Home
← Back Published on

Afternoons with Kat Feeney

As part of my Industry Internship university course, I had the opportunity to produce alongside Kat Feeney, Ruth De Glas, and Aliesha McLaren for ABC Brisbane Radio's Afternoons with Kat Feeney.

I completed the following tasks during my 2-week intensive internship:

1. Contributing to morning and afternoon debriefs
2. Pitching stories
3. Writing stories using ENPS
4. Using NETIA to record grabs
5. Using NETIA to create music cardstocks
6. Trivia Topics
7. Writing for PM Edition
8. Talking talk-back calls and text messages
9. Attend daily Editorial meetings
10. Taking care of show guests
11. Contacting sources
12. Writing live reads (Beanies)
13. Taking care of Trivia Prizes
14. Voicing a radio story

Below are a selection of the work I have produced for the show with explainations:

1. Buttons and Bad Habits...

Writer: THOMAS

Talent: Driving Instructor and Road Safety Expert Ben Ward - 0413 271 194

TEASE: HAVE YOU EVER CAUGHT YOUR KID COPYING SOMETHING YOU DO, THAT YOU’D RATHER THEY WOULDN’T?

TOPIC ONE INTRO:

VOLTZWAGON IS ONE CAR MANUFACTURER BRINGING BACK BUTTONS AFTER CUSTOMER FEEDBACK THAT IT JUST FEELS BETTER THAN A TOUCH SCREEN.

AND MORE BRANDS ARE FOLLOWING SUIT, AFTER NEW DATA SHOWS THAT YOUR REACTION TIME IS 57% SLOWER WHEN YOU USE A SCREEN.

IT’S ACTUALLY WORSE THAN DRIVING WHILE DRUNK OR HIGH.

DRIVING INSTRUCTOR AND ROAD SAFETY EXPERT BEN WARD...

Q. WHY ARE OUR REACTION TIME SO MUCH SLOWER?

Q. DO YOU AGREE BUTTONS FEELS BETTER? IS IT BETTER FOR THE ROAD?

Q. WILL THIS LOWER ACCIDENTS?

TOPIC TWO INTRO:

BAD HABITS DIE HARD... A NEW STUDY SAYS CHILDREN ARE FIVE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO USE THEIR PHONES BEHIND WHEELS IF THEY’VE SEEN PARENTS DO THE SAME.

187% OF KIDS ARE MORE LIKELY TO TEXT IF PARENTS ALSO TEXT WHILE DRIVING...

BEN...

Q. DO YOU SEE THIS IN KIDS YOU’VE TAUGHT?

Q. HOW DO YOU PREP LEARNERS TO DRIVE SCREEN-FREE?

Q. HOW CAN PARENTS BREAK BAD DRIVING HABITS?

NOTES:

BUTTONS:

  • From January, Europe’s crash-testing organization EuroNCAP, or New Car Assessment Program, will incentivize automakers to fit physical, easy-to-use, and tactile controls to achieve the highest safety ratings. “Manufacturers are on notice,” EuroNCAP’s director of strategic development Matthew Avery tells WIRED, “They’ve got to bring back buttons.”
  • Reaction time slowed by up to 57 per cent using Apple CarPlay via touch screen – compared with the 12 per cent increase in reaction time registered when a driver had consumed alcohol to the legal blood-alcohol limit.

BAD HABITS

  • Those who witnessed parents texting were 187% more likely to text themselves
  • Seeing parents make handheld calls resulted in a 68% increase in the likelihood of replicating this behaviour.
  • Students who saw parents making hands-free calls 140% more likely to follow suit.

Buttons and Bad Habits  was the first radio script I had written for the show. Under the guidance of Ruth De Glas, I wrote the script based on the morning briefs, discussions, and story pitch ideas. I was given three links to articles and was expected to write a TEASE, INTRO, and Qs independently. At first, I struggled to wrap my head around creating a body in not only a radio style but the show's as well. I mitigated this by asking questions on style preferences and concluded the program preferred the above format: capital letters, bold, and information at the bottom. With that in mind, I created the script and continuously asked for feedback as I went along. The script was later approved by Ruth and was read on the show by Kat. 

Completing the task had taught me to read out loud and make sure my grammar, punctuation, and sentences were correct. More importantly, it had taught me to be aware of word economy. I took these lessons and feedback into consideration for other tasks. This is crucial in the development of my career as it ensures the work produced is up to standard. It also prevents presenters from stumbling over misspelled words. 

2. Knit a Beanie with Feeney

Writer: THOMAS

Talent: COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WORKER FOR BRISBANE STREETLEVEL MISSION LISA KROON lisa.kroon@salvationarmy.org.au

TEASE: HAVE YOU EVER GIFTED SOMEBODY A HAND-MADE GIFT?

INRTO:

WE’RE INVITING YOU TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING SPECIAL – TO MAKE THIS WINTER A LITTLE WARMER FOR SOMEONE IN NEED.

WE’RE ASKING OUR RADIO COMMUNITY – YOU – TO KNIT A BEANIE WITH FEENEY AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE ONE BEANIE AT A TIME.

OUR GOAL IS TO CREATE AND COLLECT HUNDREDS OF HAND-KNITTED BEANIES WITH LOVE AND DONATE THEM TO OUR CHARITIES LIKE SALVO’S BRISBANE STREETLEVEL MISSION – WHICH PROVIDES MEALS AND A SAFE SPACE FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST...

HERE WITH US IS STREETLEVEL’S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WORKER LISA KROON...

LISA...

Q. HOW WILL THESE BEANIES MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY?

Q. WHO WILL THESE BEANIES GO TO?

Q. HOW IMPORTANT IS YOUR WORK?

Q. HOW MANY VOLUNTEERS DO YOU HAVE? SLM IS A FIVE-DAY DROP IT, RIGHT?

Q. WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR DONATIONS FROM?

Q. TELL ME ABOUT THE RECYCLED BIKE WORKSHOP... YOU REPAIR BIKES FOR FREE?

- They do free bike fixes, provide employment opportunities, and raise funds for street level

IF YOU WANT TO GET INVOLVED, SIMPLY TEXT “BEANIE” TO 0467 922 612 AND WE’LL SEND YOU ALL THE DETAILS YU NEED TO GET STARTED.

NOTES:

  • SLM is a drop in place for five days a week (various times) for meals and support & community. The beanies would be distributed to the people who use these facilities.

WRITER: THOMAS

TALENT: GVIT QUEENSLAND MANAGER NINA SPARKE

TEASE: HAVE YOU EVER MADE A GIFT WITH YOUR OWN HANDS FOR SOMEONE?

INTRO:

THIS MAY, WE’RE INVITING YOU TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING SPECIAL... AND TO PICK UP A NEW HOBBY BY KNITTING A BEANIE WITH FEENEY!

KNITTING EXPERT OR NOT – YOU CAN KEEP SOMEONE A LITTLE WARMER THIS WINTER BY MAKING BEANIES.

OUR GOAL IS TO CREATE AND COLLECT YOUR HAND-MADE BEANIES AND DONATE THEM TO CHARITIES LIKE GIVIT - WHO MAKES SURE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HARDSHIPS RECIEVE THE ESSENTIAL GOODS THEY NEED... WHEN THEY NEED IT MOST.

HERE WITH US IS GIVIT’S QUEENSLAND MANAGER NINA SPARKE...

NINA...

Q. HOW WILL THESE BEANIES MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY?

Q. WHAT OTHER ITEMS ARE PEOPLE LOOKING FOR?

Q. TELL ME ABOUT THE GIVIT DISASTER PROGRAM... HOW ARE YOU PROVIDING RELIEF IN THE NSW FLOODS?

Q. IS THERE A SECONDARY IMPACT TO NATURAL DISASTERS? (THROW TO DV)

Q. HOW CAN PEOPLE GET INVOLVED?

NINA SPARK – QUEENSLAND MANAGER OF GVIT...

IF YOU WANT TO START KNITTING, SIMPLY TEXT “BEANIE” TO 0467 922 612 AND WE’LL SEND YOU ALL THE DETAILS YOU NEED.

MAYBE TALK ABOUT THE BOXES YOU RECIEVE LAST WEEK :)

NOTES:
Nina joined GIVIT in early 2025 to lead the busy GIVIT Queensland team. She manages GIVIT’s relationships with our more than 1,800 charity partners and government stakeholders across the state to ensure people experiencing hardship have access to the essential goods and services they need. Nina previously worked at Brisbane City Council for more than 8 years.

Talking points:

Very big start to the disaster season, already had three disasters in Queensland

  • North and Far North QLD Flood Appeal
  • TC Alfred Flood Appeal
  • Western Queensland Appeal

Domestic and Family Violence Appeal currently live on GIVIT

  • Around half of all requests on GIVIT are for DFV
  • We know that DFV is a secondary impact of natural disasters
  • We see a tenfold increase in requests for DFV in the year or two after a disaster

The beanies will be distributed among the over 200 homelessness services we work with across Brisbane.

Knit a Beanie with Feeney was the first live-read/charity based script I had written. It was also the first time I was able to write the script directly into ENPS. Before that, I had to write scripts in an email and send it to one of the producers. Nevertheless, I wrote the script based on the information of the charity and talent given to me in an email. I added extra notes at the bottom about the talent to explain why a question was asked and to also provide more talking points for the presenter if she chose to ask more questions. After that, I asked for feedback from one the producers and was told to always add the talent's phone number onto the document in case of emergencies. I quickly amended the feedback and kept that in mind for next time as it is crucial producers are able to reach their talent when its on air time. 

Completing this task had taught me the importance of framing questions to get the answers presenters are looking for. Most of the time, the presenters already know the answer to the questions but they want the talent to answer it. This is crucial in the development of my career to ensure the work I produce is familiar and has dimension. 

3. CAMELS AND WEED

WRITER: THOMAS

TALENT: DESERT CHANNEL’S OPERATIONAL MANAGER GEOFF PENTON – 0408 871 978

TEASE: WHAT IF I TELL YOU THERE’S A FERAL ANIMAL WHACKING FERAL WEEDS? IT’S LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF A NATURE DOCUMENTARY...

INRTO:

LONG LASHES... BIG HUMPS... STEEL STOMACHS... COULD CAMELS SAVE THE OUTBACK BY EATING ONE OF ITS MOST INVASIVE PLANTS - PRICKLY ARCACIA?

INTRODUCED IN THE 1900s, THE THORNY WEEDS HAVE COSTED FARMERS $27.5 MILLION PRODUCTION LOSS EACH YEAR...

BUT A NEW TRIAL HAS FOUND CAMELS COULD BEAT THE WEED BY EATING IT...

GEOFF PENTON – DESERT CHANNEL’S OPERATIONAL MANAGER...

GEOFF...

Q. HOW DO THEY STOP THE SPREAD OF PRICKLY ARCACIA? WHY CAN’T SHEEPS OR COWS DO IT?

Q. ARE THEY COMPLETELY GETTING RID OF THE WEED?

Q. HOW DOES THE TRIAL WORK? WHERE ARE YOU GETTING CAMELS FROM?

Q. ARE MORE FARMERS LOOKING TO JOIN THE TRIALS?

Q. HOW WILL THIS CHANGE THE OUTBACK... AND FARMING PRODUCTION?

Q. WHAT’S THE NEXT STEP?

GEOFF PENTON – DESERT CHANNEL’S OPERATIONAL MANAGER...

NOTES:

  • PRICKLY ARCACIA CAN PRODUCE MORE THAN 170,000 SEEDS PER TREE IN A YEAR
  • CAMELS CAN EAT THEM BUT CAN’T KILL THEM. IT KEEPS THE WEED AT BAY.

Camels and Weed was the first story I had pitched, wrote, sourced and produced myself. It was based on ABC article that I have seen and adapted it into a radio story. I pitched the story during the morning briefs and got positive reactions. I quickly wrote a script using flowery language that was playful but interesting. It was the first time I didn't actively sought out feedback. I contacted the source and organised a phone interview on air. After everything was done, I still asked for feedback from one of the producers to proofread it. After minor tweaks, the story was used on air and was an instant hit with the listeners. 

Completing this task has taught me to be more independent and confident in my work. It was something I lacked when I started the internship as the radio environment was completely different to what I was used to. Because of this, I found myself asking more questions and clarifications. Sometimes they were asked under pressure and I could have easily solved them myself but I was unsure of the protocols and policies of the radio show.  However, with every feedback I was given, I took it as a lesson and ensured I didn't make the same mistakes. These experiences are crucial for the development of my professional and personal life as it has taught me independence, resilience, and the commitment to continuously evolve. 

4. Lupus Cure

INTRO:

A CANCER TREATMENT COULD LEAD TO A CURE FOR LUPUS FOR THE FIRST TIME...

MONASH HOSPITAL USED CAR-T CEL THERAPY – A PERSONALISED TREATMENT FOR CANCER OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM – FOR A PATIENT WITH LUPUS IN A GLOBAL TRIAL LAST JUNE...

Lupus Cure is different to other scripts as it was short and snappy. It was designed to be a short read. I pitched the story after seeing it in an article and was given the green light to write it. I wrote it in two sentences that could prompt a discussion by the presenter. This is an example of many short news segments I had written. After I had finished, I asked for feedback and was told it was perfect.

Completing this task has refined my skills in writing shorter and snappier sections. It is something valuable that I can bring into my future career as it is important to process a large story into two sentences. 

5. Trivia

QUALIFYING QUESTION:

ON THIS DAY IN 1933...

WHICH WALT DISNEY SHORT FILM WAS RELEASED?

CUE AUDIO

AND I HUFF AND I PUFF AND I BLOW THE HOUSE DOWN

ANSWER: THREE LITTLE PIGS

Trivia is a segment Afternoons with Kat Feeney does every Tuesday to create more talkback and engagement. I was in charge of creating the qualifying trivia question and I did that by having the target audience (50s - 60s) in mind and finding subject they were familiar with. I ensured to incorporate audio into the section after I was given feedback by Kat to always try add sound to create more ear candy. I implemented that feedback. I used NETIA to record audio from YouTube, snip and edited it in the software before I feed the file into the script. 

When the segment had gone on air, I was in charge of talkback calls in the producer pod. I took in the details of callers in a professional but natural tone and transferred them to Kat so they could play trivia. 

I was later in charge of distributing trivia prizes. 

Completing this task had taught me the importance of listener engagement as a good question could make or break the segment. People would be more engaged with the trivia if they were familiar with it. It has also taught me how to handle callers and address them appropriately. This is crucial to the development of my career as it is important to have good manners when talking to talent and listeners to continuously foster engagement. 

6. Food Segment

WRITER: SOPHIA

TALENT: JAMIE MCDONALD #0431 405 708

TEASE: AS THE FRENCH SAYS... A GOOD MEAL WARMS THE BODY AND SOUL... HOW TO DO THAT IS NEXT!

INTRO: SONG

THAT’S LA VI EN ROSE BY ZAZ... A BEAUTIFUL FRENCH SONG ABOUT LOOKING AT THE WORLD THROUGH ROSE TINTED GLASSES...

IT'S TO GET THE BEST OUT OF LIFE... AND TO GET THE BEST OUT OF FOO – CHEFF JAMIE MCDONALD, WELCOME!

Q: IS IT TRUE PEOPLE DEAL TRUFFLES UNDER THE TABLE?

Q: TELL ME ABOUT LA MOLE AND FRANCOIS MITTERANDS (FRAH-SWAH MEE-TEHR- AHN) CHEF TABAC?

Q: PUTTING THE BERET ON – WHAT ARE WE COOKING TONIGHT?

FOLO Q: WHAT’S THE EASIEST FRENCH DISH YOU’VE MADE?

Q: OOH LA LA! YOU’VE BROUGHT SOME SAMPLES IN – WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE?

MERCI! CHEF JAMIE MCDONALD – CIAO!

The food segment is the section I had the most fun with. I was briefed on the talent and a list of things he wanted to talk about. Taking that into consideration and the skills I have learnt, I created the script within minutes. I used flowery language and relied on the questions so the presenter and talent could have an authentic conversation about food. I used NETIA to record the song as it wasn't on the data base and feed it into the script. I made sure to be more lighthearted and playful with the segment to get people engaged and excited. 

Completing this task has reaffirmed my passion for radio producing. It has taught me that a good producer makes a good presenter. I learnt how to write more lightheartedly and playful which is important to my career development as I have to be able to bend to different stories. 

7. Sports Segment

Writer: THOMAS

Talent: JESS STEWART

TALKBACK PROMPT:

WHAT ARE YOUR WORDS TO LIVE BY?

TEASE:

FROM ORIGIN SNUBS... OVERSHADOWING WINS... AND RIVALS SHOWING UP TO RETIREMENT PARTIES... WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE WORLD OF SPORTS?

ORIGIN INTRO:

JESS STEWART FROM ABC SPORTS JOINS YOU...

JESS... WHAT'S THE LATEST FROM THE ORIGIN CAMPS?

NADAL INTRO:

THE KING OF CLAY AND 14-TIME FRENCH OPENER - RAFAEL NADAL - HAD THE CROWED CHANTING HIS NAME ONE LAST TIME BEFORE STEPPING OFF THE COURT...

NADAL ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT AT THE END OF LAST SEASON.

HE WAS HONORED AT ROLAND GAROSS... AND JESS... THREE OF HIS GREATEST RIVALS SHOWED UP?

F1 INTRO:

IN F1...

MCLAREN'S LANDO NORRIS WON THE MONACO POLE... BUT HIS WEEKED WAS OVERSHADOWED BY OTHER DRIVERS...

WHAT HAPPENED JESS?

NETBALL INTRO:

I WENT TO A FIREBIRD'S GAME RECENTLY AND COULDN'T HELP BUT NOTICE HOW WELL BEHAVED EVERYONE WAS... NOT ONLY IN THE STANDS BUT IN THE LINE FOR DRINKS TOO...

AND IT GOT ME THINKING THAT AUDIENCE CAN BEHAVE IT GAMES TOO... BUT THERE'S A MISCONCEPTION THAT NETBALL IS NOT VERY BRUTAL BUT IT IS, ISN'T IT JESS?

OUTRO:

THANK YOU! JESS STEWART - ABC SPORTS.

The Sports Segment was something I struggled with the most. I had little knowledge of sport and was tasked to write a script about it. However, I mitigated the challenges by researching the top sports stories of the day. I ensured I had three top stories from different sports for variety and began writing. I made sure not to reveal the hook of the stories and relied on the questions for the talent to answer it. Throughout the entire process, I made sure to ask for feedback from the producers and was told to tweak it so there's less words and that it didn't reveal the entire story. I amended the script according to the feedback and could visibly and audibly see how much it had improved. 

Completing this task has taught me to come out of my comfort zone and tackle problems independently. As I lacked confidence, I constantly sought out feedback and advice, which limited my ability to grow even further. Acknowledging this is a step toward career growth as I learn to be more independent and solve problems in a professional way.