Deborah Hutton’s media days are over, but she still has skin in the game

Deborah Hutton shot to prominence as a model in her teenage years, before embarking on a celebrated career in the media, both on television and in publishing.

Deborah Hutton has been recognised with an OAM in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours list. Picture: John Feder

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As a former TV presenter, magazine editor and high-profile model, Deborah Hutton has experienced the media industry from all angles.

And while Hutton, 63, is grateful for the media limelight she enjoyed in decades gone by, it’s not something she misses.

Hutton, who has been recognised with a Medal of the Order of Australia (in the general division) for her service to community health and to media, is deeply concerned at the “disturbing” impact of social media on young people, and the way online platforms are shaping the wider news media industry.

“We don’t know what to trust in terms of what we read,” she said.

“In terms of social media, I think there’s enormous damage being done to younger people because of the amount of crap that’s out there.

“I really feel for the younger generation. I’m not a parent, but particularly for young girls, you can get really screwed up. You’ve got people you don’t know coming in left and right on social media, bagging you.

“We live in a really tough, challenging period in terms of media and what we’re taking in.”

Hutton shot to prominence as a model in her teenage years, before embarking on a celebrated career in the media, both on television and in publishing.

She hosted a series of popular lifestyle shows on the Nine Network in the 1990s, such as Looking Good, Location Location, and Amazing Homes, before serving as fashion editor and editor-at-large for The Australian Women’s Weekly for a decade.

Myer department store ambassador and former model Deborah Hutton at 30.

Hutton returned to the screen in 2010, hosting lifestyle programs on Foxtel, as well as the pay TV channel’s movie show.

“I feel extraordinarily privileged to have worked in the media when I did,” she said.

“It was the era where there were good productions, there were budgets, and we had a really great run through the ’90s and to the mid-noughties. Eyeballs were on free-to-air television, whereas now our eyeballs are everywhere. There is so much on offer we don’t know where to look.

“And in publishing, I worked under Nene King at the Australian Women’s Weekly, one of the toughest, strongest most independent women to ever work for Kerry Packer.

“She ruled the roost. I remember the day when the Weekly hit one million in readership – it was a huge milestone.”

In recent years, Hutton’s focus has turned to advocacy for skin cancer awareness.

“I’ve had two massive skin cancers that have both been right in the middle of my face,” Hutton said.

“If that’s not a message from the universe telling you something, then hello!

“My platform and my profile have given me the voice to be able to talk about it and raise awareness about something that’s critically important in this country.”

Hutton is an ambassador for both Skin Check Champions and Lions Australia, organisations that raise money for initiatives such as mobile skin testing units.

“I will just keep banging on about it, but three out of four Aussies are going to get some form of skin cancer in their lives, without a doubt. So get out there, get a skin check,” she said.

Hutton spent most of her adult life living in Sydney, but shifted to the NSW South Coast a few years ago, where she is in the process of building her “forever home” with partner Andrew Marsh, a meditation instructor.

“Moving out of Sydney has been fantastic. I worked with some amazing people through publishing and through television, but in terms of the media, I’m done,” she said.

“I’m going to be 64 this year. So I’ll keep talking about skin cancer … and just see how things play out.

“It’s been a beautiful ride for me.”