{{Short description|Australian journalist}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Matthew Carney | image = Matthew Carney Reporting in China.png | caption = Carney in 2017 | occupation = Journalist | employer = }} '''Matthew Carney''' is an Australian journalist and television producer best known for his work with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. He was the executive producer of ''Four Corners'' for four years following work with ''Foreign Correspondent''. Carney joined the ABC in 1995. He spent most of his career there and at the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS).<ref name="formerchief">{{cite news |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-21/matthew-carney-foreign-journalist-china-intimidation-birtles/12678610 |title='You will be put into detention': Former ABC bureau chief tells story of fleeing China for first time |last=Carney |first=Matthew |work=ABC News |date=21 September 2020 |accessdate=30 May 2022}}</ref> He became the executive producer of ''Four Corners'' and ''Foreign Correspondent'' after years as a reporter on both programs. He also worked as a foreign correspondent based in the Middle East for SBS, and China and Asia for the ABC.<ref name="ABC News">{{Cite news |date=2022-05-30 |title=ABC appoints executive producers for Four Corners, Foreign Correspondent and 7.30 |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-30/new-executive-producers-four-corners-foreign-correspondent-730/101109756 |access-date=2026-04-06 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref>

Carney has produced more than 200 documentaries over his career<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-29 |title=Former Foreign Correspondent Executive Producer shares experience of capturing untold stories |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-29/former-producer-shares-experience-as-foreign-correspondent/13994458 |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=www.abc.net.au |language=en-AU}}</ref> and won multiple awards, including the United Nations Media Peace Prize and multiple Walkley Awards.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Back to the Source: Investigative Journalism Conference |url=https://www.uts.edu.au/globalassets/sites/default/files/acij-b2source-program.pdf |access-date=6 April 2026 |website=UTS Global Assets ACIJ|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Early life and education == Carney was born on the 11th of October 1965 in Sydney, Australia and was educated at St. Ignatius College Riverview. In 1988 he received a Bachelor of Economics (Political Science) from The University of Sydney.{{citation needed|date=April 2026}}

== Early reporting career == {{BLP sources section|date=April 2026}} Carney started his career at Beyond Productions in 1989 as an assistant researcher, and after 18 months he was promoted to story producer for the television program ''Beyond 2000''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0138830/ |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=www.imdb.com |title=IMDb: Matthew Carney}}</ref> He negotiated and produced the first extensive access into Vietnam for a series of special reports.

From 1990 until 1994 he worked for SBS ''Dateline'' as a researcher, reporter and producer. He also produced and directed for SBS Documentaries. Some highlights: rare access into West Papua and the OPM, uncovering the Korean Mafia in Australia, an investigation into Khmer Rouge war criminals living in Australia, and an exposé of corruption around a Federal Minister.

Carney joined the Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC) in 1995.<ref name="formerchief" /> From 1995 until 1997, he was the National Producer at ''7:30'' and gained a reputation for hard hitting investigative pieces. Examples include: identifying a Croatian war criminal living in Australia, an investigation into BHP heavy metal contamination at Port Kembla and an exposé of corruption within the RSL.

==Foreign correspondent work== As a Foreign Correspondent Carney has reported in more than 50 countries, including China, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia, West Bank and Gaza, Libya, East Timor, West Papua, North Korea, Sierra Leone, Myanmar, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="Matthew Carney - ABC News">{{Cite web |date=2020-09-22 |title=Matthew Carney - ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/matthew-carney/6634066 |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=www.abc.net.au |language=en-AU}}</ref>

Carney had some of the first extensive access inside North Korea in 1995 as a producer.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-06-15 |title=Hermit Kingdom - North Korea, 1995 |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-06-15/foreign-correspondent-george-negus-north-korea/4019390 |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=www.abc.net.au |language=en-AU}}</ref> He also filmed OPM rebels in West Papua, the Falintil resistance in the hills of East Timor, and the Tamil tigers in the jungles of Sri Lanka.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Meade |first=Amanda |date=2025-10-03 |title=The 'relentless years': ABC has shaken off culture of fear created by external pressure, Hugh Marks tells supporters |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/oct/03/abc-has-shaken-culture-fear-created-by-external-pressure-hugh-marks-weekly-beast |access-date=2026-04-06 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

From 1999 to 2005, Carney set up his own production company called Twofold Films and moved to the Middle East based in Beirut. He reported, filmed, produced and directed current affairs documentaries in the warzones of Gaza, Iraq, Lebanon and Iran.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKma5eW7_sw |title=How Israel Fights Palestinian Suicide Bombers |date=2007-09-05 |last=Journeyman Pictures |access-date=2026-04-06 |via=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkbAqclNOb0 |title=The Iraqi Cleric Opposing Secular Democracy (2003) |date=2019-04-03 |last=Journeyman Pictures |access-date=2026-04-06 |via=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wvu_hfxdDFk |title=Kirkuk: A Town Divided - Iraq |date=2007-08-21 |last=Journeyman Pictures |access-date=2026-04-06 |via=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQKQLwuDOBc |title=Lebanon's Party of God Is Becoming A Major Political Force (2001) |date=2015-08-25 |last=Journeyman Pictures |access-date=2026-04-06 |via=YouTube}}</ref> He also delivered films inside Saudi Arabia, Libya, Syria and Egypt.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ul9jkcYCsCQ |title=The Fight For Reform in Saudi Arabia (2003) |date=2019-03-05 |last=Journeyman Pictures |access-date=2026-04-06 |via=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kw9ItHeBVIk |title=Meet Jamal Khalifa, Osama Bin Laden's Best Friend (2003) |date=2019-02-25 |last=Journeyman Pictures |access-date=2026-04-06 |via=YouTube}}</ref> He sold his work multiple times to the world's major broadcasters including, SBS (Australia), BBC (United Kingdom), Arte (France), ZDF (Germany), NHK (Japan), and PBS (America), mostly using Journeyman Pictures as his agent.<ref name=":0" />

== Australian Broadcasting Corporation reporting ==

=== ''Four Corners'' reporter === Four Corners offered Carney a job as a reporter in 2005 as a journalist who could shoot, direct and produce compelling TV documentaries.<ref name=":0" />

At Four Corners, he gained rare access into the Taliban strongholds in the tribal areas of Pakistan which took 2 years to negotiate,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-02-23 |title=VOD - Pakistan on the Brink |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-02-23/vod---pakistan-on-the-brink/302604 |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=www.abc.net.au |language=en-AU}}</ref> produced the first expose of Australian Special Forces secret “assassination” program which won a Walkley award,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-09-01 |title=In Their Sights |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-09-01/in-their-sights/2873730 |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=www.abc.net.au |language=en-AU}}</ref> uncovered the first hard evidence of the Japanese bribing countries at the International Whaling,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Whale Wars {{!}} Journeyman Pictures |url=https://www.journeyman.tv/film_documents/2976/transcript/ |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=www.journeyman.tv}}</ref> portrayed crystal meth addicts in a program called The Ice Age,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-08-08 |title=The Ice Age - 2006 |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-08-09/the-ice-age---2006/2844994 |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=www.abc.net.au |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-08-17 |title='People stood back aghast': Four Corners stories that shocked even the reporters |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-18/four-corners-60-years-challenging-and-confronting-stories/100375980 |access-date=2026-04-06 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref> completed investigative reports that detailed government cover ups and environmental damage in the coal seam gas rush,<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Gas Rush |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-02-22/4c-full-program-gas-rush/8960846 |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=www.abc.net.au |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-04-01 |title=Gas Leak |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-04-02/gas-leak/4605726 |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=www.abc.net.au |language=en-AU}}</ref> and triggered a government inquiry to the ambulance service in Western Australia.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-07-06 |title=Out of Time |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-07-06/out-of-time/1340780 |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=www.abc.net.au |language=en-AU}}</ref>

=== North Asia correspondent, 2014-2015 === For two years, Carney lead coverage on North Asia for the ABC on all media platforms (television, radio, and digital) on the strategic, economic and social aspects of the region, based out of Tokyo, Japan.<ref name="ABC News"/>

He had early access inside Fukushima nuclear plant<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-02-18 |title=Inside Fukushima: have Japanese reactor's radiation levels dropped? |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-18/inside-fukushima-as-japans-nuclear-power-program/6144078 |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=www.abc.net.au |language=en-AU}}</ref> and comprehensive access inside Japan's Defence forces,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-08-19 |title=Return of the Samurai |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-19/return-of-the-samurai/5727562 |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=www.abc.net.au |language=en-AU}}</ref> and the Yakuza.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-09-04 |title=New laws force yakuza to evolve from gangs into corporations |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-04/the-new-face-of-the-japanese-yakuza/5720210 |access-date=2026-04-06 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref> Carney also reported on innocents convicted to Japan's death row.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carney |first=Matthew |date=2015-01-23 |title=Revelations of innocent people on Japan's death row sparks calls for reform |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-23/revelations-of-innocent-people-on-japans-death-row/6043822 |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=www.abc.net.au |language=en-AU}}</ref> Carney's story on the Hikikimori - the million young Japanese men who have turned their backs on society and have locked themselves inside their rooms - received the highest number of hits on ABC digital in 2015.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-07-07 |title=Japan's blank generation locked away behind closed doors |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-08/hikikomori-japanese-men-locking-themselves-in-their-bedrooms/6601656 |access-date=2026-04-06 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref>

=== Bureau chief and China correspondent, 2015-2018 === Carney became ABC's China bureau chief in 2015. He planned and executed coverage of major news events and output across North Asia on ABC platforms. One of his notable works there was "Generation Left Behind," in which he discusses the 61 million children in China who are left to grow up with no parents.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-09-06 |title=Generation Left Behind |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-06/generation-left-behind/7820938 |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=www.abc.net.au |language=en-AU}}</ref>

During this time he produced 5 documentaries for ''Foreign Correspondent'', including “Last Eagle Hunters of Mongolia”, and an exposé of China's Dystopian future called “Leave No Dark Corner”.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-05-02 |title=The Last Eagle Hunters |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-03/the-last-eagle-hunters/8491222 |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=www.abc.net.au |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-09-18 |title=Leave No Dark Corner |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-09-19/leave-no-dark-corner/10264302 |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=www.abc.net.au |language=en-AU}}</ref>

Carney and his family were thrown out of China in late 2018.{{explain|what happened?|date=April 2026}}<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-09-20 |title=When I was ordered to come in for a 'cup of tea', I knew my life in China would change |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-21/matthew-carney-foreign-journalist-china-intimidation-birtles/12678610 |access-date=2026-04-06 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref>

== Editorial leadership ==

=== ''Foreign Correspondent'' === As executive producer from 2018 to 2022, Carney led ''Foreign Correspondent'' in tripling their audiences on digital, iView and YouTube. The Mexican Drug Cartels story he commissioned is still one of highest viewed ABC programs on YouTube at 31 million views.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2IQuXbExjU |title=Inside Mexico's Most Powerful Drug Cartel {{!}} Foreign Correspondent |date=2021-07-22 |last=ABC News In-depth |access-date=2026-04-06 |via=YouTube}}</ref>{{primary source inline|date=April 2026}} In 2021, Foreign Correspondent had the biggest growth on broadcast of all the current affairs programs at the ABC.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Transparency Portal |url=https://www.transparency.gov.au/publications/communications-and-the-arts/australian-broadcasting-corporation/australian-broadcasting-corporation-annual-report-2020-21/audience-data-and-analysis/audience-reach?q= |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=www.transparency.gov.au}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Transparency Portal |url=https://www.transparency.gov.au/publications/communications-and-the-arts/australian-broadcasting-corporation/australian-broadcasting-corporation-annual-report-2021-22/audience-data-and-analysis/audience-reach |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=www.transparency.gov.au}}</ref>

During his leadership, Carney organized coverage of the war in Ukraine,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Foreign Correspondent: S2022 Fighting Back - Ukraine |url=https://iview.abc.net.au/show/foreign-correspondent/series/2022/video/NC2210H029S00 |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=ABC iview |language=en}}</ref> the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hakim |first=Yalda |date=2021-08-17 |title=Return of the Taliban |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-17/return-of-the-taliban/13499612 |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=www.abc.net.au |language=en-AU}}</ref> China, and Russia.

=== ''Four Corners'' === Matthew Carney was the Executive Producer of Four Corners for 4 years, from 2022 to 2026. On his exit, he was lauded as one of Australia's "most respected journalists."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Perry |first=Kevin |date=2025-11-04 |title=FOUR CORNERS leader Matthew Carney resigns from ABC post |url=https://tvblackbox.com.au/page/2025/11/05/four-corners-leader-matthew-carney-resigns-from-abc-post/ |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=TV Blackbox |language=en-AU}}</ref>

Carney reformed the story culture at the program, and more than doubled audiences across digital, social and broadcast to honour and uphold the 65 year tradition of Four Corners. Under his leadership Four Corners won multiple Walkley Awards.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-04 |title=Four Corners exec producer resigns {{!}} TV Tonight |url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2025/11/four-corners-exec-producer-resigns.html |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=tvtonight.com.au |language=en-AU}}</ref>

== Awards == Matthew Carney's stories have been recognised with awards both in Australia and internationally.

=== Reporting awards ===

* Walkley Awards ** Winner: 2012 Four Corners ABC 'In Their Sights' with journalist Thom Cookes<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Walkley Winners Archive |url=https://www.walkleys.com/awards/walkley-winners-archive/ |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=The Walkley Foundation |language=en-AU}}</ref> ** Winner: 2000 Dateline SBS 'Sierra-Leone - The Cost of Peace'<ref name=":2" /> ** Winner: 2002 Dateline SBS 'The New Kurdistan'<ref name=":2" /> ** Finalist 14 times.<ref name="Matthew Carney - ABC News"/> * Logie Awards ** Winner: 2001 Award for Most Outstanding Special Report in a Public Affairs Program 'The Dirty War' ** Finalist 2 times. * United Nations Media Peace Prize ** Winner: 2017 award for Promotion of Children Rights and Issues 'Generation Left Behind' ** Winner: 1994 award for his story, 'Khmer Rouge War Criminals' * Eureka Prize ** Winner: 2006 Environmental Journalism prize alongside Morag Ramsay and Anne Connolly<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eureka Prizes Winner Archive |url=https://australian.museum/get-involved/eureka-prizes/eureka-prizes-archive/ |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=The Australian Museum |language=en}}</ref> * New York Festivals TV and Film Awards ** Gold medal ** Silver medal * Rory Peck Award ** Runner Up: 2003 'Kirktown - A Town Divided'<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Past Winners & Finalists |url=https://nathanb119.sg-host.com/awards/past-finalists/ |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=The Rory Peck Trust |language=en-US}}</ref> ** Runner Up: 1997 'East Timor' with cinematographer Chantel Abouchar<ref name=":3" /> * Lowy Institute Media Award ** Finalist: 2022 'Return of the Taliban' as part of ABC's Foreign Correspondent team<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=The Lowy Institute Media Award {{!}} Lowy Institute |url=https://www.lowyinstitute.org/lowy-institute-media-award |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=www.lowyinstitute.org |language=en}}</ref> ** Finalist: 2019 'Leave No Dark Corner'<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2rqsOWqJG0 |title=Lowy Institute Media Award 2019 Nominee – Matthew Carney, ABC Foreign Correspondent |date=2019-10-21 |last=Lowy Institute |access-date=2026-04-06 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

=== Other awards ===

* Order of Timor Leste ** In 2025, Carney was awarded the Order of Timor-Leste to honour two documentaries he filmed in the 1990s that demonstrated the Falintil resistance was fully operational.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Press Release -President Ramos-Horta Confers the Order of Timor-Leste to Individuals Associations, and Friendship Groups in Recognition of Their Contributions to Timor-Leste {{!}} President José Ramos-Horta |url=https://presidenciarepublica.tl/press-release-president-ramos-horta-confers-the-order-of-timor-leste-to-individuals-associations-and-friendship-groups-in-recognition-of-their-contributions-to-timor-leste/#:~:text=Timor-Leste%20to-,Individuals,-Associations,%20and%20Friendship |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=presidenciarepublica.tl}}</ref><ref name=":1" />

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Carney, Matthew}} Category:Living people Category:Australian television journalists Category:Year of birth missing (living people)