Interview with Mark Braybrook, Drive Presenter at 4BC

Mark Braybrook has been at the forefront of Australian media for 30 years, with 25 of those years spent in Brisbane. He started his career in 1988 as a sports reporter at 2UE, and then joined 4BC after five years. Over the course of his career, Mark has called almost every sport played in Australia, including NRL, AFL, soccer, Rugby Union and cricket. His Twitter handle is @MarkBraybrook.

Having worked in different roles in the radio industry, how has that helped shape your understanding of the industry?
I think the more knowledge you have about the whole business the better you are in helping the business grow. My background in programs helped me during my time as an operations manager in Brisbane as a direct link between sales and on-air.

As someone who has called almost every sport in Australia, how have you seen the sporting industry change over the years?
It has changed dramatically on a variety of fronts. Back in the 1980s when I started, it was radio or TV electronically, and that was it. Now, there is pay TV, the internet and social media. Technically things have advanced as well, but one thing that hasn’t changed is the immediacy of radio and the ability for the listener to open their imagination to put themselves there.

What is your most memorable radio moment and why?
It would have to be covering the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. I called three Australian gold medals – Lauren Burns in taekwondo, the women’s hockey gold, and our beach volleyball gold with Kerri Pottharst and Natalie Cook. I was also alongside Ray Hadley and Jane Fleming for Cathy Freeman’s gold. The entire two weeks was amazing and one of the highlights of my career.

How do press releases help you in your work?
Press releases help different sections of the media in different ways. A press release with quotes is only good for print, an audio grab will only assist radio, leaving TV searching for pictures. With the facilities available to sports now, there should always be audio or footage with every release so every outlet has what it needs.