Hit 30's Bridget Northeast: trainee to executive producer

Bridget Northeast became the executive producer of the Hit Network’s nightly show Hit 30 with Emma Freedman and Angus O’Loughlin in February 2016. Northeast joined Southern Cross Austereo as part of the Trainee Producer Program in July 2015. Hamish and Andy EP Sam Cavanagh introduced the program.

“I was the person that any EP could go to for help,” Northeast told Mediaweek of her time as a trainee.

While the daily producers and presenters of Hit Network shows went on short holidays for the winter break, Northeast stayed behind to be EP for the Dan and Maz show for two weeks.

“Night-time audience is younger than the breakfast audience,” Northeast said. “We have more teenagers listening to Hit 30.

“Night is about humour and is cheekier than the rest of the day. It’s like what you would imagine a teenager listening to after their parents have gone to bed and they are up late listening,” Northeast laughed.

“In breakfast you can take on more serious issues … You can’t do those sorts of things in night radio without alienating your audience.”

This wasn’t the first time Northeast has worked as the EP of a holiday breakfast show. She was the driving force behind the summer breakfast show on SCA with Osher Günsberg and Heather Maltman in December 2015.

Asked about which slot she aspires to work in, Northeast answered: “I’ve never done drive full-time. I love national shows with big audiences so drive would be very exciting.”