Vale: George Negus

Legendary journalist and broadcaster George Negus, best known for 60 Minutes, Foreign Correspondent and 6.30 with George Negus has died aged 82.

H died following a battle with Alzheimer’s disease, his family said in a statement.

The statement said Negus “passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones” and thanked Australian healthcare workers for supporting him “in the best possible way” during his final moments.

“Despite the challenges diseases like Alzheimer’s inflict on families, we still shared beautiful times, laughter and happiness together in recent times.

“We also learnt a lot.”

Negus is best known for his 7 years as an original 60 Minutes reporter, from 1979 – 86. Amongst memorable stories were reports from war zones and famously a steely response from UK PM Margaret Thatcher.

He became most prominent as a reporter for ABC’s This Day Tonight from 1975 – 1977.

His other roles include hosting on Today, Foreign Correspondent (as founding presenter), George Negus Tonight, Dateline, 6.30 with George Negus.

Negus was always outspoken, once saying of 60 Minutes in 2008, “I’ve felt they lost not the plot, but the sense of direction and sense of purpose. It’s the story selection, but also the approach to the story – when they get it – has become voyeuristic rather than journalistic. It sure is different to my day.”

He would cleverly work both traditional audiences whilst cultivating new and younger ones, as a regular panelist on at The Project, providing wise insight to the cool kids.

In 2010 he told TV Tonight, “While I think I’ve got something to say and people are prepared to listen, then whether it’s said with your tongue in your cheek on The 7PM Project or seriously on Dateline I’ll keep doing it.”

In 2012 he apologised to Ben Roberts-Smith following light-hearted comments made on The Circle.

He was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2015 for significant service to the media, and to conservation and the environment.

George Negus as diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and moved into a Sydney nursing home in ate 2002. In September son Ned posted online, “Today is Father’s Day in Australia and we had a walk on the beach together. He was clearly not sure why this particular walk was symbolic and sometimes not sure with whom he was walking. At one point we stopped, he smiled broadly and then hugged me for quite some time.”

Ian Leslie wrote, “My friendship with my colleague was more than just professional. We were brothers at arms. We did not always agree with our approach to stories. But our differences were put aside through an abiding bond of respect and loyalty. The George I knew was as warm and compassionate as he was abrasive. He was far more than the brash, confident reporter harassing his political adversaries. The voice that would cut through armour-plated steel would crumble when faced with the sufferings we confronted in conflict and in poorer countries. My defence mechanism in those situations was to turn off the emotions, look past the human suffering and get on with the task at hand. Tell the story. A survival mechanism practised by most journalists under duress.”

Ray Martin said, “He was outrageous, he was charismatic, he was loud, he was heavily opinionated, he was funny. He was just a great bloke….George, as I say, he was created for television, despite the fact that he was a very good newspaper journalist, he was meant for television. George loved the craft of journalism, he was very ethical and very honest but he was also a great storyteller. He knew it was no good doing something that was worthy and people wanted to turn off. You had to listen to what he was telling you.”

Nine’s Director of Television Michael Healy said, “Today, Australia lost one of its greatest storytellers. When you watched a George Negus interview it was thoughtful, intelligent, composed. He was always in control.”

Fiona Dear, Director of News and Current Affairs said, “Like many Australians, I grew up watching George Negus every Sunday night on 60 Minutes. He opened Australia’s eyes to the world, he took us to places we didn’t know existed, and introduced us to the people who shaped society.”

For Kirsty Thomson, 60 Minutes Executive Producer, George’s contribution to the program will always be applauded and treasured. Everyone at 60 Minutes sends love to George’s family. We are so proud to work at a program that’s always been inspired by George’s trailblazing journalism and globetrotting genius. His legacy lives on at 60 Minutes through his wonderful son Serge, a producer on the program, who continues to do what George loved most about his job: being able to tell great stories.”

ABC Managing Director David Anderson said, “The ABC has learned of the death of George Negus with great sadness. Many Australians will recognise George as a giant of Australian television and journalism. Among his many career achievements are his contributions to the ABC as a reporter for This Day Tonight in the 1960s and 1970s and as the founding host of Foreign Correspondent in the 1990s. Australian audiences loved not only his natural charm but also his intellectual curiosity for the world around him. On behalf of everyone at the ABC, I extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese: “George Negus was a giant of Australian journalism. His courage, curiosity and integrity gave millions of Australians a sense of the big issues on 60 Minutes, and a window to the world through Foreign Correspondent. We offer his family the heartfelt condolences of our nation. May he rest in peace.”

Liz Hayes said: “George always had an insatiable appetite for information, but he was a regular guy too. This is a guy who loved the cooking segment on the Today show, this is a guy who enjoyed sport and he was a family man.”

Charles Woolley: “George Negus gave (60 Minutes) a common traction as it introduced the world to ordinary Australian families every Sunday night at 7.30. Years later travelling the world for the program he had pioneered, I always had the feeling that we were setting up our camera in George’s tripod holes.”

SBS: “We are deeply saddened by the passing of George Negus, a giant of Australian journalism and a fondly-remembered veteran of SBS. George’s dogged pursuit of truth and his unique ability to connect with people through his authentic, down-to-earth approach to storytelling left an indelible mark on our industry. Joining SBS in 2005 to present Dateline, George was instrumental in shaping the program during his tenure to 2010 into the ground-breaking current affairs program it is today, bringing global stories into Australian living rooms with his trademark insight and empathy. His dedication to journalism, passion for social justice, and love for the craft will inspire future generations of reporters and producers. George will be remembered as much for his warmth and character off-screen as for his contributions to Australian media. We extend our heartfelt condolences to George’s family and loved ones.”

Dementia Australia

This post updates.

Source: ABC