The copyright to much of my work as a journalist remains with the news organisations for which I worked and so I’m not able to reproduce the stories on this website.
Several stories have been included online although a few links have now expired and some of the ABC audio is no longer available.
If you would like to see further examples of my text, audio and visual work then please contact me so we can make arrangements.
Canstar
I was back writing again and loving getting into details and data with articles explaining things such as the challenges of getting insurance if you have a mental health condition, how to beat the retail tricks of the trade and save money, how to save money on groceries and how to use discount gift cards to save money when shopping.
With rising petrol prices, many were looking for alternatives to their petrol cars so I looked at how much it really costs to run an electric car.
Home loans are probably the biggest spend for most people, so I wanted to know if weekly, fortnightly or monthly home loan repayments were better? You might also want to know how to calculate interest on a loan, and how much deposit you need for a home loan.
Other explainers included: Why do interest rates rise with inflation?, E10 vs 91 – Which petrol should you use?, How to calculate your super from your employer, What is compound interest, and how can I calculate it?
One of the personal favourites was the fun of playing and investing in Lego. That’s awesome!
You can see more of my work at Canstar available online.
The Conversation
Much of my work here involved commissioning and editing articles written by academics but I did get to write the odd article myself such as: Space Agency for Australia: here’s why it’s important.
I also got to give several talks to academics about writing for The Conversation and even chaired a debate on the power of photography: The Conversation: People, Power and Photography.
The Courier-Mail/Sunday Mail
Friends like these
One of my first features was a look at the impact of social media a ta time when more people were on MySpace than the then new-kid-on-the-block Facebook.
Dwelling on disaster
Researchers were looking at the impact of major storm disasters on Queensland homes to see what changes were needed to protect homeowners from future disasters.
The original Blue until some howler got it wrong
We’ve been gazing at the Moon for many years and it always holds a fascination. But sometimes the claims of a special Moon event are not so accurate, as is the case with a Blue Moon.
Total solar eclipse will plunge Cairns into darkness
I did several stories in the lead up to the total solar eclipse that plunged Cairns into darkness but was also visible as a partial eclipse across the rest of Queensland and parts of Australia, and on the Transit of Venus earlier in the year.
Employers putting frumps at the bottom of their list, regardless of qualifications
It comes down to a simple question for employers: Would you employ Gollum or Brad Pitt? Professor Chris Warhurst says employers favour looks over qualifications when it comes to who gets the job, and a candidate’s appearance is increasingly being judged as part of the “lookness” skills that employers are seeking.
Queensland flood recovery may boost employment
The devastating flooding may actually help employment in Queensland grow as the state begins the massive task of rebuilding. The recruitment industry is already seeing a rise in demand for people in key sectors such as construction and the other industries that will be part of the rebuilding effort.
Plain talk on flood controls
Another flood article looked at advice from two US experts visiting Brisbane for a flood conference. They were no fan of building major dams, preferring instead a network of smaller water storage.
Voltaire’s words to describe freedom of speech used to defend comments on internet
Should people be free to say whatever they want on the internet? There are those who argue for such freedoms, but then I argue that perhaps it’s time to think again. There are consequences to consider and we already live in a world of rules over what we can and can’t say.
Reporter Sarah Ellison in right place as Rupert Murdoch moves on The Wall Street Journal
Imagine you are the media reporter on a famous US newspaper that one of the world’s media giants wants ot buy. Sarah Ellison had to stay ahead of the rest of the country’s media on the biggest story to hit the Wall Street Journal.
Fuel for thought as stations lose THE SERVICE
When I noticed a number of fuel service stations in the city and suburbs had closed I started to investigate. Part of the blame was put on the move away from the independent retailers as they struggled to comete with the major operators.
Is it time to abolish state governments?
With health and the running of our hospitals now the latest state service looking to be controlled from Canberra is it time again to debate the end of our state governments? Some say the middle tier of government is becoming increasingly irrelevant.
Fighting for a cancer cure
The battle against one of the single biggest killers of women is being fought by an army of researchers in Queensland as nationally about 2,600 women die of breast cancer each year. That’s an average of seven people a day, every day of the year.
ABC
What Hollingworth Knew?
Walkley Awards, 2002 finalist, Highly Commended
(This is an archived version of the ABC’s own announcement of the results ABC wins Walkleys.)
Just what did the then Archbishop Peter Hollingworth do when told of allegations of sexual abuse at a Queensland school? It’s a question that’s raged since the Brisbane Anglican Diocese was ordered to pay record damages to a former pupil who suffered on-going abuse at the Toowoomba Preparatory School. But the payout, and more importantly much of the pain and suffering, could have been avoided says psychologist Joy Conolly, who was treating some pupils amid claims of sexual abuse at the school.
Pitch Invasion
Queensland Media Award, 2004 winner
An investigation was ordered into security at the 2003 Rugby World Cup games following a pitch invasion at the Samoa v South Africa clash in Brisbane. A drunken fan collapsed after he raced onto the pitch at Lang Park. His family say the man was supposed to be at the toilets but instead he almost caused South Africa to miss a goal kick in the last minute of the game. I just happened to be at the game with my recorder and captured all the drama.
Bushfires in Brisbane
Queensland Media Award, 2005 finalist
It hadn’t rained for weeks and south-east Queensland was dry, brown and parched. All it took was a spark and the bush was alight. The bushfire sent plumes of thick, black smoke towering over Brisbane. It was creeping around Mt Coot-Tha in Brisbane Forest Park and we heard that homes could be at risk. The heat from the flames was intense, but I spent time with the people to bring a personal touch to the story.
Battle for The Gully
Queensland Media Awards, 2003 finalist
Just when you think sustainable development is possible, along comes a housing project that challenges all that. Right in the heart of Brisbane a battle is being fought to save a piece of bushland. But is it all too little, too late?
Can the Lions make it four in a row?
I have contributed to a number of ABC news and current affairs programs. This was for the AM program on the start of the new AFL season.
Wannabe war heroes
Each ANZAC Day a team of undercover veterans is out in force to capture the phoney war heroes who wear medals they never earned or are not entitled to wear.
Veterans’ campaign
One of a number of reports that focused on the plight of those who were injured during their time in the Australian defence force, and were now forced to live on a pension they claimed wasn’t enough.
Child pornography and paedophiles on the Internet
Queensland Police had taken the hunt for paedophiles to the Internet with investigators posing as youngsters in the hope they could capture the perverts.
ABC TV Australian Story
Eye of a Needle
The story of a Queensland man who went from drop-out to the head of a multi-million dollar medical equipment company, a success he puts down to a near family tragedy and a religious vision. The program was a finalist in the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes and the Queensland Media Awards.
With This Ring
The tragic accident, emotional rescue and painful recovery of Gayle Shann who lost one arm and the use of her other in an accident on the Queensland cattle property she shares with husband Mac.
The ABC’s Australian Story team said this episode is “one our audiences have loved more than any other”.
The Australian Story team has revisited Gayle and Mac’s story several times, including in 2021.
Double Bind
Twice the same man was found guilty by a jury of killing a Queensland toddler and twice the verdict was overturned, the second time because of the ancient double jeopardy rule. The debate still rages over whether or not to scrap that rule.
Brisbane Institute
The problem of problem gambling
(Archived by National Library of Australia)
A feature story based on a two-part series on gambling I did for ABC local radio.
BBC
The West – Michael Lund
This was my first story to appear online and it was one of the earliest text and video streaming stories to appear on the BBC’s then new website.