Alan Jones (radio Broadcaster) - Radio and Other Media

Radio and Other Media

In 1985, Jones joined Sydney radio station 2UE as the morning show host after John Laws left for 2GB. He moved to the 5.30am to 9.00am Breakfast slot in February 1988, where he achieved the largest breakfast and radio audience in Australia. His opening and closing theme music from both stations was the song "Gloria" by Laura Branigan.

Until 1990, Jones wrote for the The Sun-Herald but did not appear following a petition by staff calling for his removal as a contributor. This followed Jones' publication of a column predicting an oil crisis, in which a large amount of material had been taken from Frederick Forsyth's novel The Negotiator without attribution or indication that their source was a work of fiction. Following his dismissal, Jones was hired by the Sun-Herald's rival paper, The Sunday Telegraph.

On seven occasions between 1990 and 1997, Jones was awarded by Commercial Radio Australia the title Australian Radio Talk Personality of the Year.

In January 1993, Jones described the choice of Mandawuy Yunupingu (an Aboriginal Australian) as Australian of the Year as an "insult" and said Yunupingu had been granted the award simply because he was black. Later that year, prominent Aboriginal Australian Charles Perkins and Jones clashed in a live TV and radio debate. Jones said Australians are "getting no say when say this is nation; it's not, it's Australia's nation"... " are being asked to pay taxes to fund people who are seeking title to productive land to which they've made no contribution to its productivity". Perkins called Jones racist and a redneck and commented "You've sat on your white bum at 2UE in Sydney all your life so you wouldn't know what goes on out there".

In April 1994, after 13 weeks on air, the Network Ten program Alan Jones Live was cancelled. It was intended to be similar in purpose and content to Larry King Live.

In 2001, Jones was awarded both the Centenary Medal and the Australian Sports Medal. Both were awarded for his contributions to sport and the broadcasting industry.

In 2002, Jones joined 2GB as breakfast announcer, reportedly also taking a financial interest in the station. When passionate about a topic, he occasionally discusses it on air and during ad breaks with his panel operator Ross Geddes. Afternoon announcer, Philip Clark occasionally appears on Jones' show to show support to big news items. Jason Morrison is a daily contributor with two appearances to discuss news items and also filling in for Alan should he be on leave. Along with his radio show, he also did a segment making editorial comment on the Nine Network's Today.

In June 2007, Jones ended his 7.15am editorial on Nine Network's Today.

In 2008, Jones' audience numbers began to fall, with competition from ABC Radio 702, though he retains his number one position. In 2011, Jones had an audience share of 19.2 per cent, the largest for a radio commentator in Sydney. In 2012, Jones retains the largest share, with 18.5% of the Sydney radio audience. However, Jones's average number of listeners has fallen to 151,000 (out of a possible audience of 3.75 million ) down from a peak of 185,000 in 1986 since which the overall radio audience has also declined.

Alan Jones had his stage musical debut in 2012, playing the role of Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the Lyric Theatre's production of Annie the Musical in Sydney.