Fairfax Radio Network Melbourne News Talk station 3AW today announced that Mornings presenter Neil Mitchell has renewed his multi-year contract with the station.

Mitchell, one of Australia’s most respected journalists, has dominated Melbourne radio ratings since the early 1990s. He has spent 28 years in Melbourne radio and is the only person to be inducted to both the Radio Hall of Fame and Media Hall of Fame.

He joined 3AW in 1987, switched to Mornings from 1990 and hit number one in the ratings that year.

Neil Mitchell said:“People ask me why I continue working stupid hours and getting up in the middle of the night to come to work.  It is because I have one of the most satisfying jobs in journalism in this country. It is a privilege to have access to a microphone and it is an honour to work with an audience like ours.”

Fairfax Radio Network national content director Clark Forbes said: “3AW without Neil would be like Melbourne without the trams, the footy or four seasons in one day. So it’s great to have him for another three years.”

A former editor of The Herald and presenter of TV programs on two networks, Mitchell has also won a total of 18 radio awards, including being inducted into the Australian Commercial Radio Hall of Fame and winning Best News and Current Affairs presenter. He has also won a Walkley Award, 10 Melbourne Press Club Quill awards and the Melbourne Press Club Australian Journalist of the Year award.

Mitchell was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2007 for services to print, radio and television media, and to the community through a range of charitable institutions.