The ABC
yesterday revealed that Julie McCrossin would drop into the
breakfast slot in a fortnight’s time. She is
a former presenter on the ABC’s Life Matters program on Radio National where she
has interviewed and reported for five years.

She is,
however, a comedian at heart, having briefly had her own ABC TV show in late 2000
and was on Good News Week. She continues the non-journalistic approach of ABC
management to radio talent: James O’Loghlin in
evenings for example, Catterns and James Valentine
(although Sally Loane and Richard Glover are former
SMH journalists).

What is not explained by the ABC is why it took so long to come up with
McCrossin. It’s not as though she hasn’t been around. She lives in
Sydney and was just across the dial on Radio National. It’s further
evidence of the surprise by which management, from Sue Howard (the head
of ABC radio) down, were taken when Angela Catterns jumped to Vega. It has
taken the best part of seven weeks for a solution to be found.
Management “auditioned” three people on air in an unseemly and
ham-fisted fashion that left no one happy.

Meanwhile Sally Loane departed
702 Mornings this Friday with a touch of honour and
tributes galore. She will be replaced temporarily by Kath McKenzie until a deal
can be done with Virginia Troili. It
seems she wants the morning program to start at 8.30am, while Sydney management wants
it kept at 9am.