In September 2024, INMA awarded 30 young professionals around the world with its fifth “30 Under 30” award as part of its Young Professionals Initiative. This is the last in a series of 30 features about the impressive rising media stars who are shaping our industry.

Aaron Dahmen knew from an early age what he wanted his career to be. As a young boy, he would stand in front of a mirror and pretend to be a news reporter.

“Since I was a child, I found purpose in the telling of meaningful and impactful stories,” he said.

At just 13, following the death of his father, Aaron launched an online radio show called TADS using his father’s old laptop. It provided a platform for young people to create dynamic news content — long before podcasts and snackable news formats had found popularity.

This early experience laid the groundwork for his future success in the media industry.

When he was 23, Aaron became the youngest chief political reporter in the history of Newstalk ZB, New Zealand’s top commercial radio station. He was quickly recognised for his fearless political coverage, exclusive front-page stories, and innovative reporting.

Aaron covered major events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and two general elections, delivering daily interviews with key newsmakers and agenda-setting coverage, and he was named Reporter of the Year at the New Zealand Radio Awards just two years into his role.

In 2023, Aaron moved into a senior role at New Zealand’s Stuff news site, where he specialised in building, producing, and hosting innovative current affairs content. He played a pivotal role in the success of Newsable, Stuff’s flagship daily news show, which won Best New Audio Product/Feature at the INMA Global Media Awards. His contributions included developing Newsable Now, a groundbreaking product that provided on-demand audio updates for breaking news.

He also began appearing as a correspondent for some of the world’s biggest news networks, including the BBC, MSNBC, ABC, and others.

Most recently, Aaron accepted a position as anchor and chief political correspondent for Poland at TVP World, the leading news channel covering Poland and Central Europe.

Looking ahead, he aims to advance his editorial leadership skills and explore further newsroom opportunities globally. He is committed to fostering adaptability, innovation, and transparency in media environments.

“I have always been deeply passionate about the future of news and current affairs, as it has the privileged role of reflecting society back on itself,” Aaron said. “In fact, a Māori proverb from Aotearoa New Zealand may well describe the role of the fourth estate best: ‘What is the most important thing in the world? He tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata: it is people, it is people, it is people.’”

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