Beau Raines used to run a company called Raines Media in Brisbane, which did media research.
 
Beau has now moved to America, but a radioinfo contact bumped into him at a function recently and got talking about his ‘trust’ research on Brisbane radio news personalities.
 
So Beau sent us some unpublished research comparing the top 5 most trusted radio newsreaders from last year to 3 decades ago.
 
Beau started his research company in Brisbane in the 1980’s then moved to Sydney in the 1990’s. It offered independent research using “old school independent surveys” covering “man in the street questionnaires, feedback from Queensland politicians and surveys conducted by radio programmers and staff inside radio stations.”
 
The top 5 most trusted credible radio news presenters then and now were:
 
1988
 
1)     Judy Beresford (ABC)
 
2)     John Knox (4BK)
 
3)     Judy Stearmand (4BH)
 
4)     Scott McKinlay (4BC)
 
5)     Rod Tiley “MR T” (FM104)

 
2014
 
1)     David Curnow (ABC)
 
2)     Scott Mayman (4BC at the time)
 
3)     Hope Fabillar (4KQ/97.3FM)
 
4)     Tim Collits (4BC)
 
5)     Stuart Layt (4BC)
 
 
 
Beau Raines says: “It is interesting to note, the number 2 position in 1988 and 2014 – were held by two very well respected Brisbane radio news identities. John Knox and Scott Mayman both live and breathe talk radio and have had an agenda to help young up and coming broadcasters with their respective programs that they created. 
 
“Both are very accomplished and have won many awards for their work. Both believe in localism.”
 

Station Credibility
 
Ranking credibility of stations, Beau’s research found that in 2012, 2013 and 2014, 4BH news was regarded as the most trusted credible radio news service because of its heritage as a ‘Macquarie National News’ station, eventhough listeners did not realise that 4BH dropped out of MRN about 14 years ago.
 
4BC was 2nd
 
4KQ news 3rd
 
Then 612 ABC Brisbane.
 
When asked “Which Station is the best for its Weekend Radio News? the most common answer was:
 

 
When asked “Why do you prefer, this particular station?” the top answer was:
 

Raines says most of this sort of research has now gone in-house, but he would like to see independent research of this type continue into the future to get a full snap shot of radio markets.