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Nine’s US bureau chief Robert Penfold to step down

Veteran LA-based journalist to remain with Nine in part-time capacity after 43 years at the network.

Veteran journalist Robert Penfold and Nine’s US Bureau Chief in July will step down after 4 decades at the network but contribute to news on a part-time basis.

Penfold joined Nine in 1976, becoming Europe Chief Correspondent before a long instalment as US Bureau Chief.

Over the decades he has covered innumerable major events including:

Cyclone Tracy – Darwin, 1974
Granville Train Disaster – Sydney, 1977
Troubles in Northern Ireland – Belfast, 1988
Fall of the Berlin Wall – Germany, 1989
First Gulf War – Iraq, 1990-91
Nelson Mandela freed from prison – South Africa, 1990
War in Bosnia – 1992
Barcelona Olympic Games – 1992
U.S. Marines invade Mogadishu – Somalia, 1992
IOC announce Sydney wins rights to 2000 Olympics – Monte Carlo, 1993 (Logies winning coverage for 9 NEWS)
September 11 attack on New York’s iconic Twin Towers, 2001.
Second Gulf War – Iraq, 2003
Hurricane Katrina – New Orleans, 2005 (Walkley Award winning coverage for 9 NEWS)
Academy Awards
Presidential Elections / Inaugurations / Administration – Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, George Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump.

“Rob is a reporter with outstanding communication skills, passion, the ability to handle the pressure of every occasion and humanity,” said Nine News boss Darren Wick.

“The legacy he has created is without comparison in any Australian media company. His leadership, mentoring of younger reporters and cameramen, experience and story judgement are a combination that has established our U.S. Bureau as the best in the business.

“But, well above what he brings to the table as a journalist, it’s Rob’s decency as a human being and his compassion and concern for his colleagues that make him an exceptional individual.”

“I leave with many wonderful memories and experiences and I am thankful for the extraordinary opportunities that the job as Nine’s foreign correspondent provided,” said Penfold.

“Not many can tell stories of getting a phone call from the newsroom in Australia asking ‘Can you head out to Windsor Castle to meet the Queen on Wednesday and then on Thursday to Number Ten Downing St. to see Margaret Thatcher?’ They each provided an on-camera message for Australia’s bicentenary. Or being in West Germany when the world celebrated as the Berlin Wall came down.

“I’ll certainly miss the rush to the airport when big news breaks. But it is time to take a breather. The job necessarily makes for an unpredictable life and all this can only be achieved with a very understanding partner and my wife Shar has certainly been that, and more, over the last 45 years.

“Our postings on behalf of Nine meant our first child, Alexander was born in the U.S. and Nicholas and Olivia were born in London. Thanks to Nine we are a truly international family.

“The great joy for me, as I tell them all, is also getting to work alongside the many young reporters and camera operators who arrive for their foreign postings. Leila McKinnon, Lizzie Pearl, Christine Ahern, Laura Turner, Charles Croucher and Alexis Daish. Mark Llewellyn, Hugh Riminton, Michael Usher, Nick McCallum, Karl Stefanovic, Denham Hitchcock, Peter Stefanovic, And, of course, Richard Moran and Drew Benjamin.

“But once a journalist always a journalist, so I am not disappearing altogether. I’ll still be working with Nine on a part-time basis. I am also taking up offers to tutor journalism students here in the U.S. and Australia. I want to tell them about one of the best jobs in the world.”

Penfold will take a break after July break and then begin his new role contributing special reports based in Los Angeles.

10 Responses

  1. The end of an era. Robert was around when the likes of Ian “Roscoe” Ross was a Nine reporter, along with Barry Matheson, and of course Brian Henderson reading the news with Ron Casey presenting Sport…
    Not bad for a kid from Campbelltown…

  2. Well done Robert. Wish we got to see less of the other overseas journos at your expense, enjoy the break. First Mike Amor and now you, top class, staple US reporting won’t be the same

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