After nearly 19 years hosting SBS’s leading current affairs show, Insight, Jenny Brockie has decided to step down as presenter. In a statement she said, “I’ve loved my job but a break has made me realise I want to do other things.”
“I’m proud of the work I’ve done over nearly two decades building Insight into a respected home for intelligent, thoughtful public discussion.”
It was in 2001 when Brockie joined Insight, which shifted to its current forum format in 2004. SBS Managing Director, James Taylor, said today, “Jenny has been instrumental in growing and refining Insight from its early days to become the world class forum program it is today, and we look forward to building on that success. Jenny will always be part of the SBS family and we’re hopeful she will return to our screens in the future.”
Over the years Brockie’s work was recognised with an All Media Walkley Award for the episode, Young Mob, a special Insight program that aired in 2013 and delved into the stories of Indigenous teens growing up in Alice Springs. She was also nominated for several TV Week Logie's and she was awarded eight United Nations Association Media Peace Awards for her work on Insight.
The subjects discussed on Insight have been many and varied. From covering topics from the war in Syria, to giving a voice to young people - whether it be their experience with cancer or their lives as young carers. Brockie and the team didn’t shy away from taboo topics either, from hoarders, to open relationships to women who drink too much on the 2017 episode, Wine O'clock.
It’s safe to say Brockie wasn’t afraid to go where others hadn’t. In 2012 she moderated a discussion between outlaw motorcycle gangs, victims of bikie gang violence and the police. Standing on stage, Brockie was surrounded by an entire studio filled with rival bikie gang members - an extraordinary feat.
The episode, Game Over, filmed in 2017, brought together some of Australia’s finest athletes and looked at the highs and lows of life after elite sport. Powerful anecdotes shared by some of the guests, such as former AFL player, Barry Hall, and former Olympic diver, Matthew Mitcham, made the episode required viewing by many sports teams and organisations across the country.
Then there were the myriad of shows which explored various health conditions that have left many Australians out of pocket and with feelings of helplessness and isolation. Shows such as, Endometriosis, shone a spotlight on a debilitating condition which affects one in 10 women - a condition rarely spoken about so publicly.
While Brockie will be sadly missed at Insight, it won’t be the last viewers see from her. She’s already dreaming up new projects and the team wish nothing but the best for her.
Jenny Brockie said today, “I’m looking forward to what comes next for me. I have no doubt Insight will continue to flourish and I will be welcoming the new host in 2021.”
