Norman Swan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Norman Swan
Norman Swan.jpg
Swan in 2013
Born
Norman Swirsky

1953 (age 68–69)
Glasgow, Scotland
NationalityScottish/Australian
Alma materUniversity of Aberdeen
OccupationPhysician, Journalist and Broadcaster
Known forABC Radio National
Health Report (since 1982);
Notable work
Revealing scientific fraud by William McBride
Children3, including Jonathan Swan
Awards
  • Medal of the Australian Academy of Science (2004) Gold Walkley (1988)
  • Michael Daley Award (1989)
  • UN Media Peace Award (1984 Gold citation)
Australian Skeptics Award 2020

Norman Swan (born Norman Swirsky)[1] is a Scottish Australian physician, journalist and broadcaster.[2]

Biography[]

Swan was born in Scotland.[3][4] As a young man Swan had a near death experience when climbing in the Scottish mountains with friends.[5] Swan wanted to be an actor, but instead went into medical school at the University of Aberdeen[2] graduating in 1976. He later tried unsuccessfully to get into the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.[1] He then continued his postgraduate studies by specialising in paediatrics.[6]

Swan moved to Australia to continue his training but moved away from medicine when he started work with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 1982.[2] He was the general manager of ABC Radio National for three years from 1990 and in that time increased the audience by 30%. He overhauled the schedule, created the RN current affairs breakfast program and recruited Phillip Adams, Geraldine Doogue and Wendy Harmer as program presenters.[3] Swan co-hosted the Radio National program Life Matters between 1996 and 2001,[6] and has produced and presented ABC radio program The Health Report from its inception in 1985.[3]

On ABC TV, Swan has presented both Catalyst and Quantum, is an occasional reporter on Four Corners, his most recent being an exposé of egregious doctors' fees, and currently is a regular reporter and commentator on 7.30. On commercial television, he has appeared on the Australian version of The Biggest Loser as the resident health expert.[7]

Swan was awarded the Gold Walkley in 1988 for revealing scientific fraud conducted by gynaecologist William McBride. Swan's investigation sent "shock waves throughout the medical world" and led to McBride's deregistration as a medical practitioner.[2] Swan has won four Walkley Awards, (the latest in 2020 for Coronacast), the 2020 Australian Skeptics Award, a Media Peace Award from the United Nations Association of Australia, and the highest honour in Australian science journalism, the Michael Daley Award.[2] Swan was also awarded the Medal of The Australian Academy Science in 2004.[8]

Personal life[]

Swan's son[9] Jonathan is a political correspondent, firstly for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, then The Hill and now Axios.[10] Swan's daughter Anna was seriously injured in an electric bike accident on a 2016 trip to Italy. Swan has experienced PTSD, blaming himself for not hiring helmets for the bikes,[1] and also as a result of being injured in a bus explosion at age 14.[11]

Bibliography[]

  • Swan, Norman, Dr (2021). So you think you know what's good for you?. Sydney, N.S.W. ISBN 978-0-7336-4676-8. OCLC 1231994364.
  • Swan, Norman (February–March 2014). "Disaster averted". Health. Body Talk. Cosmos. 55: 26.

References[]

  1. ^ a b c "Dr Norman Swan opens up on coping with trauma after his daughter's accident, covering COVID and the question that 'stopped his world'". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 5 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.; 1953)
  2. ^ a b c d e "Dr Norman Swan". ABC Radio National. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  3. ^ a b c "Profile: Norman Swan". The Sydney Morning Herald. 25 August 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  4. ^ Datelines: Norman Swan, Sydney Morning Herald, 7 November 1998, Spectrum, p. 2s
  5. ^ "Dr. Norman Swan, The Five of My Life Podcast with Nigel Marsh", Apple Podcasts, 2021
  6. ^ a b "Honorary awards – Dr Norman Swan". University of Sydney. 13 June 2006. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  7. ^ "The quality journalism project: Dr Norman Swan's media check-up". Crikey. 29 March 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  8. ^ "Academy Medal | Australian Academy of Science".
  9. ^ "Aussie named as a US political breakout star". Crikey. 17 November 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  10. ^ "Fairfax journalist Jonathan Swan awarded prestigious Wallace Brown Young Achiever Award". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  11. ^ Morgan, Cassandra (25 June 2021). "Norman Swan on wellness, sickness and other lies". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 31 July 2021.

External links[]

External video
video icon One Plus One: Norman Swan, One Plus One, ABC News
Retrieved from ""