Welcome to Quick Q – Monday Media’s weekly Q&A series dedicated to finding out more about the personalities that matter most in the Australian media landscape.
Every week The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age asks key figures across corporate media, business, sport, federal politics, radio, television and culture to answer a series of questions about their lives, careers, hobbies and news habits.
This week’s conversation is Russel Howcroft, former co-host of ABC’s The Gruen Transfer and 3AW’s breakfast show host. 3AW is owned by Nine Entertainment Co, the published of this masthead.
Russel Howcroft at his home in Melbourne. Credit: Eddie Jim
How did you get your big break?
Saying yes.
What are daily news media habits?
Thanks to Mark ‘Scorcher’ Davidson of 3aw fame, I read a summary of every Aus paper at 4:30am. One para for every story, in every Aus paper.
Which living person do you most admire?
My mother.
Your guilty streaming pleasure?
No guilt associated. I love watching anything to do with advertising.
Which phrase do you overuse?
It does not get better than that champion........
What did you want to do when you grew up?
Make sure that chip packets were full, the bins were picked up by happy garbos and chemist boys were well paid.
What was your first job?
Raking up the leaves and creating a bonfire.
Facebook or Instagram?
LinkedIn.
Recommend a podcast...
BBC global news podcast.
What’s one vice you wish you could give up?
The mirror.
The song that’s always on high rotation?
Gorillaz, Feel Good.
What are you reading?
Katherine Graham biography.
Favourite movie of the past decade?
Interstellar.
Top of your sporting bucket list?
Watching test series in West Indies.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Marry Kate Burke.
What are the three things you couldn’t live without?
Sleeping Duck mattress, 13cabs and Mental Demons.