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Canberra Today 12°/15° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Meet talkback radio’s new Mr ‘Nice’

BY his own admission, Marcus Paul is “too nice to be a shock jock”, but 2CC’s new talkback drive show host says he wants to do things a little differently to his predecessors.

Marcus Paul... “I’m excited to be able to get outside of news, and put across a little of my viewpoint and my personality.” Photo by Gary Schafer
Marcus Paul… “I’m excited to be able to get outside of news, and put across a little of my viewpoint and my personality.” Photo by Gary Schafer
“As a journalist, I want to get in to the nitty gritty of local stories and issues, and provide a balanced account,” he says. “I’m up for an argument now and again, too; although I’ve been told I’m far too nice to cause too much trouble!

“The drive show is great; it’s a challenge. I’m excited to get outside of news, and put across a little of my viewpoint and my personality.”

Marcus, 41, has been doing the 3pm-6pm show for just six weeks.

“I love talking to people and hearing their stories,” he says.

“Three hours goes so quickly. There’s always something to talk about.

“I’m committed to the long term here, and I’m looking forward to building a relationship with the audience and growing through word of mouth.”

Marcus has been at 2CC for 15 months, and before then a radio journalist on the Gold Coast. He’s also worked in Sydney as a radio journalist and newsreader. This is his second stint working at 2CC; he was a 2CA and FM104.7 announcer from 1997-99.

“I’ve been called a radio gypsy over the years, but I’m glad to be back – Canberra is the most important city in the country,” he says.

Marcus’ sons, Bailey, 13 and Jackson, 11, live in Sydney with their mum, and he says he’s very used to the drive up the Federal Highway every weekend.

“My mum has a property there, and the boys stay with us,” he says. “It’s great for me to see mum so regularly, too, and help her out with odd jobs.”

Now in his 23rd year in radio, Marcus says he’s keen to cover local interest stories.

“Things like the public service, for example – I’d like to get experts in to give a balanced account of what will happen if the Federal Budget goes through,” he says.

“I’m also interested in the light rail issue and having reported on a similar process in the Gold Coast, I’m aware of what can happen.

“Another thing I’d like to talk about is regeneration of the southside. I think its shopping centres are struggling a bit and there has been so much development northside with the new suburbs and Gungahlin. I’d like to see a little more emphasis on the south now.”

He’s ambitious too, although happy to gradually gain the experience needed to aim high.

“After years of experience, and working in different cities, I hope one day to present a network show.”

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Thank you,

Ian Meikle, editor

Kathryn Vukovljak

Kathryn Vukovljak

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