*[…] Born in Brisbane on March 13, 1942, Negus was a high school teacher until his late 20s, when he “conned” his way into journalism. He wrote for the The Australian and the Australian Financial Review before stepping in front of the camera for ABC television’s hard-hitting current affairs program This Day Tonight.*
*After a stint as press secretary for then attorney-general Lionel Murphy during the Whitlam government, he returned to journalism as one of the three original reporters, alongside Ian Leslie and Ray Martin, on Nine’s version of America’s 60 Minutes program in 1979.*
*[…] Negus’ swagger and roguish charm enabled him to win over countless big-name interview subjects, from Libya’s Gaddafi (who denied being a dictator) to movie stars and musicians. Arguably his most famous interview was a 1981 sit-down with the UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, dubbed “the most powerful woman on the planet”.*
*After asking just two of his 20 pre-approved questions, Negus went off-script, asking the Iron Lady why the British people considered her “plain pig-headed”.*
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Literally a dying breed. Journalists who can put their personal political views and social ideology aside and pursue stories on their merit.
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By Katelyn Catanzariti, AAP:
*[…] Born in Brisbane on March 13, 1942, Negus was a high school teacher until his late 20s, when he “conned” his way into journalism. He wrote for the The Australian and the Australian Financial Review before stepping in front of the camera for ABC television’s hard-hitting current affairs program This Day Tonight.*
*After a stint as press secretary for then attorney-general Lionel Murphy during the Whitlam government, he returned to journalism as one of the three original reporters, alongside Ian Leslie and Ray Martin, on Nine’s version of America’s 60 Minutes program in 1979.*
*[…] Negus’ swagger and roguish charm enabled him to win over countless big-name interview subjects, from Libya’s Gaddafi (who denied being a dictator) to movie stars and musicians. Arguably his most famous interview was a 1981 sit-down with the UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, dubbed “the most powerful woman on the planet”.*
*After asking just two of his 20 pre-approved questions, Negus went off-script, asking the Iron Lady why the British people considered her “plain pig-headed”.*
Literally a dying breed. Journalists who can put their personal political views and social ideology aside and pursue stories on their merit.