Peter Couchman

Peter Couchman (born 1941) is an Australian journalist, author and presenter. He had a long career with the Australian Broadcasting Commission, working on current affairs programs including This Day Tonight and Four Corners.

Peter Couchman
Born1941 (age 81–82)
NationalityAustralian
Occupations
  • Television presenter
  • radio presenter
  • author
  • journalist
Years active1965–present
EmployerAustralian Broadcasting Corporation
TelevisionThis Day Tonight
Four Corners

Career

Couchman studied at the National Institute of Dramatic Art and worked for two years as an actor with the Young Elizabethan Players.[1] Once he decided he wanted to be a reporter, he joined the ABC, starting in their Sydney mailroom.

Couchman worked on This Day Tonight, the ABC's evening current affairs program in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1973, he was Singapore correspondent for the ABC. Couchman travelled to Cambodia in May 1973 with cameraman David Brill[1] to report for Four Corners on the ultimately successful campaign of the Khmer Rouge. He was detained while reporting in the Philippines in 1973 during a period of martial law imposed by President Ferdinand Marcos.[2]

He was a reporter for Four Corners for three terms: 1968–1969, 1974–1975 and 1987–1989.[3]

He was the host of the Victorian edition of This Day Tonight during the 1970s.

In 1978, he moved to Network Ten, hosting The Peter Couchman Show, a daytime talk show and the late-night Peter Couchman Tonight. In August 1979, he moved to a prime-time slot with magazine program Peter Couchman's Melbourne.[4]

In 1980, Couchman presented an afternoon radio program on 3AW.[2] In 1981, he returned to the ABC as compere of Nationwide.[5] There was a contractual dispute between 3AW and the ABC, with 3AW believing that they had an agreement to renew Couchman's contract for 1981. The Supreme Court found for the ABC.[6]

When the ABC revamped its news and current affairs with a new program, The National, in 1985, Couchman was appointed Asian correspondent, based once more in Singapore.[2]

In 1986, Couchman wrote, produced and presented an ABC news special, Coup D'Etat, a world exclusive following the political crisis in the Philippines, the end of Marcos's regime and the swearing in of new president Corazon Aquino.[7] The program won a 1987 Logie Award for Most Outstanding Achievement in Public Affairs.[8]

Couchman turned down an offer to present Seven Network's Holiday to return to Four Corners in 1987.[9]

From 1989 to 1992, he hosted the eponymous Couchman forum program with a similar format to Robert Moore's Monday Conference (1971–1978) and the current Q&A.[10]

In January 1994 he hosted the ABC's The 7.30 Report in Sydney. In November that year, Couchman was arrested during the "Save Albert Park" protests against the Australian Grand Prix being run at Albert Park in Melbourne. He was released without charge.[11]

From 1995 to 1997, Couchman hosted the morning slot on 774 ABC Melbourne radio, formerly known as 3LO, taking over from Ranald Macdonald. He had a combative relationship with the Victorian premier, Jeff Kennett, who was a regular guest on the program.

Couchman now works on the speakers circuit as an MC and moderator.

Notable work

Personal life

Peter Couchman married wife Trish. They had two children, Sophie and Simon.[2]

References
  1. Little, John, The Man Who Saw Too Much: David Brill, combat cameraman
  2. The Age, 2 February 1985
  3. Four Corners People
  4. Talking Television
  5. Sydney Morning Herald, 6 July 1986
  6. The Age, 29 January 1981
  7. Coup D'etat: The Philippines Revolt, IMDb, 30 August 1986
  8. Talking Television
  9. The Age, 4 Dec 1986
  10. The Age, 6 April 1989
  11. Going Hammer and Tongs Over Tacks, The Age, 24 October 1995 (login required)


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