Chris O'Keefe

Chris O'Keefe (born 4 July 1981) is an Australian journalist.

Chris O'Keefe
Born (1981-07-04) 4 July 1981
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation(s)Journalist, radio host
Years active2008−present
Known forreporting for Nine News, hosting afternoon drive on 2GB
Notable workBankstown Hospital (2016); Ruby Princess (2020)
SpouseYvonne Sampson
Children1

He is best known for his work with Nine Entertainment, as a reporter for Nine News, and as a presenter for Nine Radio's Sydney station 2GB.[1][2]

Career

O'Keefe began his career in 2008 with an internship at St George and Sutherland Shire Leader before moving to television in 2010 as a reporter for Ten News on the Gold Coast.[3]

O'Keefe joined the Nine Network as a reporter for Nine News on the Gold Coast in 2012, before moving to Brisbane in 2013 as a police reporter for Nine News Queensland.[3]

In 2014, O'Keefe relocated back to Sydney when he became a political reporter for Nine News Sydney.[3]

During his time at Nine, O'Keefe has appeared on Today and has been a fill-in presenter on A Current Affair.[4][5] When long-serving A Current Affair host Tracy Grimshaw announced her retirement in 2022, O'Keefe was considered to be one of the front runners to be announced as her permanent replacement.[6][7]

However, in November 2022 O'Keefe was named as the new presenter of the 2GB afternoon drive program following the departure of Jim Wilson.[8] Prior to being announced the permanent host of the 2GB afternoon drive program, O'Keefe had been a fill-in presenter on the show throughout 2022.[1]

O'Keefe started his new permanent role at 2GB on 9 January 2023.[7]

In the lead-up to the 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum, O'Keefe supports the Yes campaign, disagreeing with leading 2GB presenter Ben Fordham.[9]

Awards

As a police reporter for Nine News Queensland, O'Keefe was recognised by the Gold Coast Media Club in 2014 for his story on the Broadbeach Bikie Brawl in October 2013.

In 2016, he won a Walkley Award in the Television/Audio-Visual: News Reporting category, beating out Network 10's Waleed Aly and the Seven Network's Robert Ovadia.[10] O'Keefe received the Walkley Award for his work exposing gross negligence at Bankstown Hospital after a fatal mix-up resulted in nitrous oxide being administered to a newborn baby instead of oxygen.[11]

In 2017, O'Keefe received four Kennedy Awards. He was named "Journalist of the Year" and "Outstanding Political Journalist" and also received "the Harry Potter Award for Outstanding Television News Reporting" and "the Rebecca Wilson Award for Scoop of the Year".[12]

O'Keefe received a Kennedy Award in 2020 for "outstanding political journalism" for his coverage of the Ruby Princess.[13]

Personal life

O'Keefe grew up in the St George area of Sydney where he began attending St Joseph's Catholic School in Oatley in 1994.[2][14] He later attended Waverley College, graduating in 2006.

He married sports broadcaster Yvonne Sampson in October 2018 at Bowral, New South Wales.[15] They had announced their engagement the previous year after dating for more than three years.[16] Their son was born in March 2022.[17]

References
  1. "Chris O'Keefe to host 2GB Drive". Nine For Brands. Nine Entertainment. 14 November 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  2. Song, Darcy (14 November 2022). "Chris O'Keefe to host 2GB drive after Jim Wilson steps down". Mumbrella. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  3. Joshi, Kruti (31 August 2017). "Nine's Chris O'Keefe on working in the NSW Parliament press gallery". Mediaweek. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  4. Livingstone, Tom (2 May 2022). "Bill Shorten called out over Tanya Plibersek's absence". Today. Retrieved 17 November 2022. Bill Shorten and Nine News reporter Chris O'Keefe have had a friendly clash...
  5. Mimis, Sheri (14 October 2022). "'There's no justification for violence': Push for change sparks new smacking debate". A Current Affair. Retrieved 17 November 2022. "I'm astounded at how hard Australians will fight for their right to hit a child," Coulson told Chris O'Keefe on A Current Affair
  6. McKnight, Robert (13 October 2022). "Is CHRIS O'KEEFE set to replace TRACY GRIMSHAW on A CURRENT AFFAIR?". TV Blackbox. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  7. Samios, Zoe (13 November 2022). "Nine's Chris O'Keefe to be 2GB drive show's host". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 November 2022. ...he takes the reins of the 3pm drive show from January 9... O'Keefe's appointment to 2GB tightens the race for a host to replace Tracey Grimshaw on A Current Affair. O'Keefe was considered a front-runner among other key Nine candidates such as Alison Langdon, Sarah Abo and Sylvia Jeffreys.
  8. Pendrick, Dana (14 November 2022). "Channel 9's Chris O'Keefe to replace Jim Wilson on 2GB Drive show". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  9. Meade, Amanda (15 September 2023). "Weekly Beast". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  10. Knox, David (3 December 2016). "2016 Walkley Awards: winners". TV Tonight. Retrieved 17 November 2022. Television/Audio-Visual News Reporting: Chris O'Keefe, Nine News, Nine Network, "Bankstown Hospital"
  11. "Chris O'Keefe "Bankstown Hospital", Walkley Television/Audio Visual News Reporting Award". The Walkleys. Walkley Foundation. 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2022. Judges comments: "Chris O'Keefe's coverage of gross negligence at Bankstown Hospital offers examples of great public interest news coverage. From an initial report delivered at great speed, follow-up stories added depth to the issue and human faces to the multiple horrors, putting the NSW government on the back foot and setting the agenda for the NSW media that week."
  12. Knox, David (13 August 2017). "Kennedy Awards 2017: winner". TV Tonight. Retrieved 17 November 2022. Nine News' Chris O'Keefe was awarded Journalist of the Year, as well as...
  13. Knox, David (9 November 2020). "Kennedy Awards 2020: winners". TV Tonight. Retrieved 17 November 2022. Outstanding Political Reporting: Chris O'Keefe: Ruby Princess (9News)
  14. "Local identities take a walk down memory lane and share their first day at school". Gold Coast Bulletin. 28 January 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2022. Chris O'Keefe, Channel Nine News journalist: "I started school at St Joseph's Primary School, in Oatley, Sydney, in 1994..."
  15. Domjen, Briana (20 October 2018). "Channel 9 reporter Chris O'Keefe and Yvonne Sampson tie the knot". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  16. Price, Amy (4 April 2017). "Yvonne Sampson and Chris O'Keefe announce their engagement on the Sunshine Coast". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  17. "Yvonne Sampson and Chris O'Keefe welcome son Henry to the world". news.com.au. 1 April 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
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