David Penberthy
Encyclopedia
David Penberthy is the editor-in-chief of News Limited
opinion website, The Punch
. He was editor of The Daily Telegraph
in Sydney
, Australia, from April 2005 until November 2008.
in the late 1980s. He was the 1990 co-editor of On Dit
, the newspaper of the university's students' association and was also President of CISCAC, the Committee in Solidarity with Central America and the Caribbean, a Marxist
political club. In addition he was the energetic frontman for punk band Cerveza y Putas (Beer and Whores), which played originals and cover songs from such bands as the Pixies, Minor Threat
, The Lemonheads
, The Smiths
and Hüsker Dü
in Spanish, a language Penberthy acquired while living in Mexico
in the late 1980s.
Penberthy started his career as an industrial relations reporter and then political reporter for the Adelaide-based The Advertiser, hired by then editor Piers Akerman
.
In 1999 Penberthy switched to work at the Sydney-based Daily Telegraph
, another newspaper in the News Limited stable. Three years into his tenure at the Telegraph he was appointed chief of staff. Later he became an opinion editor and roving columnist for the newspaper. One of Penberthy's more famous moments as a reporter with the Daily Telegraph came with his "Five Star Asylum" piece, an article headlined "The truth about how inmates are treated inside Australia's detention centres."
In 2005 Penberthy was appointed editor of the Daily Telegraph. As editor, Penberthy came under intense pressure over the publication of stories focusing on then NSW Liberal Party
leader John Brogden, who was accused of making inappropriate comments to the journalist Justine Ferrari while drunk. The Daily Telegraph said there was evidence of more serious issues concerning Brogden, who later apparently tried to commit suicide.
Penberthy resigned as editor of the Daily Telegraph in November 2008 during the newspaper's campaign for the New South Wales state government
to "sack itself".
Penberthy is the editor-in-chief of News Limited's online venture, The Punch.
. A relationship between the two was confirmed by news reports in January 2011.
News Limited
News Limited is one of Australia's largest diversified media companies. The publicly listed company's interests span newspaper and magazine publishing, Internet, Pay TV, National Rugby League, market research, DVD and film distribution, and film and television production trading assets.News Limited...
opinion website, The Punch
The Punch (Australia)
The Punch is an Australian opinion and news website owned and run by News Limited, the Australian holding of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation....
. He was editor of The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph (Australia)
The Daily Telegraph is an Australian tabloid newspaper published in Sydney, New South Wales, by Nationwide News, part of News Corporation.The Tele, as it is also known, was founded in 1879. From 1936 to 1972, it was owned by Frank Packer's Australian Consolidated Press. That year it was sold to...
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia, from April 2005 until November 2008.
Career
Penberthy studied at the University of AdelaideUniversity of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
in the late 1980s. He was the 1990 co-editor of On Dit
On Dit
On Dit is a student newspaper funded by the Adelaide University Union and advertising revenue which is published fortnightly during semester time. Founded in 1932, it is the third oldest student newspaper in Australia along with Semper Floreat On Dit is a student newspaper funded by the Adelaide...
, the newspaper of the university's students' association and was also President of CISCAC, the Committee in Solidarity with Central America and the Caribbean, a Marxist
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
political club. In addition he was the energetic frontman for punk band Cerveza y Putas (Beer and Whores), which played originals and cover songs from such bands as the Pixies, Minor Threat
Minor Threat
Minor Threat was an American hardcore punk band formed in Washington, D.C. in 1980 and disbanded in 1983. The band was relatively short-lived, but had a strong influence on the hardcore punk music scene, both stylistically and in establishing a "do it yourself" ethic for music distribution and...
, The Lemonheads
The Lemonheads
The Lemonheads are an American alternative rock band first formed in 1986 by Evan Dando, Ben Deily and Jesse Peretz. Dando has remained the band's only constant member....
, The Smiths
The Smiths
The Smiths were an English alternative rock band, formed in Manchester in 1982. Based on the song writing partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr , the band also included Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce...
and Hüsker Dü
Hüsker Dü
Hüsker Dü was an American rock band formed in Saint Paul, Minnesota in 1979. The band's continual members were guitarist Bob Mould, bassist Greg Norton, and drummer Grant Hart....
in Spanish, a language Penberthy acquired while living in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
in the late 1980s.
Penberthy started his career as an industrial relations reporter and then political reporter for the Adelaide-based The Advertiser, hired by then editor Piers Akerman
Piers Akerman
Piers Akerman is a right-wing commentator and columnist for The Daily Telegraph.-Brief biography:Born in Wewak, Papua New Guinea, Piers Akerman was raised in Perth by his parents, John, an Australian Government doctor, and Eve Akerman , a newspaper columnist and reviewer in Western Australia. He...
.
In 1999 Penberthy switched to work at the Sydney-based Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph (Australia)
The Daily Telegraph is an Australian tabloid newspaper published in Sydney, New South Wales, by Nationwide News, part of News Corporation.The Tele, as it is also known, was founded in 1879. From 1936 to 1972, it was owned by Frank Packer's Australian Consolidated Press. That year it was sold to...
, another newspaper in the News Limited stable. Three years into his tenure at the Telegraph he was appointed chief of staff. Later he became an opinion editor and roving columnist for the newspaper. One of Penberthy's more famous moments as a reporter with the Daily Telegraph came with his "Five Star Asylum" piece, an article headlined "The truth about how inmates are treated inside Australia's detention centres."
In 2005 Penberthy was appointed editor of the Daily Telegraph. As editor, Penberthy came under intense pressure over the publication of stories focusing on then NSW Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
leader John Brogden, who was accused of making inappropriate comments to the journalist Justine Ferrari while drunk. The Daily Telegraph said there was evidence of more serious issues concerning Brogden, who later apparently tried to commit suicide.
Penberthy resigned as editor of the Daily Telegraph in November 2008 during the newspaper's campaign for the New South Wales state government
Government of New South Wales
The form of the Government of New South Wales is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1856, although it has been amended many times since then...
to "sack itself".
Penberthy is the editor-in-chief of News Limited's online venture, The Punch.
Personal life
In October 2010 it was reported by media that Penberthy had recently separated from his wife and he was romantically linked to federal MP Kate EllisKate Ellis
Katherine Margaret "Kate" Ellis, MP is an Australian politician, representing the federal division of Adelaide since 2004 and is currently the Minister for Employment Participation and Childcare and the Minister for the Status of Women in the Gillard Government.-Early life and career:Ellis was...
. A relationship between the two was confirmed by news reports in January 2011.