Hack (radio program)

Hack is the title of a current affairs radio program on Australian national radio broadcaster Triple J.

The show began at the start of 2004 after a shake-up of the station's programming. The previous current affairs program, The Morning Show, from 9 a.m. to midday, was axed; the half-hour Hack was its replacement, from 5.30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

It was hosted by Steve Cannane until mid-2006. At this point, Cannane left Triple J radio to become the current affairs reporter for their jtv program. One of Cannane's stories on Hack, "Petrol Sniffing, Pill Testing and the Cost of War", earned him a Walkley Award. He won the Walkley Award for Broadcast Interviewing in 2006.[1]

Kate O'Toole was Cannane's replacement as host of the radio program.[2] O'Toole remained with the program until December 2010, she was replaced by Tom Tilley.

In April 2012, journalist Sophie McNeill was announced as host of the program with Tom Tilley becoming the face of Hack on ABC News 24, although he continued to be a reporter for the show. Sophie went on maternity leave in 2013, and Tilley returned to the host role permanently when she decided not to return.[3]

In December 2019, Tom Tilley announced that he would be leaving Triple J to pursue other career opportunities, with Avani Dias being announced as Tilley's replacement.[4] Jo Lauder, Isabella Higgins and Dave Marchese hosted the program for a short time in 2020 while Dias worked on a Four Corners investigation,[5][6] with Dias returning to the chair shortly after. Dias continued to serve as presenter until December 2021 when she left to become the ABC's foreign correspondent to South East Asia.[7] Dave Marchese was announced as Hack's new host for 2022.[7]

The current Executive Producer (EP) is Stephen Smiley. Recent EPs include Clare Blumer, Meghan Woods and prior to her, Laura McAuliffe who served as EP from 2018 to 2020.[8]

  1. ^ "2006 Walkley Award Winners". 1 December 2006. Archived from the original on 6 December 2006. Retrieved 1 December 2006.
  2. ^ "Radio Waves". The Age. 20 July 2006. Retrieved 17 November 2006.
  3. ^ "Matt Okine joins triple k Breakfast team". ABC. 2 December 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  4. ^ Watson, Meg (23 November 2019). "'A generational shift': what the Triple J overhaul means for its audience". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 1 September 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  5. ^ Burnie, Ally (7 August 2020). "triple j Hack's Avani Dias to work on collaborative Four Corners investigation". Bandt. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  6. ^ "Interview on Triple J, Hack, with Dave Marchese". Trademinister.gov.au. 28 September 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  7. ^ a b Langford, Jackson (28 November 2021). "Triple j's Avani Dias and Nat Tencic to depart the station next month". The Music Network. Archived from the original on 1 December 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  8. ^ Blackiston, Hannah (17 August 2020). "Hack EP Laura McAuliffe steps up as content boss of Triple J as Ollie Wards departs after ten years". Mumbrella. Archived from the original on 19 February 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2022.