Mike Smithson (journalist)

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Mike Smithson is a political reporter and presenter for Seven News in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. He also writes for the Sunday Mail as a weekly political columnist and can be heard on ABC Local Radio 891 as part of a panel discussing the week's political events.

Smithson started his career at Seven in Adelaide and has remained there. He moved to Melbourne to become Seven's chief police reporter for a short time. He has previously been brief host of Today Tonight Adelaide and European Correspondent.

He married the sister of channel seven presenter John Riddell, and remains in Adelaide with two children.

He was promoted to co-news presenter on weekends in the 1980s, but was publicly humiliated when demoted for much publicised lack of professionalism on air, a trait which has trailed much of his career.

Some of his biggest reporting stories have included the infamous Skase Chase, the 2000 Summer Olympics and the War on Terror in Afghanistan.

In 2007, Smithson won 3 awards at the SA Media Awards: the inaugural award for Commentary, Analysis, Opinion & Critique for his work with the Sunday Mail, Best TV news report and the prestigious title of Journalist of the Year.