Ben Fordham began his journalism career before turning 21. As a political correspondent for Sydney's 2UE, Australia's leading commercial radio station, he earned a Walkley Award, the pinnacle of journalistic achievement, for the best radio coverage of a current story. He also received a Raward for excellence in journalism, making him the youngest reporter ever to secure both honours.
Fordham's Walkley Award recognized his live reports from Canberra during the Thredbo snowfields disaster, which claimed 18 lives. His outstanding work earned him the Young Citizen of the Year award on Australia Day in 1998.
Starting at 2UE at age 16, Fordham worked part-time during his final school years and secured a cadetship in 1995. His responsibilities included live reporting and news reading, leading to a swift promotion to the Press Gallery in Canberra as the youngest political correspondent. He covered federal budgets and travelled with Prime Minister John Howard both domestically and internationally.
In 1998, Fordham transitioned to television with Sky News Australia, where he quickly became known for reading national news bulletins and anchoring live coverage of significant breaking stories, such as the Sydney to Hobart yacht race tragedy.
Less than a year later, Channel Nine's Mike Munro invited Fordham to meet with "A Current Affair" Executive Producer David Hurley, resulting in Fordham's breakthrough into commercial television.
