ABC radio management in Sydney are very
nervous people. They’ve just launched the biggest radio experiment in
recent years by replacing two high-profile presenters with two
unknowns, one of whom comes from – shock , horror – Melbourne.

That’s
the effect of the controversial removal of Sally Loane last week from
mornings on 702, her replacement by Melbourne’s Virginia Trioli, as
well as the decision to put Julie McCrossin in the 702 breakfast shift.

A spate of stories in the Fairfax press reveals the depth of anxiety at ABC Radio – here are a couple of examples. There was also a story in Sydney’s Daily Telegraph
about how Julie McCrossin drove buses in between radio gigs. And many
702 listeners are still upset at Sally Loane’s axing, judging by this
sample of listener comments from the 702 guestbook over the past couple of days.

Trioli’s move to Sydney featured in Miranda Devine’s column in the SMH today.
According to Devine, the head of ABC Radio, Sue Howard, is perceived
within the ABC as “anti-Sydney” and “anti-male” – and hiring Trioli is
part of this stance.
Certainly 702 staff are bemused about
parachuting Trioli into a key Sydney radio shift. Trioli has no
intimate knowledge of Sydney, its people, politics, sport or lifestyle.
It’s going to be a big ask for Trioli to overcome these drawbacks. And
Sally Loane’s fans won’t be forgiving.