Keith Jackson

Keith Jackson, AM, FRSA, FAIM, (born 7 January 1945) is a British-born Australian journalist, blogger and retired media executive, known for his long relationship with Papua New Guinea, where he worked as a young man. He was foundation manager of two Australian radio stations (2ARM-FM Armidale and 2SER-FM Sydney), introduced educational broadcasting into the Maldives Republic, was the first head of corporate relations in the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and established a national public relations and issue management company. Early life and education Jackson was born in Macclesfield, Cheshire, the eldest of two sons and a daughter born to Joan (née Simpson) (1920-1976) and Stanley Jackson OAM. (1913–2012), schoolteacher, author, environmentalist and marathon cyclist. Jackson’s paternal great-grandfather, Robert (Bob) Jackson, was a celebrated manager of the Besses o’ th’ Barn brass band, of Whitefield, Greater Manchester in the United Kingdom. Stanley Jackson migrated with his family from Liverpool, England, arriving in Sydney, Australia, in November 1949. The family moved to Nowra, New South Wales, where Jackson was educated in public schools. From childhood, Jackson aspired to become a journalist, and at Nowra High School (1957–61) was student editor of the school magazine, Shoalhaven, won the public speaking contest in three consecutive years and was a member of its debating team. He reported on junior basketball for the Nowra News and also represented the school at football (soccer) and basketball. Teaching After passing the NSW Leaving Certificate in 1961, Jackson accepted a place at the Australian School of Pacific Administration (ASOPA), which trained teachers to serve in the then Australian Territory of Papua and New Guinea (Papua New Guinea). Completing the course in late 1963, he was posted to Papua New Guinea as an Education Officer.