The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is set to re-establish its presence in China with the appointment of Allyson Horn as its new correspondent in Beijing. This marks the first time in nearly five years that the ABC will have a correspondent based in China, following the departure of Bill Birtles in September 2020.
Horn, who will begin her assignment in the coming weeks, is expected to play a crucial role in delivering comprehensive coverage of China. ABC’s director of news, Justin Stevens, described the appointment as a “significant milestone” for the organization. “We are thrilled to have a correspondent return to China,” Stevens stated. “Bringing the best coverage of China and its people to our audiences is incredibly important, and having an Australian journalist reporting this story on the ground for us will significantly bolster our reporting.”
The Departure of Bill Birtles
The ABC’s absence from China began in September 2020 when Bill Birtles, the then Beijing correspondent, was forced to leave the country. His departure followed a tense five-day diplomatic standoff related to a national security case. During this period, seven Chinese police officers arrived at Birtles’s residence in the middle of the night, demanding that he submit to questioning.
Since Birtles’s departure, the ABC has been eager to restore its representation in Beijing. Last year, ABC chair Kim Williams emphasized the importance of having a presence in China, stating, “We need to be in Beijing to ensure clear and regular reporting from the dynamic nation that China is, with its many profound economic, political, and diplomatic resonances around the world.”
A Longstanding History in China
The ABC’s relationship with China dates back to 1973 when it opened its first bureau in the country. Paul Raffaele was the first Australian journalist to be based in Mao’s China, at a time when only a handful of foreign journalists were permitted entry. Over the past 50 years, the ABC has appointed more than two dozen correspondents to cover China, including notable figures such as TV presenter Jane Hutcheon in 1996, Eric Campbell in 2001, and most recently, Bill Birtles in 2015.
Suzanne Dredge, the ABC’s head of international and Indigenous coverage, highlighted the significance of the ABC’s reporting from China. “ABC journalists have reported on the ground in China for more than half a century,” she noted. “They have kept the Australian public informed about stories of global significance with a focus on the people, economy, and China’s position on the international stage.”
Allyson Horn: A Veteran Journalist
Allyson Horn brings over a decade of experience with ABC News across various platforms, including radio, TV, and online. Her first foreign posting was in 2022 as the ABC’s Middle East Correspondent, based in Jerusalem. Her appointment to Beijing is seen as a continuation of the ABC’s commitment to strengthening its coverage in the Asia Pacific region.
“Allyson Horn is a formidable journalist,” Justin Stevens remarked. “Her reporting is brave and authoritative, and she’s always committed to giving a voice to ordinary people.”
“We are delighted she will start this next chapter in the ABC’s long legacy of reporting from Beijing,” said Suzanne Dredge.
Horn’s appointment is expected to enhance the ABC’s ability to deliver nuanced and in-depth reporting from one of the world’s most influential nations. As global dynamics continue to shift, having a correspondent on the ground in China will be invaluable for providing insights into the country’s evolving role on the international stage.
As the ABC prepares for Horn’s arrival in Beijing, the organization looks forward to resuming its longstanding tradition of delivering high-quality journalism from China, ensuring that Australian audiences remain informed about critical developments in the region.
