Nitza celebrates 30 years on air
HER warm voice, dulcet tones and Israeli-Australian accent have become familiar on the wireless, and she has interviewed everyone from Israeli and Australian prime ministers to Jewish Noble Prize winners, diplomats, religious and community leaders and Jewish stars of the arts and academia.
HER warm voice, dulcet tones and Israeli-Australian accent have become familiar on the wireless, and she has interviewed everyone from Israeli and Australian prime ministers to Jewish Noble Prize winners, diplomats, religious and community leaders and Jewish stars of the arts and academia.
And this week, Nitza Lowenstein celebrates 30 years as a broadcaster, journalist, executive producer and host of SBS Radio’s weekly Hebrew program.
Her informative show, which covers news, current affairs and Jewish life and culture in Australia, is aired each Sunday around Australia from 11am to 1pm – firstly in Hebrew, then English and Yiddish.
“I am proud of the fact the program continues to be a showcase of talent with incredible people, movers and shakers being interviewed who have expertise in a variety of fields,” Lowenstein told The AJN.
“I am very fortunate and blessed not just that I have been able to enrich the lives of thousands of listeners over the years, but also to enrich my own life. I’ve learnt so much from all the people that I’ve met and interviewed.”
Lowenstein recalls being “thrown into the deep end” when being appointed the job three decades ago, and how so many things have changed.
“I managed to ‘swim’ without any preparations or training – and I never looked back. When I started we didn’t have computers, nobody had heard of emails and editing interviews on reel-to-reel recorders was a slow and laborious process. I still appreciate the fact that [these days] I can research my [interviewees] and topics in minutes, and can edit all my interviews with the latest software. I never imagined that my listeners would be able to see me in action, broadcasting live from our studios on Facebook, which I now do regularly.”
The program includes a Hebrew hour, an English hour, a Yiddish report, a chat with a correspondent in Jerusalem and a journalist from The AJN.
“Our aim is also to assist [Jewish people] integrating into our society, [such as] the growing numbers of Hebrew-speaking migrants coming to Australia to live.”
Lowenstein is also a professional translator and interpreter, a public speaker and an experienced and successful marriage celebrant who has conducted more than 1,350 weddings since 1995.
After 30 years on the airwaves, she said she remains passionate about her work and has no plans to stop now.
“My motto is if you stay stagnant you become obsolete.”
SHANE DESIATNIK
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