Richard Arnold: Profile

Richard Arnold is 3AW's US Correspondent, and can be heard every day on 3AW Drive with Derryn Hinch and also as the chief reporter of all US events for 3AW Radio's news bulletins.

Richard began in radio after earning two degrees at Sydney University. He switched from law to journalism, joining Macquarie at 2GB then working as the network's Canberra bureau chief.

From there he became Foreign Editor, and put that into practice by moving to Los Angeles to cover the Olympic Games. He stayed in the United States and joined us at Fairfax Radio (formerly Southern Cross). He has covered all the major US stories since then, along with reporting from other spots as well..from Brazil to Cuba to South Africa.

"The fact is that barring a brief time when 3AW pulled out of Macquarie and before I switched to Southern Cross ... I have been with 3AW, so it's probably 30 years," says Arnold.

"That might be longer than anyone else at the station - even Derryn (Hinch). Also I have been a foreign correspondent for Australia in the US for 25 years. I think I am probably the longest serving Australia foreign correspondent in history: given that most networks rotate staff."

What was your first job?

I did all sorts of things, from turf laying to factory work..then radio saved me from practising law.

What is your favourite on air moment thus far?

Broadcasting from the deck of a tall ship off Rio De Janeiro for the First Fleet Bicentenary.

What is your most embarrassing on air moment?

Trying to do a live race call of a marathon from a monitor, when the signal gave out at a crucial point!

If you could interview anyone (living or dead) who would it be?

Nelson Mandela comes to mind: turning his prison ordeal to a world triumph. Also hundreds of figures through history ... that'd be a long list.