CNA 938’s Lance Alexander Reflects On 13-Year Run In Mediacorp: “It Is Something I Would Miss”

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After nearly 35 years in broadcasting, CNA 938’s Lance Alexander is saying goodbye.

In a LinkedIn post, the 61-year-old announced that he has resigned from his role as a Radio & TV presenter, and Executive Producer with Channel News Asia (CNA), a position he has held for more than 13 years.

Lance first got his start as a fresh-faced then-27-year-old radio DJ on what was known as Perfect 10 987FM when it was recently launched in 1989. It's a role he looks back fondly starting from his audition (it was at the old Goldhill Plaza, he says) where he chose broadcasting over marketing.

"It could have gone either way, and the broadcasting side said there was a lot of opportunity and career prospects. So, I thought, why not?" he says in a phone interview with 8days.sg while on a holiday in Perth.

He tells us that his wife is based in Perth and works at a bank there, while his older son, Dylan, 26, is currently doing a postgrad programme and on a scholarship at National University Singapore (NUS). His younger son, Christian, 22, is in Sydney, doing his second year of university.

CNA 938 listeners today will best remember Lance as the co-host of Singapore Today with Daniel Martin on weekdays from 5pm to 8pm, a role he has helmed since 2019.

There is some debate over how long Lance has been with Mediacorp, but yes, the man has clocked almost 35 years in broadcasting, save for a short break between 2010 and 2012 when the family moved to New Zealand due to his wife’s health.

“But I would still go back to Mediacorp to do sporting events, so even though I was away from Singapore, I was still very much associated with broadcasting,” says Lance.

Looking back on his second tenure with Mediacorp, which has spanned 13 years, he said: “It was fantastic, I enjoyed my time there.

“I never thought I would stay for such a long time, but when you find something you enjoy, you love, and that you feel that you are contributing, and you get a buzz out of going to work every day… I would say it is something I would miss,” he reminisces.

He also added that working with his radio partner, Daniel Martin, was a lot of fun. “The three hours fly by so easily,” he quips.

When asked about his most memorable moments, Lance excitedly rattled off many what could pass off as core, once-in-a-lifetime memories.

“I was able to get some really big interviews. Getting to speak to the then-New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden, to even Netflix CEO, Reed Hastings. I even got to interview F1 driver Lewis Hamilton thrice, and he was fantastic. For me, I can go, “Hey, I’ve spoken and know these people,” he muses.

And for the biggest question in the room: So why has he decided to step away from that? 

Lance tells us that he wants to delve more into training others and even dabble in podcasting.

“I needed to pull away before the fire in my belly starts to disappear. I need to try something else. I like to try to explore, and experiment, and pivot,” he explains, adding that he wanted to give back by teaching new journalists and that it is time for new blood.

“Look, I consider myself part of the 2G, 3G, as a presenter, and it is time for 4G and 5G to take over. I feel that if the same people hog the limelight, then you will not be getting new talent to come in as well, so that’s why I wanted to go into training and podcasting because that’s quite exciting as well,” he says.

He also shared that his whole broadcasting journey has been about change, and in its latest iteration, it was he who wanted to give business news a try too.

“So, I started to focus on my business news skills, so, on evening drive time show, I would do all the business questions because I enjoyed it,” he says.

Lance also admits that he is in a very privileged position to be able to take a step back and try something else: “It is part of growing and trying different things, keeps me active, excited, and motivated.”

When asked about his plans moving forward, Lance shares that he is still on the lookout for opportunities, and has started reading up about what it takes to do his own podcast.

“I might even start setting up a production company again to do simple videos. If it doesn’t work out, I will pivot to something else,” he says.

“I am not that old to consider retirement yet,” laughs Lance.

Photos: CNA, Lance Alexander