Kerry O'Brien (journalist)
| Kerry O'Brien | |
|---|---|
 At the 2009 Woodford Folk Festival |
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| Born | 27 August 1945 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Residence | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Occupation | Television Journalist and Presenter |
| Employer | Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
Kerry O'Brien (born 27 August 1945) is an Australian journalist based in Sydney. He is the former editor and host of The 7.30 Report on the ABC and the present host of the current affairs show Four Corners. O'Brien is one of Australia's most respected journalists, having been awarded six Walkley Awards during his career.
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[edit] Biography
Born in Brisbane, Queensland,[1] O'Brien started as a news cadet in 1966. He has worked in newspapers, wire service and television news and current affairs, as a general reporter, feature writer, political and foreign correspondent, interviewer and compere, and also served as press secretary to then Labor Prime Minister Gough Whitlam.
[edit] The 7.30 Report
After six years as compere and interviewer of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Lateline program, O'Brien moved in 1995 to The 7.30 Report, of which he was editor and compère. He also anchors and moderates the ABC's election telecasts. O'Brien has won many awards, including the top award in Australian journalism, the Gold Walkley in 2000. He has also made several appearances on The Chaser's War on Everything.[2]
Asked about the hardest interview he has ever had to do, O'Brien said: "The interview I did with Jonathan Shier when he was my managing director at the ABC, and whom history now makes abundantly clear, made a complete hash of the job. It was about two-thirds of the way through his tenure that I persuaded him to come on for an interview. I suppose my opening question to him was a provocative question. I was staring into the eyes of my own boss. At the same time, the audience had to see that although I was asking tough and provocative questions, that I wasn’t pursuing an agenda. My opening question invited him to give us evidence he wasn’t a failure. Those weren’t the precise words that I used, but it was a tough question. I knew that it wouldn’t endear me to him. But I don’t remember feeling any qualm about it. He subsequently revealed, which I didn’t know at the time, that he had been seeking to have me removed from the program."[3]
O'Brien announced in September 2010 that he would be resigning as the editor and presenter of The 7.30 Report at the end of the year, and would move on to new roles within ABC in 2011.[4][5] He concluded his time at The 7.30 Report on 9 December.[6]
[edit] Four Corners
On 14 October 2010, the ABC announced that O'Brien would host Four Corners, beginning in 2011.[7][8]
[edit] Awards
During his career as a journalist, O'Brien has won six Walkley Awards for his journalistic work.[9] His first two awards came in 1982, when he won the award for the best television current affairs report and the ceremony's top prize, the Gold Walkley. He again received prizes in 1991 and 2000. In 2010 - his final year on The 7.30 Report - he received two awards: one for broadcast interviewing, and the other for journalism leadership.[6]
He was awarded Doctor of Letters honoris causa from the University of Queensland in December 2011.[10]
[edit] Personal life
Kerry O'Brien has been married twice and has six children. His first marriage produced three children, including twins, by the time he was 24. The marriage ended after nine years. The love of his life is Sue Javes, whom he married in 1981. This second marriage has produced another three children.[11]
[edit] References
- ^ "ABC Big Ideas". Australian Broadcasting Commission. http://www.abc.net.au/tv/bigideas/stories/2010/09/21/3016495.htm. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
- ^ Kerry O'Brien School of Journalism and Communication, University of Queensland, accessed 14 December 2007.
- ^ http://www.stevedow.com.au/Default.aspx?id=216
- ^ "Kerry O’Brien to leave 7.30 Report". The Spy Report (Media Spy). 24 September 2010. http://www.mediaspy.org/report/2010/09/24/kerry-obrien-to-leave-7-30-report/. Retrieved 24 September 2010.
- ^ "Kerry O'Brien to quit 7.30 Report". The Sydney Morning Herald. 24 September 2010. http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/kerry-obrien-to-quit-730-report-20100924-15py5.html. Retrieved 24 September 2010.
- ^ a b "Kerry O’Brien signs off from The 7.30 Report". The Spy Report (Media Spy). 9 December 2010. http://www.mediaspy.org/report/2010/12/09/kerry-obrien-signs-off-from-the-7-30-report/. Retrieved 10 December 2010.
- ^ "Kerry O’Brien moves to Four Corners". The Spy Report (Media Spy). 14 October 2010. http://www.mediaspy.org/report/2010/10/14/kerry-obrien-moves-to-four-corners/. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
- ^ "O'Brien to host Four Corners". ABC News. 14 October 2010. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/10/14/3038269.htm. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
- ^ "2010 Walkley Award Winners". The Walkley Foundation. 9 December 2010. http://www.walkleys.com/2010winners. Retrieved 10 December 2010.
- ^ UQ News: Citation - Mr Kerry O'Brien
- ^ Tony Wright, Very Kerry, The Age, 11 December 2010, Insight, p. 3
| Media offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Originator |
Lateline Presenter 1990 – 1995 |
Succeeded by Maxine McKew |
| Preceded by Separate state editions |
The 7.30 Report National Presenter 4 December 1995 – 9 December 2010 |
Succeeded by Leigh Sales and Chris Uhlmann as 7.30 |
| Preceded by Liz Jackson (Until 1999) Unpresented (1999-2010) |
Four Corners Presenter February 2011 - |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
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