John Kidman has been a journalist for 25 years. Leaving country radio in 1994, he joined Australian Associated Press in Sydney. Promoted to police reporter, he was soon writing about the country’s biggest crimes. At the 2000 Olympics, he covered security and moonlighted as a “water polo correspondent” during the Australia women's gold medal run. In 2001, Kidman moved to the Sun-Herald where his exclusive on a gang rape outbreak was shortlisted for the Walkley Awards.

In 2003, he uncovered malpractice linked to the deaths of 17 hospital patients and in 2008, a corrupt relationship between NSW Crime Commission boss Mark Standen and drug importer, rapist and suspected killer Neville Tween. Kidman returned to AAP in 2012 and authored Forever Nine about missing school girl Samantha Knight, which made the Ned Kelly Awards shortlist. He now works as National Chief of Staff for AAP and is married with four children.