Kumi Taguchi announced as new host of SBS flagship current affairs program, Insight
Kumi Taguchi is today announced as the new host of SBS’s flagship current affairs program, Insight. She joins the program following Jenny Brockie’s decision to step down as host after nearly two decades in the role.
Insight, part of SBS’s award winning Tuesday night current affairs line-up, isAustralia’s leading forum for powerful first-person stories shared by people from all walks of life, often for the first time, in a way that everyone can relate to. Kumi joins with more than 20 years’ experience in the media industry in Australia and Hong Kong. She has worked across radio, television, current affairs, long-form documentary and most recently, as the host of ABC Compass and as a presenter and reporter for the ABC News Channel.
Kumi Taguchi said : “I am beyond excited to be joining SBS for my next adventure. To be entrusted with a high-profile program such as Insight , with such a strong legacy of authentic storytelling, is an absolute honour. Opportunities like this come around once in a career, if you’re lucky.
“No matter how much our lives change, how much technology advances, how much we shift direction, one thing always stays the same: the power of our stories. True compassion and understanding comes from hearing about the experiences of others and seeing how they navigate through life.
“One of the strongest memories of my late father is sitting with him at his small kitchen table in Melbourne, watching the Japanese news on SBS. He would switch it on at the same time every day and I’m sure it made him feel connected to his homeland. We would sip tea and eat rice crackers and I would be reminded, too, of my heritage.”
SBS Director of News and Current Affairs, Mandi Wicks, said: “We are thrilled to announce Kumi as the new host of Insight . She comes to us with a wealth of experience and a true understanding of the value of storytelling. SBS news and current affairs is committed to seeking out the communities and voices often overlooked by others and Kumi has a deep appreciation and personal connection to this ambition.
“ Insight embraces the individual experiences of Australians and through their stories we gain a greater understanding of each other and the complex issues that affect us all. We look forward to working with Kumi to delve into many more extraordinary stories and issues next year.”
Insight will return with new episodes on Tuesday nights in 2021, along with international current affairs program, Dateline , showcasing stories and characters from around the world, and the unique mix of news, investigations, interviews and satire served up on The Feed .
Bio:
About Kumi Taguchi
If you asked Kumi what job she does, she would say “storyteller”. Curiosity about the world and all who inhabit it drive her in her work and her life. She has told stories of war veterans, marathon runners and prisoners. Charity workers, firefighters and atomic bomb survivors. Writers, singers and musicians.
Kumi’s work spans across TV, radio, 24-hour news, current affairs and long-form documentaries. Kumi was the host of the ABC’s Compass , and a regular host of major live events, including the Australian of the Year Awards . In 2018, Kumi was the MC at the opening and closing ceremonies of The Invictus Games in Sydney, broadcasting to a global audience of 60 million.
Kumi has been working in the media for over 20 years, after initially training as a classical violinist. In her first job, she picked up dry-cleaning, organised couriers and transcribed the answering machine. Since then, Kumi has held a number of roles at the ABC and SBS in Australia; and Star TV and Asia Television in Hong Kong.
Kumi is always up for an adventure, especially one that pushes her physical and mental limits. She reported live from the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, taking five days to sail the 630 nautical miles on a 70-foot yacht. A keen sportswoman, Kumi has run two half marathons, and a marathon: the latter on sand dunes in the desert, with Uluru as the backdrop.
