Airdate: The Australian: 60 Years of News

SKY News will screen a new documentary The Australian: 60 Years of News as the newspaper marks its sixtieth anniversary.

The doco is hosted by Chris Kenny and features a rare interview with Rupert Murdoch, conducted by SKY News CEO Paul Whittaker.

Chris Kenny said: “It is impossible to imagine this country and our national debate without The Australian now, but its establishment, survival and evolution has been a story of imagination and determination that mirrors the national project it champions. It is a compelling and inspirational story to tell.”

On Wednesday 15 July 1964, a new national newspaper was launched in the Australian capital of Canberra, dedicated to servicing every corner of the country.

The Australian was brought to life by then 33-year-old media proprietor Rupert Murdoch, who at that moment fulfilled the long-held dream of his father, Sir Keith Murdoch, to create a national broadsheet newspaper.

Hosted by Sky News Host and Associate Editor of The Australian Chris Kenny, the one-hour documentary The Australian: 60 Years of News journeys through the archives to uncover historic newsroom footage and speaks to prominent figures who have contributed to the masthead’s national affairs coverage for six decades including The Australian’s founder Rupert Murdoch.

Mr Murdoch sat down with Chief Executive Officer of Sky News Australia and former Editor-in-Chief of The Australian, Paul Whittaker in a series of exclusive interviews.

During the wide ranging and revealing exchanges, the Chairman Emeritus of News Corp and Fox Corporation talks candidly about the early challenges of creating a national newspaper and the impact it had on the Australian media landscape.

The documentary also hears from current Editor-in-Chief of The Australian Michelle Gunn, Editor-at-Large Paul Kelly, former Editor-in-Chief Chris Mitchell, columnist Janet Albrechtsen, investigative journalist and podcast creator Hedley Thomas, cartoonist Johannes Leak, and prominent political leaders including former Prime Ministers John Howard and Tony Abbott and Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price.

Monday 15 July at 8.00pm on SKY News.