ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 / 19 WHO WE ARE MESSAGE FROM THE CEO

The Melbourne Press Club has been a key part of the Australian media community for half a century. The most eventful year in the history of the Melbourne Press Our mission is to celebrate excellence in journalism, promote the value of quality journalism in a modern Club ended with two landmarks – the final foundation dinner democracy, provide forums for discussion of issues in the news and encourage fellowship amongst media of the Australian Media Hall of Fame and the launch of a people. new fellowship program to enable social justice journalism and honour the career of former Age political editor Michael Established in 1971, the Club is a forum where journalists, communications industry people and Gordon. professionals in related fields can hear from the country’s most senior politicians, business leaders and other newsmakers, and liaise on issues such as professional development and media freedom. The MPC enters 2019 – it’s 48th year – with an enhanced national reputation, a broader and more deeply-engaged Each year the Club hosts one of Australia’s most prestigious media awards, the Quills, where it also media industry network and a refreshed commitment to presents the annual Graham Perkin Australian Journalist of the Year Award and the new Harry Gordon championing quality journalism and supporting younger Australian Sports Journalist of the Year Award. The Club also presents an annual Lifetime Achievement journalists. Award. It has built the Australian Media Hall of Fame to honour the country’s greatest reporters, editors, broadcasters, commentators, photographers and cartoonists. We were delighted in 2018 to welcome back Monash University as our joint Principal Sponsor, alongside Virgin Speakers at the Club’s monthly lunches have included Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama, prime ministers, Australia, and to see the return of Network Ten as a Major premiers, authors, sports heroes and top business executives. Media sponsor. Once more, the MPC enjoys sponsorship support from all of the mainstream media organisations in Australia. The annual Quill Awards dinner in March, with 600 guests, was OUR BOARD another memorable night of celebration and saw the launch of a new award for podcasting. Other event highlights of the year were lunches with legendary investigative journalist PRESIDENT BOARD John Pilger, ABC Managing Director Michelle Guthrie (shortly Adele Ferguson Fairfax Media David Broadbent Broadbent Media before her sacking) and Melbourne’s new Catholic Archbishop, Rob Curtain Media Consultant Peter Comensoli. Our “Politics of Crime” forum with Attorney CEO General Martin Pakula and Shadow Attorney General John Mark Baker Nicole Denton VicRoads Pesutto tackled a key policy issue during the November Rachael Dexter The Age Victorian election campaign. VICE PRESIDENTS Jude Donnelly AFL Thanks to all our sponsors, members and friends for your Michael Rowland ABC Bob Kearsley Business Essentials continued support. We look forward working with you in the Eileen Berry Eileen Berry Trust Jonathan Kearsley Nine News year ahead. TREASURER Heather Loomes Network Ten Mark Baker David Poulton Minter Ellison Ashlynne McGhee ABC News Chief Executive Heidi Murphy 3AW SECRETARY Patrick O’Beirne Six O’Clock Advisory Richard Leder Corrs Chambers Westgarth Mike Osborne AAP SECRETARIAT Simon Pristel Anna Marulli Acting General Manager Justin Quill Macpherson Kelly Lawyers From top: John Pilger with The Age’s Michael Bachelard; On the red carpet at David Fisher Acting General Manager Tom Salom News Corp the Quills dinner; Les Carlyon at the CEW Sybilla Gross Digital Producer Veronica Scott Minter Ellison Bean Foundation dinner; Sally Warhaft at Debbie Slater Accountant The Lord Mayor election forum. CONNECT WITH US HOW TO JOIN

ADDRESS Level 19, 525 Collins Street, Melbourne 3000 POSTAL ADDRESS GPO Box 769, Melbourne 3001 Membership of the Melbourne Press Club is open to everyone with an interest in the media. P + 61 3 9614 2779 E [email protected] W melbournepressclub.com Apply online at www.melbournepressclub.com You can find the Melbourne Press Club on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn. Annual membership is $85 for journalist members, $110 for associate members and $40 for students.

PAGE 2 PAGE 3 A YEAR IN REVIEW A YEAR IN REVIEW

THE QUILL AWARDS MICHAEL GORDON FELLOWSHIPS LAUNCHED The Quill Awards for excellence in Victoria journalism are the A total of $30,000 in grants was awarded in November 2018 premier media awards in Victoria and the biggest night of the in the first round of the national fellowship program for social year for Melbourne Media. justice journalism established in memory of Michael Gordon, the respected former Age political editor who died suddenly The Fairfax Media and ABC team lead by Nick McKenzie and in February. Richard Baker won the Gold Quill. The judges praised their work exposing “the alarming extent of clandestine Chinese The grants aim to encourage and enable the kind of journalism Government meddling in Australian politics. Gordon exemplified by funding reporting projects in the field of social justice journalism in areas such as Indigenous THE GRAHAM PERKIN affairs, migration policy, human rights and international AUSTRALIAN JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR development. Australia’s most coveted journalism prize was awarded to Nick ABC CHIEF MICHELLE GUTHRIE SPEAKS AT MPC LUNCH McKenzie and Richard Baker for an outstanding year breaking political scandals and sustained excellence in investigative Australians regard the ABC as a great national institution journalism. and deeply resent it being used as "a punching bag by narrow political, commercial or ideological interests,” managing In a series of reports for The Age and ABC Four Corners, they director Michelle Guthrie told an MPC lunch in June. She said revealed growing Chinese influence over Australian politics, the ABC contribution to the Australian community included and spectacularly caught out Senator Sam Dastyari warning a economic activity worth as much as its annual funding. Chinese donor that he was under surveillance, a scandal that Guthrie was sacked in September. ended Dastyari’s political career. THE EDIT The other finalists were: Adele Ferguson (The Age), Sally Sara The forum for young journalist run by young journalists (ABC) and Cameron Stewart (The Australian). hosted another series of outstanding events through the THE HARRY GORDON year. Highlights included a background briefing by Rachael AUSTRALIAN SPORTS JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR Browne on her multi-award winning ABC podcast, Trace, and a workshop on the secrets of freelancing success with Jo Will Swanton of The Australian won the 2017 Harry Gordon Chandler, Erik Jensen and Denham Saddler. award for his evocative sports writing. The judges praised Swanton’s knack for capturing the “emotions and atmosphere” The Edit, and other programs for young journalists, are of his subjects: “He has the ability to peel back the curtain and generously supported by the Copyright Agency’s Cultural give us a back stage pass. He can look into a subject's eyes Fund. and tell us what is there.” NEW ARCHBISHOP MEETS THE PRESS The other finalists were Greg Baum of The Age and Grantlee In his first major speech since being installed in July, Kieza of the Brisbane Courier-Mail. Melbourne's new Catholic Archbishop, Peter A. Comensoli, THE MPC LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD said the Church must earn back the trust of its members and the wider community in the wake of the sexual abuse scandals Robert Gottliebsen was named the Melbourne Press Club of the past 60 years. Lifetime Achievement Award winner for his outstanding During his speech, the archbishop broke away from the stage contribution to business journalism. In a tribute video, to talk personally with campaigners Eileen Piper and Chrissie MPC president Adele Ferguson said Gottiebsen had "totally Foster – both of whom lost children as a result of sexual transformed business journalism" in Australia, abuse by Catholic clergy - who were seated at the back of the Gottliebsen started Business Review Weekly after writing room. The Australian Financial Review 'Chanticleer' column from its inception. He was also a founding investor and commentator of the pioneering site Business Spectator. From top: Michael Gordon at Uluru; Michelle Guthrie addresses the From top: Richard Baker and Nick McKenzie accepting the Melbourne Press Club; Rachael Browne; Graham Perkin Award; McKenzie and Baker with their award; Catholic Archbishop Peter A. Comensoli Will Swanton and daughter Jemima; Robert Gottliebsen. with Chrissy Foster.

PAGE 4 PAGE 5 THE AUSTRALIAN MEDIA HALL OF FAME ROLLS OF HONOUR

Another 48 greats of journalism were inducted into LIFE MEMBERS Jim Clarke Pat Hayes Neil Mitchell Michael John Trevorrow the Australian Media Hall of Fame at a gala dinner Mark Baker Claude Forell Ian Henderson Laurie Oakes Rowland Michael Venus in Melbourne on 16 November that completed the Peter Bartlett Steve Harris Sue Henderson Mike Richards Mike Smith Sally White national foundation of the Hall. LIFETIME 2012 Dulcie Boling Green (WEG) 2003 Claude Forell Those inducted included world-famous war ACHIEVEMENT AWARD 2011 John Hamilton 2007 Michelle Grattan 2002 Harry Gordon cameramen Neil Davis and David Brill, TV legends 2017 Robert Gottliebsen 2010 Geoff & Laurie Oakes 2001 John Sorell Ray Martin and Geraldine Doogue, magazine queen 2016 Niki Savva Wilkinson 2006 Bruce Postle 2000 Peter Game Dulcie Boling, Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist 2015 Mike Sheahan 2009 Bruce Petty & John Lamb 1999 Les Tanner Pat Oliphant and pioneering Aboriginal journalist 2014 Derryn Hinch 2008 Geoff Hook 2005 John Fitzgerald 1998 Peter McFarline John Newfong. 2013 2008 William Ellis 2004 Les Carlyon 1995 Keith Dunstan Also honoured was the celebrated former political GOLD QUILL WINNERS 2006 Brendan Donohoe editor of The Age and The Australian, Michael 2017 The Fairfax Media and ABC Team 2005 Martine Griffiths Network Ten Gordon, a champion of social justice journalism 2016 Louise Milligan & Andy Burns ABC 7.30 2004 Belinda Hawkins ABC, Australian Story who died suddenly in February last year. 2015 Adele Ferguson The Age/Four Corners 2003 Julie-Anne Davies & Steve Waldon The Age Launched in Victoria in 2012, the Media Hall of 2014 Adele Ferguson The Age/Four Corners 2002 Terry McCrann Herald Sun & The Australian Fame expanded in 2017 to include NSW. Last year’s 2013 James Campbell Herald Sun 2001 Andrew Rule The Age inductees include greats from Queensland, Western 2012 Sarah Ferguson & Deb Masters ABC Four Corners 2000 Andrew Probyn & Michael Harvey The Herald Sun Australia, South Australia, Tasmania and 2011 Nick McKenzie, Maris Beck 1999 Julie-Anne Davies The Age the territories. & Tom McKendrick The Age 1998 Andrew Rule The Age 2010 Jill Baker Herald Sun 1997 John Schauble The Age The Australian Media Hall of Fame seeks to 2009 Cameron Stewart The Australian 1996 Sarah Henderson ABC, 7.30 Report demonstrate the importance and public benefit 2008 Richard Baker & Nick McKenzie The Age 1995 Terry McCrann Herald Sun of journalism in the face of threats from digital 2007 Heather Ewart ABC, Australian Story disruption and political interference. THE GRAHAM PERKIN 1996 Andrew Rule The Age AUSTRALIAN JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR 1995 Rowan Callick The Australian Financial Review 2017 Nick McKenzie and Richard Baker The Age 1994 Kate Legge The Australian 2016 Caro Meldrum-Hanna ABC Four Corners 1993 Les Carlyon 2015 Adele Ferguson The Age/ABC Four Corners 1992 Colleen Ryan The Morning Herald 2014 Chris Reason Seven News 1991 Robert Haupt The Age and 2013 Caroline Wilson The Age The Sydney Morning Herald 2012 Joanne McCarthy The Newcastle Herald 1990 Paul Kelly The Australian 2011 Neil Mitchell 3AW and Herald Sun 1989 Peter Ellingsen The Age 2010 Laurie Oakes Nine Network, 1988 Michelle Grattan The Age Herald Sun and Daily Telegraph 1987 Terry McCrann The Age and 2009 Gary Hughes The Australian The Herald, Melbourne 2008 Cameron Stewart The Australian 1986 Bruce Dover The Herald, Melbourne 2007 John Silvester The Age and Cameron Forbes The Age 2006 Tony Koch The Australian 1985 Jack Waterford The Canberra Times 2005 Michael Gordon The Age 1984 Creighton Burns The Age 2004 Paul McGeough The Sydney Morning Herald 1983 Evan Whitton The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age 1982 Peter Smark The Age 2003 Peter Wilson The Australian 1981 Norman Aisbett and David Tanner 2002 John Spooner The Age The West Australian 2001 Andrew Rule The Age 1980 Ron Saw The Bulletin From top: Michael Rowland with Maxine McKew; 2000 Paul Toohey The Australian 1979 Peter Rodgers The Sydney Moring Herald Roland with John B. Fairfax; Rosemary Go, 1999 John Lyons The Bulletin 1978 Lenore Nicklin The Sydney Morning Herald David Armstrong, Adrian Atkins and Mark Baker 1998 Pamela Williams 1977 Robert Gottiebsen celebrate the induction of John Newfong; The Australian Financial Review The Australian Financial Review Keynote speaker John Silvester. 1997 Paul McGeough The Sydney Morning Herald 1976 Denis Butler The Newcastle Herald

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