Leigh Hatcher (born 25 August 1955) is a veteran broadcast Australian journalist and author. Hatcher's career highlights include working as the bureau chief for the

Macquarie Radio Network Nine Radio (formerly Macquarie Media Limited) is an Australian media company, owned by parent company Nine Entertainment Co. and headquartered in North Sydney, New South Wales, the company operates radio stations nationally in the capital cit ...

in the

Canberra Press Gallery The Canberra Press Gallery, officially called the Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery, is the name given to the approximately 180 journalists and their support staff, including producers, editors and camera crews, who report the workings of the A ...

. He has also worked at various radio stations including

2CA 2CA is an Australian commercial radio station on the AM band serving Canberra. It is jointly owned by the Capital Radio Network and Grant Broadcasters. The station broadcasts on AM Stereo 1053 kHz and on DAB. 2CA was Canberra's first radi ...

in Canberra and

5DN Cruise 1323 (call sign: 5DN) is one of Adelaide's longest running radio stations. In its 80+ years it has changed considerably. It was the first commercial station to begin broadcasting in South Australia. History Radio 5DN began operating ...

in Adelaide. Hatcher was also employed by the

Seven Network The Seven Network (commonly known as Channel Seven or simply Seven) is a major Australian commercial free-to-air television network. It is owned by Seven West Media Limited, and is one of five main free-to-air television networks in Australia ...

where he worked as a political correspondent in Canberra as well as a European correspondent when he lived in London, between the years of 1983 and 1985. After returning from London, Hatcher took a break from television and returned to the radio station 5DN and hosted a radio show. Returning to Sydney, he worked as an on-the-road reporter for the

for a decade from 1988 to 1998. During this time he was the network's chief Olympic correspondent. He was forced out of work for more than two years, suffering chronic fatigue syndrome. He wrote a best-selling book about the experience, ''I'm Not Crazy, I'm Just A Little Unwell''. Hatcher joined

Sky News Australia Sky News Australia is an Australian news channel owned by News Corp Australia. Originally launched on 19 February 1996, it broadcasts rolling news coverage throughout the day, while its prime time lineup is dedicated to opinion-based programs f ...

in 2000 as a presenter of '' First Edition'' with Sharon McKenzie and later Nina May on weekdays. In January 2013, he finished presenting First Edition and was appointed news presenter on ''PM Agenda''. In June 2013, he resigned from Sky News. On 11 November 1975 Hatcher was one of the journalists present at former prime minister Whitlam's dismissal speech. On 27 March 2011 Sheridan Voysey, presenter of national radio program Open House, announced Hatcher would serve as his replacement. Hatcher hosted the program, aired by Christian broadcaster Hope 103.2, until 8 December 2013. In January 2014, after four decades of broadcast journalism, Hatcher became director for public affairs with the HammondCare organisation. He is married with four children and three grandchildren.

Writing career

Hatcher has written three books – ''I'm Not Crazy, I'm Just A Little Unwell'', and two books from the Open House radio program.

References

Sky News Australia profile

Not Crazy website

External links

at the Centre for Public Christianity Living people People with chronic fatigue syndrome Australian journalists 1955 births {{Australia-journalist-stub