Traits that made Mitchell, Hitch giants in Melbourne media
If upheavals to the media landscape were measured on the Richter scale, Melbourne is set to experience two seismic events: the end of the Neil Mitchell and Peter Hitchener eras, writes Tony Jones, who was deputy to both.
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If upheavals to the Melbourne media landscape were measured by the Richter scale, this city has just experienced two massive seismic events.
Two giants of the industry, Channel 9 Newsreader Peter Hitchener and 3AW’s Neil Mitchell are stepping back from the posts they’ve held for 25 years and 35 years respectively.
Note the term ‘stepping back’?
It’s ironic that for two men who use words as tools of their trade, there’s one word akin to kryptonite.
Retirement.
I’ve had the privilege of not only working alongside these two giants of the industry, but also acting as their lieutenant.
In truth, that’s just a fancy way of saying I’m a ‘fill in’.
Having shared the newsdesk (presenting sport) for the last 13 years of Brian Naylor’s golden era, I’ve spent the past 25 years sitting alongside ‘Hitch’ (who, in total, has been with Channel 9 for 50 years).
Brian had an unrivalled air of authority about him.
It was by no means arrogance, but from the moment you’d walk in the studio and sit next to him, you felt that authority which was contradictory at times because he was quite a nervous presenter.
It was Brian’s way of maintaining an edge.
I’ve always felt Peter Hitchener’s two greatest strengths are his warmth and composure.
To illustrate the latter, I recall one night he was unusually fidgety, constantly checking his phone during stories.
It transpired that his mother was undergoing surgery and he was checking for updates.
There are stories that move him deeply.
The current conflict in Gaza has proved challenging to present.
One night recently, while a graphic story from the region was being aired, he turned to me and said ‘just keep talking to me … I need a distraction.’
That’s not to say he doesn’t care. If anything, he cares too much.
While the ability to keep emotions in check is another attribute which has contributed to his news reading longevity, this week has been especially tough.
Weather presenter Livinia Nixon and I have been trying to work out how best to farewell, on air, a man who’s not actually going. He’s decided to revert to the weekend bulletins.
The three of us have been together for more than 20 years, the longest on-air TV news partnership in Melbourne, possibly Australia.
But, as of 7pm Thursday, it’s the end of an era as we prepare to usher in a new one.
The same can be said of midday on Friday when Neil Mitchell signs off from 3AW mornings.
There’ll be tears. Plenty of them.
Maybe even a hint of one from the man himself.
There was a glimpse of things to come on Monday when he began cleaning out his office. Huge bins filled with 35 years of memories.
It’s staggering to think that kids being driven to school by their mums and dads back in the ’90s listening to Neil, are now driving their own kids to school … listening to Neil.
Melbourne radio simply won’t be the same.
Throughout his tenure in the mornings chair, Neil has had a range of fill-ins. I’ve been fortunate enough to be his lieutenant.
He’s never been anything but supportive. Very supportive.
The text messages with ideas for the show can start as early as 5am.
One morning during our 6.30am production meeting, a text came through from Neil. It might have been his third text of the day. And it was only 6.30.
As it came through I said: “For f*** sake Neil, have a sleep in”.
It was at that point my Apple watch said: “OK, I’ll send that now?”.
The producers, as one, grabbed my wrist to rip the watch off.
Fair to say, Neil’s ‘lieutenant’ could’ve been dishonourably discharged from his fill-in duties had that text gone through.
In all the shows I’ve done in Neil’s absence, just once has he pulled me up and suggested I could’ve better handled a situation.
It was during a Grand Final week, a lady called to say that her elderly father could only get a standing room ticket to the game but the MCC won’t allow him to take his walker.
She said he wouldn’t be able to stand for the whole game which could be the last time he gets to see his team play in a Grand Final.
On reflection, my response was heartless. (As was indicated to me via a flood of calls!)
I basically said rules are rules and you can’t bend them for one and not others.
After the show Neil rang to say I could’ve handled it differently. Perhaps approach the MCC, he suggested, in a bid to help the gentleman.
There’ll be text messages throughout the show, always of an encouraging nature.
There was one interview I did (I can’t recall who the high profile politician was) whereby Neil was feeding me the questions via text messages.
It’s not that he didn’t trust me, it’s not that he was interfering … it was just Neil doing what Neil does best. Helping.
And despite him telling me that I should do the show the way I wanted to do it, I was forever conscious of staying true to the template that he’d work so hard to create over his 35 years.
One of Neil’s sparring partners, MP Bill Shorten, said of Neil’s departure: “It’ll leave a massive gap in the market”.
Bill Shorten and just about every other politician should be popping the champagne.
Neil has been unrelenting in his quest to keep the politicians accountable, sometimes to his own detriment.
Daniel Andrews banned him.
The irony being, Andrews still won without Mitchell – and Mitchell still won without Andrews.
A few years after the Andrews boycott on Neil was enforced, the then Premier came into the 3AW studio while I was filling in.
He was gracious with his time, staying beyond the 9am news when I asked him.
I couldn’t help but think this was an “up yours, Neil” moment.
I’ve actually got a photo of him being interviewed. So many times I’ve been tempted to cheekily send it to Neil and caption it: “It’s not that hard, mate”.
Neil’s got a good sense of humour, but maybe not that good.
How surprising then that Neil should receive a conciliatory text from Andrews on the day he announced he’d be stepping back.
There’s that term again – “stepping back”.
Peter Hitchener and Neil Mitchell are two very different men, yet with so much in common.
Few have enjoyed such celebrated media careers. Neil in the AM, Hitch in the PM.
Father Time will need to quicken the pace if he’s to catch up with these two legends.
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