“Greg, really enjoying the book….but is ‘big ed’ modelled on anyone in particular?”

As I said in the introduction to the book I quite deliberately made sure that Ed Bradley was based on nobody in particular but,  like all of us, was a combination of many traits. Given the nature of what he did (and the price he paid) to link him obviously with a living individual would be unfair. Rather, he  was uniquely  himself.

Moreover,  as I was writing the book, his characteristics  were less important than the issues raised by his behaviour. That’s what the book is essentially about.

Several readers thought they identified qualities they could hear in different announcers, but for every quality they might find, I made sure I included several that distanced them from Ed.  Interestingly they are hearing different announcers!

I even changed his name several times. I wanted a christian name that could be used in both its long and short form and, wanting the character to have a nickname (i.e “Big Ed”), needed a surname that was long.

I interviewed author Lee Child several times (a lovely man) and he spoke of the importance of names. After trying several, I settled on Bradley after researching the Graham Thorn kidnapping (included in the book), which occurred near where I lived in Bondi at the time. It was the kidnapper’s  surname and I thought fitted nicely. Shannon, Cassie and Danny also experienced name changes along the way as their personalities outgrew what I had initially called them. Danny and Shannon talk about the importance of names on their walk along 7 Mile Beach, Lennox Head.

I’ve  listened to (and worked with) hundreds of talk announcers down the years and they all possessed strengths and weaknesses. Including me!

We’ve all said things we might regret once the words were out, but I’ve heard nothing in Australia  as egregious as what ‘Big Ed’ said that led to his demise. The U.S is different. Several broadcasters  there have faced criminal charges as a result of public commentary.

In a time of polarised media and controversy being rewarded  with higher ratings the story is , in part, intended to be a cautionary tale. It also goes beyond the media. With social media on the rise, so is the ugliness of so much public debate. Free speech is a wonderful thing, but it comes with responsibilities  - ethically and legally - of which most people are totally unaware.

Greg