The news division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation came into being on June 1, 1947. Over the years, the entity has spread its wings across platforms – radio, television, and digital – and is known for its objective, unbiased, and diverse content.
The ABC News logo, which is a key visual identifier of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s news division, has undergone several changes over the years. These updates reflect shifts in design trends, technological advancements, and the evolving needs of audiences across television, radio, and digital platforms. This article delves into the various logo changes of ABC News (Australia) over the years.
The Genesis of the ABC News (Australia) Logo (1964 – 1974)
The foundation of the ABC News logo lies in the iconic Lissajous Curve emblem, which was adopted by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 1963. Designed by Bill Kennard, this waveform-inspired design symbolised broadcast technology and became synonymous with ABC’s identity.
While initially used across all ABC divisions, the Lissajous Curve became a central element in branding for ABC News as it grew in prominence. The first logo featured the thin Lissajous curve in white within a solid black rectangle. It was flanked on either side by the wordmarks “ABC” and “NEWS” in bold capitals, respectively.
(1974 – 1989)
The 1974 variant featured a massive, thick, and bold Lissajous curve in black against a white background. The wordmark “ABCNews” in a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters was placed above the Lissajous curve emblem.
(1989 – 2002)
In 1989, the colour of the logo was changed to blue and white and featured a solid blue square. Inside the square were the wordmarks “ABC” and “NEWS”, written in white capitals, placed in the top and bottom sections, respectively. The Lissajous curve emblem in white appeared to the right of the “ABC” wordmark in a much smaller size than its previous avatar.
(2002 – Present)
The 2002 variant saw the Lissajous curve emblem in a metallic silver colour palette, followed by the wordmarks “ABC” and “NEWS” below in two levels. The wordmark “ABC” appeared in bold capitals, while “News” appeared in a title case.
(2010 – 2017)
The logo version of 2010 came to the fore with the launch of the 24-hour news channel of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Designed by BDA Creative of Munich, the logo combined the wordmark and the emblem on a single plane. It featured the wordmark “NEWS”, markedly bigger, in white capitals in a Gotham font against a blue rectangular background. To its right was the smaller Lissajous Curve emblem in metallic silver colour against a light greyish square background.
(2017 – 2024)
In 2017, the positioning of the individual elements of the previous logo was reversed. Designed again by BDA Creative, the redesigned logo featured the wordmark “NEWS” in an ABC Sans typography preceded by the Lissajous Curve emblem – all in black against a white background.
(2024 – Present)
In 2024, the ABC News logo of the previous variant was retained but with a few subtle changes. Designed by the Red Bee Media, the wordmark “NEWS” in black capitals was written using the ABC Sans Bold typeface. However, the iconic Lissajous waveform emblem to the left remained the same. This design made the logo more impactful and visually appealing across the digital and broadcasting spectrum.
ABC – TV News
Below are the logo iterations that were exclusively for the TV news division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
(1985 – 1989)
The first logo variant of the TV news division of ABC featured the Lissajous Curve emblem and the wordmarks “ABC” and “NEWS” in three levels. The colours of the emblem and the wordmark were in different shades of blue – dark and light, respectively.
(1989 – 1991)
In this logo variant, the Lissajous Curve emblem was removed, and only the wordmarks “ABC” and “NEWS” were featured in uppercase and in a light blue colour palette. Displayed in two levels, the wordmark “NEWS” was markedly shown in a bigger size.
(1991 – 1998)
In the 1991 logo design, the wordmarks of the previous design were shown with a right slant in a gradient light brown colour against a white background.
(1998 – 2005)
The 1998 logo variant showed the wordmarks “ABC” and “NEWS” in black uppercase and in a sans-serif typeface set against a globe in varying shades of blue with accents of pink, purple, and white. The letter “A” of the wordmark “ABC”, especially its thinner leg with pointed serifs, appeared a little away from the globe. In the same way, the letter “S” of the wordmark “NEWS” below appeared a little away from the globe in the background.
(2005 – Present)
The current logo was created in 2005 and features a television grab with the word “ABCNews” in white on a horizontal red band at the bottom of the screen. In the logotype, the word “News” in a title case was emphasised by making it bold. In the centre of the TV grab appeared a translucent globe in light blue, where Australia and parts of the Asia Pacific were shown in deep blue.
The Elements of the ABC News (Australia) Logo
Font
ABC News (Australia) employs a combination of serif and sans-serif typefaces called the ABCSans font. The serif font evokes traditional newspaper typography, which adds sophistication and gravitas.
Colour
ABC News (Australia) transitioned from its traditional black-and-white branding to a vibrant blue palette. This blue background is complemented by an expanded colour palette to create a more dynamic and engaging visual identity across digital, broadcast, and social media platforms.
The History of ABC News (Australia)
The news division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), known as ABC News, has a rich history that dates back to its establishment on June 1, 1947. Before this, ABC’s news services were limited and relied heavily on local newspapers for content. The first journalist was hired in 1934, which was followed by the appointment of a Federal News Editor in 1936 and a Canberra correspondent in 1939.
The launch of ABC’s independent news bulletin in 1947 marked a significant milestone and enabled the organisation to establish its own voice in news broadcasting. Over the decades, ABC expanded its news coverage across various platforms, including long-running radio programs such as AM, The World Today, and PM, as well as continuous news through ABC NewsRadio.
The national television service began in November 1956, and during the 1960s and 1970s, ABC established bureaus abroad. In 1995, the ABC Multimedia Unit launched digital news delivery via its website, which led to the creation of ABC News Online.
In 1983, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act renamed the organisation from “Australian Broadcasting Commission” to “Australian Broadcasting Corporation”, thereby reinforcing its independence and expanding its mandate for news gathering. In November 2016, ABC unified its branding under “ABC News” and merged entities like ABC NewsRadio and ABC News 24 into a cohesive identity with updated logos and visual branding.
Several directors have shaped ABC News over time; for instance, Kate Torney (2009–2015) oversaw significant changes, including international programming expansion, while Gaven Morris (2015–2022) led during a period of funding cuts and restructuring. Justin Stevens became Director of News, Analysis & Investigations on March 31, 2022, and focused on innovation and regional outreach. Funding challenges have periodically impacted operations. For instance, a $254 million cut announced in November 2014 led to staff reductions and programming changes.
Today, under the leadership of Kimberly Lynton “Kim” Williams AM as Chair since March 2024, ABC News serves Australia and the Asia-Pacific region across television, radio, online platforms, and social media under the unified brand “ABC Australia”. The organisation has become a cornerstone of Australian journalism committed to delivering independent and comprehensive news coverage both nationally and internationally.
Interesting Facts About ABC News (Australia)
- ABC News was established on June 1, 1947, after years of negotiations with the Australian government.
- ABC News operates a 24-hour news channel and has a significant online presence that includes various specialised sections like ABC Sport, ABC Health, and ABC Science.
- The news division of ABC is known for its innovative programming, which includes long-running radio programmes such as AM, The World Today, and PM. It also produces popular television shows like 7.30, Insiders, and Four Corners.
- During the Second World War, censorship was prevalent in the Australian media. General Douglas MacArthur mandated that all radio stations broadcast only three news bulletins per day to control information flow.
- In November 2014, the ABC faced a funding cut of A$254 million over five years, which led to significant staff reductions and programming changes. Despite these challenges, it continues to maintain a strong commitment to quality journalism.
- The ABC has made efforts to enhance regional news coverage through initiatives like the “Regional Connecting Communities” programme, which aims to increase local reporting resources.
- The ABC is regarded as Australia’s most trusted media organisation, with trust levels in the Pacific region matching those in Australia at nearly 80%.
Finally
The ABC News (Australia) logo and its various iterations reflect broader changes in media consumption and technology while maintaining its core values of trustworthiness and accessibility. From its origins with the Lissajous curve to its vibrant modern iteration, the logo remains an enduring symbol of excellence in Australian journalism.
Today, the ABC News logo has successfully adapted over decades without losing sight of its foundational identity. It stands as a testament to the broadcaster’s ability to evolve with changing times while upholding its commitment to delivering reliable news coverage.