Helen Razer
Encyclopedia
Helen Razer is a Melbourne
-born and Canberra-raised radio presenter and writer. She is the author of four non-fiction books and a columnist with the Australian version of The Big Issue
, Melbourne newspaper The Age
, and contributor to monthly magazine, Cherrie http://gaynewsnetwork.com.au/latest-issues/print-titles/20-latest-issues.html.
from 1990 to 1998. She was partnered for most of this time with comedian Mikey Robins
on the breakfast program. She also appeared on the Ladies Lounge program with Judith Lucy in the afternoons. She left after being targeted by a stalker, who had been active for several years and, convinced he was her husband, managed to get into the studio.
In 1999, ABC TV
's watchdog program Media Watch lampooned her overuse of long and arcane words.
In 2002 she became a programmer for Joy FM, Melbourne's gay and lesbian community radio station.
In 2005 Razer was employed as presenter of the Sunday arts program on the 774 ABC Melbourne
radio station. In October 2008, the ABC announced that she was to finish in this position before the end of the year as "part of a freshening of program formats". The announcement came two weeks after a controversial interview, on 7 September 2008, with actor Steven Berkoff
. On the 15 September 2008 episode of ABC TV's Media Watch program presenter Jonathan Holmes
accused Razer of patronising Berkoff in the interview by referring to him as "dear" and asking how good was the play he was on the radio "to flog". She finally called Berkoff a curmudgeon and then cut him off.
Today, Razer writes features for The Age
and the Sydney Morning Herald. She was also a regular contributor to the online Crikey
news website in 2007 and was previously an opinion columnist writing for The Australian
newspaper.
Razer also writes a column for The Big Issue
and has a blog titled "Bad Hostess".
In the 2011 Year 12 VCE English examination, the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority
instructed over 40,000 students to analyse a supposedly fictional blog article that was, in actual fact, plagiarised from an opinion piece written by Razer. The article in question was published in Melbourne-based newspaper The Age
in 2010. Some of the comments written on the original article were also plagiarised.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
-born and Canberra-raised radio presenter and writer. She is the author of four non-fiction books and a columnist with the Australian version of The Big Issue
The Big Issue
The Big Issue is a street newspaper published in eight countries; it is written by professional journalists and sold by homeless individuals. It was founded by John Bird and Gordon Roddick in September 1991...
, Melbourne newspaper The Age
The Age
The Age is a daily broadsheet newspaper, which has been published in Melbourne, Australia since 1854. Owned and published by Fairfax Media, The Age primarily serves Victoria, but is also available for purchase in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and border regions of South Australia and...
, and contributor to monthly magazine, Cherrie http://gaynewsnetwork.com.au/latest-issues/print-titles/20-latest-issues.html.
Media work
Razer was a prominent radio broadcaster on national Australian youth station Triple JTriple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
from 1990 to 1998. She was partnered for most of this time with comedian Mikey Robins
Mikey Robins
Mikel Mason "Mikey" Robins is an Australian media personality, comedian and writer. He is best-known for the satirical game show Good News Week, which ran on the ABC and Network Ten between 1996 and 2000, and returned again when the series was resurrected in February 2008.-Personal life/health...
on the breakfast program. She also appeared on the Ladies Lounge program with Judith Lucy in the afternoons. She left after being targeted by a stalker, who had been active for several years and, convinced he was her husband, managed to get into the studio.
In 1999, ABC TV
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
's watchdog program Media Watch lampooned her overuse of long and arcane words.
In 2002 she became a programmer for Joy FM, Melbourne's gay and lesbian community radio station.
In 2005 Razer was employed as presenter of the Sunday arts program on the 774 ABC Melbourne
774 ABC Melbourne
774 ABC Melbourne is an ABC Local Radio station in Melbourne, Australia. Originally known by its callsign 3LO, it began transmission on 13 October 1924 – Melbourne's second radio station after 3AR.-History:...
radio station. In October 2008, the ABC announced that she was to finish in this position before the end of the year as "part of a freshening of program formats". The announcement came two weeks after a controversial interview, on 7 September 2008, with actor Steven Berkoff
Steven Berkoff
Steven Berkoff is an English actor, writer and director. Best known for his performance as General Orlov in the James Bond film Octopussy, he is typically cast in villanous roles, such as Lt...
. On the 15 September 2008 episode of ABC TV's Media Watch program presenter Jonathan Holmes
Jonathan Holmes
Jonathan Holmes is a British-born Australian television journalist and producer who has been, since 2008, the presenter of the ABC1 weekly programme Media Watch....
accused Razer of patronising Berkoff in the interview by referring to him as "dear" and asking how good was the play he was on the radio "to flog". She finally called Berkoff a curmudgeon and then cut him off.
Today, Razer writes features for The Age
The Age
The Age is a daily broadsheet newspaper, which has been published in Melbourne, Australia since 1854. Owned and published by Fairfax Media, The Age primarily serves Victoria, but is also available for purchase in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and border regions of South Australia and...
and the Sydney Morning Herald. She was also a regular contributor to the online Crikey
Crikey
Crikey is an independent Australian electronic magazine comprising an open access website and an email newsletter available to subscribers. Well known in Australian political, media and business circles, Crikey was described by former Federal Opposition Leader Mark Latham as the "most popular...
news website in 2007 and was previously an opinion columnist writing for The Australian
The Australian
The Australian is a broadsheet newspaper published in Australia from Monday to Saturday each week since 14 July 1964. The editor in chief is Chris Mitchell, the editor is Clive Mathieson and the 'editor-at-large' is Paul Kelly....
newspaper.
Razer also writes a column for The Big Issue
The Big Issue
The Big Issue is a street newspaper published in eight countries; it is written by professional journalists and sold by homeless individuals. It was founded by John Bird and Gordon Roddick in September 1991...
and has a blog titled "Bad Hostess".
In the 2011 Year 12 VCE English examination, the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority
Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority
The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority is a statutory authority of the Government of Victoria responsible for the provision of curriculum and assessment programs for students in Victoria, Australia...
instructed over 40,000 students to analyse a supposedly fictional blog article that was, in actual fact, plagiarised from an opinion piece written by Razer. The article in question was published in Melbourne-based newspaper The Age
The Age
The Age is a daily broadsheet newspaper, which has been published in Melbourne, Australia since 1854. Owned and published by Fairfax Media, The Age primarily serves Victoria, but is also available for purchase in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and border regions of South Australia and...
in 2010. Some of the comments written on the original article were also plagiarised.
Further reading
- Interview with Helen Razer Triple J Radio Announcer on Aboriginal Reconciliation(1996)
- Book Blog with Lloyd ColeLloyd ColeLloyd Cole is an English singer and songwriter, known for his role as lead singer of Lloyd Cole and the Commotions from 1984 to 1989, and for his subsequent solo work.-Early life:...
- Hey, Senator - leave us discerning viewers of pornography alone
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