{
  "id": 4260439,
  "title": "Without this one interview technique Australian Story 'would have be dead'",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/without-this-one-interview-technique-australian-story-would-have-be",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-29T19:10:58.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-30/australian-story-secrets-to-30-years-of-extraordinary-stories/106088384"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the early days of Australian Story, the program faced numerous challenges that could have easily derailed it. Deb Fleming, its founding executive producer, recounted an incident where a crew member accidentally left the car phone off the hook, leading to a conversation where the crew expressed their doubts about the show's survival. Despite the budget cuts that reduced the program from an hour to 30 minutes, Deb remained steadfast and listened to her team's concerns. She used this opportunity to remind them of the show's unique approach, saying, \"We laughed about it then and we laugh about it now.\" The show's mantra of finding the extraordinary in the ordinary and the ordinary in the extraordinary has been a key factor in its enduring success. Over 1,125 episodes, Australian Story has delivered stories that resonate with viewers, often highlighting the human condition and providing insights into the lives of ordinary Australians. One of the program's most memorable moments came when it managed to secure an interview with AC/DC's late lead singer, Bon Scott. This episode has garnered over 7 million views on YouTube. Wendy Page, one of the original producers, emphasized that Australian Story is not about softening the blow for interviewees but rather providing a platform for honest and revealing storytelling. The program continues to thrive by challenging the status quo and maintaining its core values of journalistic integrity and human connection.",
  "summary": "Thirty years ago the ABC wanted to try something new, something experimental. Stories told in people's own words. And so Australian Story was born. But many of those involved had doubts the show would survive.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}