Willesee hailed as trailblazer of journalism

Journalism pioneer Mike Willesee died yesterday aged 76 at his home at Bondi in Sydney, surrounded by his family.

Mike Willesee at home. Picture: Britta Campion.

Mike Willesee was prompted to reflect on his half-century in television journalism when he was first diagnosed with throat cancer three years ago.

“It’s been an exciting life,” he wrote in his 2017 book simply titled­ Memoirs. “I wasn’t angry or upset or resentful (at having cancer­), but I had to remind mysel­f: I’m just like other people, there is no reason I should have any advantage.”

Willesee died yesterday aged 76 at his home at Bondi in Sydney, surrounded by his family.

Nine chief executive Hugh Marks led the tributes yesterday to “a man who worked hard and, back in the day, played even harder”. “His death has robbed us all of a trailblazing pioneer of journalism, the likes of whom we’ll likely never see again,” he said.

“So many aspiring — and practising — journalists have learned so much from Mike. And everyone who practises journalism in Australia is in his debt.”

Interviewing Bob Hawke in 1992, in his first interview after he lost the Labor Party leadership to Paul Keating.

Born in Perth in 1942, he made his first foray into journalism in 1967 on the ABC current affairs program This Day Tonight, before hosting the ABC’s Four Corners from 1969 to 1971, and later creat­ing, producing and hosting A ­Current Affair on Nine. He also fronted a self-titled nightly current affairs show for many years.

Willesee became renowned for his interviewing style, and will be best remembered for the powerful clarity of his most prosaic questions — especially when combined with pregnant pauses which his subjects rushed to fill. His 1993 on-air interview of then opposition leader John Hewson focused on the simple question of whether a birthday cake would cost more or less under the proposed GST; the inarticulate answers he received are often cited as a turning point in the campaign later won by Paul Keating.

With Muhammad Ali

More controversial was his on-air phone interview with a gunman and two children being held hostage during the so-called Cangai Siege in NSW, also in 1993. The children were later released­ unharmed, and Willesee defended his actions on-air the following night (“It’s something I don’t regret”).

Willesee also presented memorable human interest stories, such as his Logie-winning documentary on disabled boy Quentin Kenihan for the Seven Network in the 1980s.

When Kenihan died in October last year, Willesee told The Australian: “He was such a tough little bugger … The respect I had for him was enormous.”

With Paul Hogan in the 70s.

After surviving a plane crash in Africa in 1997, Willesee reconnected with his Catholic faith and later made a documentary titled Signs from God, which investigated stigmata.

The father of six was inducted into the Logies Hall of Fame in 2002, and the Australian Media Hall of Fame in 2017.

“He was one of the true pioneer­s of TV journalism in Aust­ralia, an outstanding interviewer and a presence in every Australian living room for decade­s. Vale,” ABC director of news Gaven Morris said.

“I grew up being inspired by the masterful interviewing skills of Mike Willesee and wondering if, one day … Vale,” said The Project’s Lisa Wilkinson.

With Quentin Kenihan in 1992.

Willesee’s assistant of the past 39 years, Susan Kane, said: “We have lost a great man and a great journalist.”

Willesee wrote in his memoir: “I’ve seen wars and famines, interview­ed prime ministers, murderers, dictators and some of the world’s biggest stars.

“I guess these are the sorts of things you look back on to reassure yourself as the end draws near.

“That you’ve left your mark. That it’s been worthwhile.”