Stephen Rice (journalist)
Encyclopedia
Stephen Rice is an Australian journalist, author and television producer. He has been a producer on Australia's 60 Minutes since 2004, following ten years as executive producer of the Nine Network's news and public affairs program, Sunday.
in 1981 with degrees in law and arts. He joined The Sydney Morning Herald
in 1984, covering national and state political and legal affairs. He was hired by Channel Nine's Willesee program in 1984 with a brief to investigate corruption in New South Wales. He became executive producer of A Current Affair in 1992.
He was appointed executive producer of Sunday and its sister show Business Sunday, in 1994 and ran both programs until 2004. He was also executive producer of the Nine Network's The Small Business Show.
In 2000 he was executive producer of The Dream Factory, an eight-part documentary series about young Australian actors trying to make their careers in Hollywood.
Rice is the author of the controversial Some Doctors Make You Sick: The scandal of medical incompetence. The book caused an outcry in the medical profession as Rice called for more injured patients to sue their doctors – and provided them with a comprehensive how-to guide to do it.
He has won numerous national and international television and journalism awards, including a Gold Medal in the New York Festivals Awards in 1998 for Saddam's Missing Billions, an international investigation (with Sunday host Jim Waley
) into the Iraqi dictator's hidden fortune. He has twice won Walkley Awards
for journalism: one for an exclusive interview with the Golden Triangle (Southeast Asia)
heroin warlord Khun Sa
in 1988 (a report he filmed himself on a Video 8 camera after illegally crossing the Burmese border by donkey); and the inaugural Walkley award for Excellence in News Leadership, in 1997.
He has been a vocal opponent of privacy laws which seek to restrict the rights of the media, particularly the use of cameras in public places.
He has spoken about the tension in current affairs television between chasing strong ratings and chasing strong stories: "Our credibility has a commercial value and we are in danger of squandering it."
Rice’s decade-long battle to keep Sunday as a serious public affairs program is featured in Gerald Stone’s
insider account of Channel Nine, Compulsive Viewing. His removal as executive producer – and the subsequent reversioning of the program to what Stone describes as a “happy chat” format - is examined by Stone in his 2007 sequel Who Killed Channel 9? Other senior Sunday staff - and host Jana Wendt - were later also removed by management. The program was axed in August, 2008.
Career
Rice began his career in journalism with the investigative newspaper, The National Times, after graduating from the Australian National UniversityAustralian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
in 1981 with degrees in law and arts. He joined 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...
in 1984, covering national and state political and legal affairs. He was hired by Channel Nine's Willesee program in 1984 with a brief to investigate corruption in New South Wales. He became executive producer of A Current Affair in 1992.
He was appointed executive producer of Sunday and its sister show Business Sunday, in 1994 and ran both programs until 2004. He was also executive producer of the Nine Network's The Small Business Show.
In 2000 he was executive producer of The Dream Factory, an eight-part documentary series about young Australian actors trying to make their careers in Hollywood.
Rice is the author of the controversial Some Doctors Make You Sick: The scandal of medical incompetence. The book caused an outcry in the medical profession as Rice called for more injured patients to sue their doctors – and provided them with a comprehensive how-to guide to do it.
He has won numerous national and international television and journalism awards, including a Gold Medal in the New York Festivals Awards in 1998 for Saddam's Missing Billions, an international investigation (with Sunday host Jim Waley
Jim Waley
Jim Waley is a veteran & experienced Australian television presenter best known for his work on the Nine Network, an Australian television network.-Career:In 1981, Waley was appointed founding presenter of Sunday...
) into the Iraqi dictator's hidden fortune. He has twice won Walkley Awards
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...
for journalism: one for an exclusive interview with the Golden Triangle (Southeast Asia)
Golden Triangle (Southeast Asia)
The Golden Triangle is one of Asia's two main illicit opium-producing areas. It is an area of around that overlaps the mountains of four countries of Southeast Asia: Burma, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. Along with Afghanistan in the Golden Crescent and Pakistan, it has been one of the most...
heroin warlord Khun Sa
Khun Sa
Khun Sa , also known as Chang Chi-fu was a Burmese warlord. He was born in Loi Maw of Mongyai. He was also dubbed the "Opium King" due to his opium trading in the so-called Golden Triangle. He was also the leader of the Shan United Army and the Mong Tai Army.- Biography :Khun Sa was born to a...
in 1988 (a report he filmed himself on a Video 8 camera after illegally crossing the Burmese border by donkey); and the inaugural Walkley award for Excellence in News Leadership, in 1997.
He has been a vocal opponent of privacy laws which seek to restrict the rights of the media, particularly the use of cameras in public places.
He has spoken about the tension in current affairs television between chasing strong ratings and chasing strong stories: "Our credibility has a commercial value and we are in danger of squandering it."
Rice’s decade-long battle to keep Sunday as a serious public affairs program is featured in Gerald Stone’s
Gerald Stone
Gerald Louis Stone is an American-born Australian television and radio journalist, television executive and author.-Early years:Raised in Columbus, Ohio, Stone graduated in political science from Cornell University and in 1957 started work as a copy boy for the New York Times.In 1962 he emigrated...
insider account of Channel Nine, Compulsive Viewing. His removal as executive producer – and the subsequent reversioning of the program to what Stone describes as a “happy chat” format - is examined by Stone in his 2007 sequel Who Killed Channel 9? Other senior Sunday staff - and host Jana Wendt - were later also removed by management. The program was axed in August, 2008.