One Plus One: Derryn Hinch

‘Human Headline’ was back in the news this week after being sacked by 3AW. ABC has fortuitous timing with this week’s episode of interview series One Plus One.

Days before being sacked by 3AW this week, Derryn spoke candidly to One Plus One about his 50 year journalism career in this exclusive television interview.

He reveals how he was molested as a child but did not pursue the perpetrator, why he is on a mission to change what he calls ‘bad’ laws and the lengths he will go to defend his beliefs.

He talks about his new life with a new liver and how he is grateful for the lease of life it’s given him.

He says he hates the term shock-jock and he is not one. He is not a Kyle Sandilands, he insists.

This is an insight into a man who cannot compromise on speaking out when he feels there is injustice.

Quotes from the Derryn Hinch interview:

Thoughts about his crusading for child rights and breaking the law:

“The issues I went to house arrest over is that these are serial sex offenders (that were named). You cannot get your name suppressed under these orders unless you are serial sex offenders with little likelihood of rehabilitation. The worst of the worst are the ones being protected. I think that’s mad and the communities think so as well.”

“You are entitled to break a bad law, if you are prepared to take the consequences which I always have. I have been fined, I have paid personally for it, I have been in jail, done community service and the laws have changed. “

“I may be a crusading journalist but I’m not a nitwit. I’m not going to crusade to the grave, which I nearly did last year. I will accept the sentence but I’m not saying I won’t do it again. I know next time they’ll jail me, but I won’t say I won’t do it… I do respect the law, I’m not a cowboy, it’s usually the last resort.”

The difference between news and current affairs in journalism:

“If it comes to foot and door journalism, I was a latecomer to television. No current affair program before me had a host get up and say my name is Derryn Hinch and this is what I think of the world at the top of the program…the stories weren’t opinionated. I separated opinion from fact. The journalists were scrupulous about the facts of the story. There must be more opinion in newspapers, you must be told why things are happening.. but you must separate that from the news pages. I think you must have separate opinion from fact. I don’t want a 6pm news presenter telling me what I should think about the program. But I love a current affairs program where the host will be up there telling you.”

Thoughts about death:

“When I was told I was going to die, I was totally philosophical about it. I didn’t fear it I had no fear, I didn’t say why me, I said this is it. I just say do what you do and keep going until you drop.”

Friday, August 31 at 11:30am on ABC1, repeated on ABC News 24 at: 8.30pm on Friday, 5:30pm on Saturday and 9.30pm on Sunday.