O'Keefe joined the Nine Network as a reporter for Nine News on the Gold Coast in 2012, before moving to Brisbane in 2013 as a police reporter for Nine News Queensland.[5]
In 2014, O'Keefe relocated back to Sydney when he became a political reporter for Nine News Sydney.[5]
During his time at Nine, O'Keefe has appeared on Today and has been a fill-in presenter on
A Current Affair.[6][7] When long-serving A Current Affair host Tracy Grimshaw announced her retirement in 2022, O'Keefe was considered to be one of the front runners to be announced as her permanent replacement.[8][9]
However, in November 2022 O'Keefe was named as the new presenter of the 2GB afternoon drive program following the departure of Jim Wilson.[10] Prior to being announced the permanent host of the 2GB afternoon drive program, O'Keefe had been a fill-in presenter on the show throughout 2022.[3]
O'Keefe started his new permanent role at 2GB on 9 January 2023.[9]
In 2024, O'Keefe resigned from 2GB and quit media to start a political advocacy company. His last show aired on 13 December 2024.[12]
Awards
As a police reporter for Nine News Queensland, O'Keefe was recognised by the Gold Coast Media Club in 2014 for his story on the Broadbeach Bikie Brawl in October 2013.
In 2016, he won a Walkley Award in the Television/Audio-Visual: News Reporting category, beating out Network 10's Waleed Aly and the Seven Network's Robert Ovadia.[13] O'Keefe received the Walkley Award for his work exposing gross negligence at Bankstown Hospital after a fatal mix-up resulted in nitrous oxide being administered to a newborn baby instead of oxygen.[14]
In 2017, O'Keefe received four Kennedy Awards. He was named "Journalist of the Year" and "Outstanding Political Journalist" and also received "the Harry Potter Award for Outstanding Television News Reporting" and "the Rebecca Wilson Award for Scoop of the Year".[15]
O'Keefe received a Kennedy Award in 2020 for "outstanding political journalism" for his coverage of the Ruby Princess.[16]
Personal life
O'Keefe grew up in the St George area of Sydney where he began attending St Joseph's Catholic School in Oatley in 1994.[4][17] He later attended Waverley College, graduating in 2006.
He married sports broadcaster Yvonne Sampson in October 2018 at Bowral, New South Wales.[18] They had announced their engagement the previous year after dating for more than three years.[19] Their son was born in March 2022.[20]
^ abSamios, Zoe (13 November 2022). "Nine's Chris O'Keefe to be 2GB drive show's host". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 November 2022. ...he takes the reins of the 3pm drive show from January 9... O'Keefe's appointment to 2GB tightens the race for a host to replace Tracey Grimshaw on A Current Affair. O'Keefe was considered a front-runner among other key Nine candidates such as Alison Langdon, Sarah Abo and Sylvia Jeffreys.
^Knox, David (3 December 2016). "2016 Walkley Awards: winners". TV Tonight. Retrieved 17 November 2022. Television/Audio-Visual News Reporting: Chris O'Keefe, Nine News, Nine Network, "Bankstown Hospital"
^"Chris O'Keefe "Bankstown Hospital", Walkley Television/Audio Visual News Reporting Award". The Walkleys. Walkley Foundation. 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2022. Judges comments: "Chris O'Keefe's coverage of gross negligence at Bankstown Hospital offers examples of great public interest news coverage. From an initial report delivered at great speed, follow-up stories added depth to the issue and human faces to the multiple horrors, putting the NSW government on the back foot and setting the agenda for the NSW media that week."
^Knox, David (13 August 2017). "Kennedy Awards 2017: winner". TV Tonight. Retrieved 17 November 2022. Nine News' Chris O'Keefe was awarded Journalist of the Year, as well as...
^Knox, David (9 November 2020). "Kennedy Awards 2020: winners". TV Tonight. Retrieved 17 November 2022. Outstanding Political Reporting: Chris O'Keefe: Ruby Princess (9News)
