David Marr (journalist)
Encyclopedia
David Ewan Marr is an Australia
n journalist, author, and progressive political and social commentator. His areas of expertise include the law, Australian politics, censorship, the media and the arts. He writes for The Sydney Morning Herald
and appears as a semi-regular panelist on the ABC
television programs, Q&A
and Insiders.
in North Sydney
and subsequently graduated from the University of Sydney with degrees in Arts and Law. Marr worked for a time as an articled clerk at the law firm Allen, Allen and Hemsley
, before turning to journalism.
Marr began as a journalist working for The Bulletin
magazine and for The National Times newspaper, before being appointed editor in 1981–82. During this period, he oversaw the publication of the articles by David Hickie that detailed long-suppressed allegations of corruption against former New South Wales Premier Robert Askin
. The first article, headlined "Askin: friend of organised crime" was famously published on the day of Askin's funeral in 1981.
Marr was a reporter on the ABC TV
program Four Corners (1985, 1990–91), a role in which he won a Walkley Award
, and presenter of Radio National
's Arts Today program (1994–96). From 2002 to 2004, he hosted the ABC TV program Media Watch. He currently works for The Sydney Morning Herald
. He is a frequent guest on ABC TV's Insiders program. During his term as presenter of Media Watch, he played a key role in exposing the ongoing cash for comment affair
, which Media Watch had first raised in 1999, concerning radio commentators Alan Jones
and John Laws
. In 2004, the program's exposé of Australian Broadcasting Authority
(ABA) head David Flint
– who had written fan letters to Jones at a time when Jones was being investigated by the ABA – played a significant role in forcing Flint's resignation.
In 2002, Marr demonstrated on Media Watch that conservative newspaper columnist Janet Albrechtsen
had misquoted a French psychiatrist, Jean-Jacques Rassial, and claimed that she had done this deliberately to make it look as though violence and gang rape were institutionalised elements of the culture of Muslim
youths.
Albrechtsen did not deny the misquote, but responded by accusing Media Watch of inherent left-wing bias, and of deliberately leading a witch-hunt
against contrary views. When the Minister for Communications, Senator Helen Coonan
, appointed Albrechtsen to the board of the ABC in February 2005, Marr publicly questioned whether she was qualified for such a position in light of her prior breach of journalistic conduct.
In 2008 he was named by Samesame.com.au
as one of the 25 most influential gay and lesbian Australians for his coverage of the Bill Henson
casehttp://www.australianwomenonline.com/the-25-most-influential-gay-and-lesbian-australians-for-2008/.
, which won The Age Book of the Year
award and the New South Wales Premier's Literary Award
for Non-Fiction. More recently, Marr wrote, along with Marian Wilkinson
, Dark Victory, an account of the 2001 Australian election campaign in the wake of the Tampa affair
.
His books include:
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n journalist, author, and progressive political and social commentator. His areas of expertise include the law, Australian politics, censorship, the media and the arts. He writes for The Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald is a daily broadsheet newspaper published by Fairfax Media in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1831 as the Sydney Herald, the SMH is the oldest continuously published newspaper in Australia. The newspaper is published six days a week. The newspaper's Sunday counterpart, The...
and appears as a semi-regular panelist on the ABC
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
television programs, Q&A
Q&A (TV program)
Q&A is an Australian television program, broadcast on ABC1 hosted by award-winning news journalist Tony Jones. It is similar to shows like Question Time on the BBC and Questions and Answers on RTÉ....
and Insiders.
Career
Marr attended Sydney Church of England Grammar SchoolSydney Church of England Grammar School
Sydney Church of England Grammar School is an independent, Anglican, day and boarding school for boys, located in North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
in North Sydney
North Sydney, New South Wales
North Sydney is a suburb and commercial district on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. North Sydney is located 3 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of North Sydney...
and subsequently graduated from the University of Sydney with degrees in Arts and Law. Marr worked for a time as an articled clerk at the law firm Allen, Allen and Hemsley
Allens Arthur Robinson
Allens Arthur Robinson is a commercial law firm that operates in the Asia-Pacific region. In Australia, and throughout the Asia-Pacific region generally, it is considered to be one of the top commercial law firms.- Offices :...
, before turning to journalism.
Marr began as a journalist working for The Bulletin
The Bulletin
The Bulletin was an Australian weekly magazine that was published in Sydney from 1880 until January 2008. It was influential in Australian culture and politics from about 1890 until World War I, the period when it was identified with the "Bulletin school" of Australian literature. Its influence...
magazine and for The National Times newspaper, before being appointed editor in 1981–82. During this period, he oversaw the publication of the articles by David Hickie that detailed long-suppressed allegations of corruption against former New South Wales Premier Robert Askin
Robert Askin
Sir Robert William Askin GCMG, was an Australian politician and the 32nd Premier of New South Wales from 1965 to 1975, the first representing the Liberal Party of Australia. He was born in 1907 as Robin William Askin, but always disliked his first name and changed it by deed poll in 1971...
. The first article, headlined "Askin: friend of organised crime" was famously published on the day of Askin's funeral in 1981.
Marr was a reporter on the ABC TV
ABC Television
ABC Television is a service of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation launched in 1956. As a public broadcasting broadcaster, the ABC provides four non-commercial channels within Australia, and a partially advertising-funded satellite channel overseas....
program Four Corners (1985, 1990–91), a role in which he won a Walkley Award
Walkley Awards
The annual Walkley Awards, under the administration of the Walkley Foundation for Journalism, are presented in Australia to recognise and reward excellence in journalism. Finalists are chosen by an independent board of eminent journalists and photographers. The awards cover all media including...
, and presenter of Radio National
Radio National
ABC Radio National is an Australia-wide non-commercial radio network run by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.Radio National broadcasts national programming in areas that include news and current affairs, the arts, social issues, science, drama and comedy...
's Arts Today program (1994–96). From 2002 to 2004, he hosted the ABC TV program Media Watch. He currently works for The Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald is a daily broadsheet newspaper published by Fairfax Media in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1831 as the Sydney Herald, the SMH is the oldest continuously published newspaper in Australia. The newspaper is published six days a week. The newspaper's Sunday counterpart, The...
. He is a frequent guest on ABC TV's Insiders program. During his term as presenter of Media Watch, he played a key role in exposing the ongoing cash for comment affair
Cash for comment affair
The cash for comment affair was an Australian scandal that broke in 1999, concerning paid advertising in radio that is presented to the audience in such a way as to sound like editorial commentary. John Laws, a shock jock radio presenter for Sydney talk back, was accused of misusing his authority...
, which Media Watch had first raised in 1999, concerning radio commentators Alan Jones
Alan Jones (radio broadcaster)
Alan Belford Jones AO is an Australian radio broadcaster, former rugby union and rugby league coach and administrator.Jones hosts Sydney's most popular breakfast radio program, on radio station 2GB...
and John Laws
John Laws
Richard John Sinclair "John" Laws, CBE , an Australian radio presenter, sometimes known as Lawsie, was from the 1970s until his retirement in 2007, the host of a hugely successful morning radio program, which mixed music with interviews, opinion, live advertising readings and listener talkback...
. In 2004, the program's exposé of Australian Broadcasting Authority
Australian Broadcasting Authority
The Australian Broadcasting Authority was an Australian government agency whose main roles were to regulate broadcasting, radiocommunications and telecommunications....
(ABA) head David Flint
David Flint
Professor David Flint, AM, LLM , BSc , DSU is an Australian legal academic, known for his leadership of Australians for Constitutional Monarchy and for his tenure as head of the Australian Broadcasting Authority.-Background:...
– who had written fan letters to Jones at a time when Jones was being investigated by the ABA – played a significant role in forcing Flint's resignation.
In 2002, Marr demonstrated on Media Watch that conservative newspaper columnist Janet Albrechtsen
Janet Albrechtsen
Janet Kim Albrechtsen is a conservative Australian opinion columnist with the News Limited-owned newspaper, The Australian. From 2005 through 2010, she was a member of the Board of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Australia's state-owned national broadcaster.-Early life and...
had misquoted a French psychiatrist, Jean-Jacques Rassial, and claimed that she had done this deliberately to make it look as though violence and gang rape were institutionalised elements of the culture of Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
youths.
Albrechtsen did not deny the misquote, but responded by accusing Media Watch of inherent left-wing bias, and of deliberately leading a witch-hunt
Witch-hunt
A witch-hunt is a search for witches or evidence of witchcraft, often involving moral panic, mass hysteria and lynching, but in historical instances also legally sanctioned and involving official witchcraft trials...
against contrary views. When the Minister for Communications, Senator Helen Coonan
Helen Coonan
Helen Lloyd Coonan is a former Australian politician, who was a Liberal member of the Australian Senate representing New South Wales from July 1996 to August 2011.-Early life:...
, appointed Albrechtsen to the board of the ABC in February 2005, Marr publicly questioned whether she was qualified for such a position in light of her prior breach of journalistic conduct.
In 2008 he was named by Samesame.com.au
Samesame.com.au
Samesame.com.au is an Australian LGBT website created by Tim Duggan and a partner. The website is run by Sound Alliance in the Sydney suburb of Surry Hills...
as one of the 25 most influential gay and lesbian Australians for his coverage of the Bill Henson
Bill Henson
Bill Henson is an Australian contemporary art photographer.-Background:Henson's art has been exhibited in many locations, including the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, the Venice Biennale, the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia, the Art Gallery of New South Wales in...
casehttp://www.australianwomenonline.com/the-25-most-influential-gay-and-lesbian-australians-for-2008/.
Publications
Marr has published several books including a critically acclaimed biography of Australian writer Patrick WhitePatrick White
Patrick Victor Martindale White , an Australian author, is widely regarded as an important English-language novelist of the 20th century. From 1935 until his death, he published 12 novels, two short-story collections and eight plays.White's fiction employs humour, florid prose, shifting narrative...
, which won The Age Book of the Year
The Age Book of the Year
The Age Book of the Year Awards are annual literary awards presented by Melbourne's The Age newspaper. The awards were first presented in 1974. Since 1998 they have been presented as part of the Melbourne Writers Festival...
award and the New South Wales Premier's Literary Award
New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards
The New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards were established in 1979 by the New South Wales Premier Neville Wran. Commenting on its purpose, Wran said: "We want the arts to take, and be seen to take, their proper place in our social priorities...
for Non-Fiction. More recently, Marr wrote, along with Marian Wilkinson
Marian Wilkinson
Marian Wilkinson is an Australian journalist and author. She was born in 1954 and grew up in Brisbane, Queensland where she attended the University of Queensland. She is the environment editor for The Sydney Morning Herald...
, Dark Victory, an account of the 2001 Australian election campaign in the wake of the Tampa affair
Tampa affair
In August 2001, the Howard Government of Australia refused permission for the Norwegian freighter MV Tampa, carrying 438 rescued Afghans from a distressed fishing vessel in international waters, to enter Australian waters...
.
His books include:
- Barwick 1980
- The Ivanov Trail 1984
- Patrick White: A Life 1991
- Patrick White: Letters 1994
- The High Price of Heaven 2000
- Dark VictoryDark Victory (book)Dark Victory is a 2003 Australian book by David Marr and Marian Wilkinson. The book was released eighteen months into the Howard Government's third term, and analyses the border control policy of the John Howard Liberal–National Government. The Tampa affair, the Pacific solution, the Children...
(with Marian WilkinsonMarian WilkinsonMarian Wilkinson is an Australian journalist and author. She was born in 1954 and grew up in Brisbane, Queensland where she attended the University of Queensland. She is the environment editor for The Sydney Morning Herald...
) 2004 ISBN 0-14-300258-9 - Quarterly EssayQuarterly EssayQuarterly Essay is an Australian periodical that straddles the border between magazines and non-fiction books. Printed in a book-like page size and using a single-column format, each issue features a single extended essay of at least 20,000 words, with an introduction by the editor, and...
Issue 26, His Master’s Voice: The Corruption of Public Debate under Howard 2007 ISBN 978-1-86395-405-1 - The Henson Case 2008 ISBN 978-1-92152-003-7
- Power Trip: The Political Journey of Kevin Rudd, 2010
Awards
- Alfred Deakin Prize for an Essay Advancing Public Debate, for 'Do Not Disturb: Is the Media Asleep?'
- Victoria Premier's Literary AwardsVictorian Premier's Literary AwardThe Victorian Premier's Literary Awards were created by the Victorian Governmentwith the aim of raising the profile of contemporary creative writing and Australia's publishing industry....
2006 - Walkley Awards 2004 (jointly), 1991 and 1985
External links
- Sydney: the beauty and the vice – an Article by David Marr
- VIDEO David Marr talks at the Sydney Writers Festival on ABC FORA
- VIDEO David Marr moderates a debate on Art and Censorship
- Video: David Marr talks about The Henson Case on SlowTV
- David Marr Talks about Biography and the Afterlife at the Shanghai International Literary Festival