“Books are a uniquely portable magic.”
Stephen King
Coronacast is a podcast that answers your questions about coronavirus, breaking down the latest news and research to help you understand how the world is living through a pandemic.
From the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, two voices have helped calm the nerves of Australians, while keeping us informed on the outbreak, with practical, actionable ways we can all help flatten the curve. Tegan Taylor and Dr Norman Swan of the ABC’s Coronacast provide concise daily information to help many Australians deal with the sometimes contradictory information we’re flooded with. And all with a tone that is welcoming and reassuring. Swan says the pair faced some controversy in those early days, including "the government calling up the ABC telling us to modify what we do, because we were too far out in front of them" but the pair kept reporting, and "the federal government got its act together and really started following the lead of the premiers". On the Premiers: "They've done what the textbook said they should have done. They've stood up, they've told the truth. They've not created panic. And the community has learnt to trust them." The remarkable thing about Coronacast is its upbeat, often playful tone, which the pair credit to Australia’s "excellent" and "enviable" response to the crisis, and to producer Will Ockenden. "This wouldn’t have happened without Will Ockenden. He understands how to make podcasts; the technical, content and structural aspects of it. He just has extraordinary skills and knowledge" says Swan. Taylor is quick to agree. "One of the things that people say to me all the time about the podcast is the tone. How much they love the tone and the back and forth. And Will has been the one that has set the tone for this thing from the very beginning." SMH Peter Wells June 17, 2020 |
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