that Peter has found his way to AIR News and has been a casual member of the team since our inception.

Throughout that time Peter has also worked his way through commercial radio across the East Coast of Australia, doing everything from Breakfast Radio to the Graveyard shift!

Currently you'll hear Peter on various community radio stations as an Aussie Rules commentator and of course here on AIR News as an occasional News Reader and Sports Reporter.

Peter Jones has more than three decades of experience in news at city and country radio stations throughout Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania.

He's also travelled widely to all states and territories of Australia, as well as a dozen or so other countries.

This helps give him a broad understanding of Australian and overseas issues.

You can hear Peters' take on the News Monday and Tuesday afternoons 1pm-3pm Eastern

Samuel is a former journalism student who made his first forays into mainstream radio by filling in regularly at Deniliquin's 2QN. He's currently involved in the on-air presentation side of Prime TV Canberra.

Samuel has gone from strength to strength since he joined AIR News over 6 years ago. He's a good operator. Never lets the side down.

Simon attended the Max Rowley Media Academy through which he met Joel Helmes and has since been working with him at Helmes Media Solutions producing radio content and podcasts.

During this time he has read local news for stations such as Ezy FM Lithgow, 3MBR Murrayville and Crow FM Kingaroy. He’s also previously worked with Artie Stevens on News 180.

Simon regularly presents the news on Wednesdays 4pm-6pm Eastern

Thomas is a journalism, computer science, and education graduate who began his working life at a range of commercial radio stations around Australia.

Ending up in Canberra and seeking new challenges, he became a federal government employee and worked in IT and public affairs roles, but remained involved with media through freelance writing, voiceovers, and casual radio announcing.

Not long ago, he spent several years in the education sector, where he was a department head for journalism and public relations, and taught subjects including journalistic writing, radio journalism and audio production.

These days he’s back in federal government employment again, but keeps his educational and journalistic passions alive through part-time teaching and contributing to AIR News.

Thomas is a regular on Sunday mornings.