Insiders (TV program)

Infobox Television
show_name = Insiders


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genre = Politics, Analysis
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country = AUS
language = English
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runtime = 60 minutes
network = ABC1
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first_aired = 15 July 2001
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website = http://www.abc.net.au/insiders/
imdb_id = 0949791
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"Insiders" analyses and discusses Australian politics with the use of a panel of political journalists and columnists and interviews with prominent politicians and commentators. Broadcast on ABC1 on Sunday mornings at 9 a.m., the show also features many regular commentators from various Australian media outlets and think tanks. The program also appears on ABC2 on Sundays at 9 p.m. and Mondays at 7:25 a.m.

The program is presented by veteran political journalist Barrie Cassidy as part of the ABC's Sunday morning line-up, commencing with "Insiders", followed by "Inside Business" (hosted by Alan Kohler) and then "Offsiders", a sports program also hosted by Cassidy.

Format

The format of the program usually commences with Cassidy discussing the political issues of the week with Paul Kelly, followed by an interview with a current Australian political figure, usually an Australian politician. The show's regular segments, "Your Shout" and "Talking Pictures" are interspersed with discussions between Cassidy and his studio guests. Each week in the studio, Cassidy discusses current political issues with a panel of three commentators/journalists of varying political perspectives.

The 2007 series included small changes to the format of the show: re-ordering the segments, commencing the program with the political interview, followed by "Your Shout". Paul Kelly's discussion is then used as a starting point for the panel discussion. "Talking Pictures" continues to provide a break point within the panel discussions, and the show concludes with its customary sign-off where Cassidy asks the panel members for their "final observation and predictions".

Regular Segments

Your Shout

The "Your Shout" segment gives a member or group of members of the public a chance to air a grievance or present opinions about topical political issues that concern them, in a short, pre-recorded film shown during the program. It appears that the program attempts to ensure that the members of the public selected from week to week represent a broad range of political opinion and are spread across different parts in Australia.

Talking Pictures

Presented by Mike Bowers, the "Talking Pictures" segment analyses political cartoons and photographs featured in the nation's newspapers from the previous week. Regularly appearing cartoonists include: Warren Brown, Bill Leak, Geoff Pryor, Bruce Petty, Alan Moir, Peter Nicholson, Mark Knight, Jon Kudelka, Matt Golding, Paul Batey, Sean Leahy and Fiona Katauskas.

Regular commentators and panelists

Former commentators and panelists