Karen Middleton is a political journalist in the Canberra Press Gallery covering the Parliament of Australia in Canberra, the national capital of Australia.
Middleton was Chief Political Correspondent and Canberra Bureau Chief for SBS Television.
She was a seasoned radio and TV commentator, had a weekly radio spot on James O'Loghlin's Evening Show on ABC Radio across New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, and on Perth radio 6PR, Sydney radio 2GB and ABC Radio National, and TV appearances on Sunrise on the Seven Network, Meet the Press on the Ten Network, and ABC TV's Insiders . She is a fortnightly commentator on Radio New Zealand and has done commentary and analysis for CNBC and al Jazeera.
Middleton is currently Chief Political Correspondent at The Saturday Paper , a role she has held since early 2016. [1] She has previously been a political correspondent for several other newspapers, such as The West Australian , the Melbourne Age and Herald Sun , as a weekend columnist for the Canberra Times , and as an occasional contributor to The New York Times .
In October 2016, Middleton wrote about her experiences of being sexually harassed while covering Australian Politics as a journalist. [2] Later she described the strong response she had received for this article, and about how some who had read it described it as "jawdropping" or "deeply unsettling". [3]
2011 Middleton reported for SBS from Afghanistan in August and published a book through Melbourne University Press on Australia's involvement in the War in Afghanistan, titled 'An Unwinnable War' in September.
2008 Middleton was awarded a Churchill Fellowship.
While on assignment in Afghanistan in March 2007, Middleton and other Australian journalists were travelling in an Australian Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter that was fired on with at least one rocket propelled grenade. Middleton's SBS colleague, cameraman Jamie Kidston, was at the rear ramp of the helicopter and filmed the RPG pass the back of the Chinook. He only saw the missile pass when reviewing and editing the tape. The story made national news on several TV and radio networks, and in newspapers. [4]
This visit was neatly timed to coincide with an un-announced visit by Prime Minister John Howard and Chief of the Australian Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, to meet Australian troops. Howard also met the President, Hamid Karzai. [5]
Middleton reported and blogged for SBS on the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, notably reporting from a "press room" in a shipping container in a snowy car park. [6]
Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada to Australian parents, Middleton grew up in Canberra, attending Belconnen High School and Hawker College. [7]
She has been a regular volunteer of her time and talent to assist refugee families relocate to Australia. [8]
Middleton's grandfather was Sir Crawford Nalder, who served as deputy premier of Western Australia from 1962 to 1971. [9]
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is the national broadcaster of Australia. It is principally funded by direct grants from the Australian Government and is administered by a government-appointed board. The ABC is a publicly-owned body that is politically independent and fully accountable, with its charter enshrined in legislation, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983. ABC Commercial, a profit-making division of the corporation, also helps to generate funding for content provision.
The Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) is an Australian hybrid-funded public service broadcaster. About 80 percent of funding for the company is derived from the Australian Government. SBS operates six TV channels and seven radio networks.
CBS News is the news division of the American television and radio service CBS. CBS News television programs include the CBS Evening News, CBS Mornings, news magazine programs CBS News Sunday Morning, 60 Minutes, and 48 Hours, and Sunday morning political affairs program Face the Nation. CBS News Radio produces hourly newscasts for hundreds of radio stations, and also oversees CBS News podcasts like The Takeout Podcast. CBS News also operates a 24-hour digital news network.
The Australian contribution to the war in Afghanistan has been known as Operation Slipper (2001–2014) and Operation Highroad (2015–2021).
Mass media in Australia spans traditional and digital formats, and caters mostly to its predominantly English-speaking population. It is delivered in a variety of formats including radio, television, paper, internet and IPTV. Varieties include local, regional, state, federal and international sources of media, reporting on Australian news, opinion, policy, issues and culture.
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