Monica Attard
Encyclopedia
Monica Ann Attard OAM
(born December 12, 1958 in Sydney
) is an award-winning Australian journalist
. She is of Maltese
descent.
in Sydney
. She attended Sydney University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts. She also holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of New South Wales
, which she attained in 2002.
, where she was a reporter from 1977-1981. From 1981-82, she worked for 2WS Radio and at 2GB Radio from 1982-83. In 1983, Attard moved to the ABC
, where she has remained since.
Attard worked on ABC Radio News from 1983–85 and reporter on ABC Radio programs 'The World Today' and 'PM' from 1985-88. She was a researcher for TV programs 'Four Corners' from 1988–99 and a reporter for 'Lateline
' from 1989-90.
Attard was Russian Correspondent for ABC Radio and TV from 1990-94. She received three Walkley Awards
during this period, including the Gold Walkley
in 1991. Attard published a book entitled Russia: Which Way Paradise? in 1997, which documented some of her experiences and interactions with Russians during a period of rapid change.
Attard returned to 'The World Today' from 1997–99 and to 'PM' from 1994-97.
During 2001-03 and 2005–06, Attard was the national presenter on 'Sunday Profile' on ABC Local Radio
. In the same year, she received the 2002 Walkley Award for Broadcast Interviewing
, and graduated with a law degree from the University of New South Wales
.
On December 1, 2005, Attard received the 2005 Walkley Award for Broadcast Interviewing. This was given for a series of interviews entitled On The Brink, which aimed to examine the lives of several prominent people who had been experiencing some kind of upheaval in their lives. She interviewed NSW
magistrate Pat O'Shane
, former HIH Insurance
director
Rodney Adler
and Douglas Wood
, a former hostage in Iraq
. Her interview with Rodney Adler was a scoop and she received particular praise from the Walkley judges.
On December 6, 2005, Attard was announced as the new host of the ABC
TV program Media Watch for 2006. She hosted Media Watch for two years, until announcing her retirement at the end of the 2007 series, citing the "extremely taxing" nature of making the program as well as radio presenting commitments.
Attard also worked as a lawyer for Coudert Bros in Moscow from 2003-04.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born December 12, 1958 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...
) is an award-winning Australian journalist
Journalism in Australia
Journalism in Australia varies from international practices in areas as diverse as legal freedoms and editorial practices.- History :Most of the published material in the first twenty years of the New South Wales colony was to inform residents of the rules and laws of the time. These were printed...
. She is of Maltese
Maltese people
The Maltese are an ethnic group indigenous to the Southern European nation of Malta, and identified with the Maltese language. Malta is an island in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea...
descent.
Education
Attard was educated at Bethlehem CollegeBethlehem College, Ashfield
Bethlehem College is a high school in Ashfield, New South Wales originally founded in 1881 by the Sisters of Charity.Students are easily identifiable by the purple school uniform - fondly known around the inner western suburbs of Sydney as "Ribena Berries". Bethlehem excels in their sport as well...
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...
. She attended Sydney University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts. She also holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of New South Wales
University of New South Wales
The University of New South Wales , is a research-focused university based in Kensington, a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
, which she attained in 2002.
Career
Attard's career in journalism began at Channel SevenSeven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
, where she was a reporter from 1977-1981. From 1981-82, she worked for 2WS Radio and at 2GB Radio from 1982-83. In 1983, Attard moved to the ABC
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
, where she has remained since.
Attard worked on ABC Radio News from 1983–85 and reporter on ABC Radio programs 'The World Today' and 'PM' from 1985-88. She was a researcher for TV programs 'Four Corners' from 1988–99 and a reporter for 'Lateline
Lateline
Lateline is an Australian television news and current affairs program produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, airing weeknights at on ABC1. The program has developed a reputation for head-to-head debates on current issues and political interviews. Lateline is followed by its sister...
' from 1989-90.
Attard was Russian Correspondent for ABC Radio and TV from 1990-94. She received three Walkley Awards
Walkley Awards
The annual Walkley Awards, under the administration of the Walkley Foundation for Journalism, are presented in Australia to recognise and reward excellence in journalism. Finalists are chosen by an independent board of eminent journalists and photographers. The awards cover all media including...
during this period, including the Gold Walkley
Gold Walkley
The Gold Walkley is the most prestigious of the Walkley Awards for Australian journalism. It is chosen by the Walkley Advisory Board from the winners of all the other categories...
in 1991. Attard published a book entitled Russia: Which Way Paradise? in 1997, which documented some of her experiences and interactions with Russians during a period of rapid change.
Attard returned to 'The World Today' from 1997–99 and to 'PM' from 1994-97.
During 2001-03 and 2005–06, Attard was the national presenter on 'Sunday Profile' on ABC Local Radio
ABC Local Radio
ABC Local Radio is a network of publicly owned radio stations in Australia, operated by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.ABC Local Radio stations broadcast across the continent using terrestrial transmitters and satellites...
. In the same year, she received the 2002 Walkley Award for Broadcast Interviewing
Walkley Award for Broadcast Interviewing
The Walkley Award for Broadcast Interviewing has been awarded since 1997. Until 2001, it was known as the Walkley Award for Broadcast Presenting...
, and graduated with a law degree from the University of New South Wales
University of New South Wales
The University of New South Wales , is a research-focused university based in Kensington, a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
.
On December 1, 2005, Attard received the 2005 Walkley Award for Broadcast Interviewing. This was given for a series of interviews entitled On The Brink, which aimed to examine the lives of several prominent people who had been experiencing some kind of upheaval in their lives. She interviewed NSW
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
magistrate Pat O'Shane
Pat O'Shane
Patricia June O'Shane is a magistrate of the Local Court of New South Wales living in Sydney, Australia. A former head of the New South Wales Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, and Aboriginal herself, O'Shane was appointed a magistrate in 1986...
, former HIH Insurance
HIH Insurance
HIH Insurance was Australia's second largest insurance company. It was placed into provisional liquidation on 15 March 2001. The demise of HIH is considered to be the largest corporate collapse in Australia's history, with liquidators estimating that HIH's losses totalled up to $5.3 billion...
director
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
Rodney Adler
Rodney Adler
Rodney Stephens Adler is an Australian businessman and former director of telecommunications company One.Tel and insurance company HIH, both of which collapsed in 2001. He was jailed in 2005 for his conduct related to the collapse of HIH....
and Douglas Wood
Douglas Wood
Douglas Wood , is an Australian construction engineer who had worked with the American military, and was held hostage in Iraq for six weeks between May and June 2005, before being rescued.-Early life:...
, a former hostage in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. Her interview with Rodney Adler was a scoop and she received particular praise from the Walkley judges.
On December 6, 2005, Attard was announced as the new host of the ABC
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
TV program Media Watch for 2006. She hosted Media Watch for two years, until announcing her retirement at the end of the 2007 series, citing the "extremely taxing" nature of making the program as well as radio presenting commitments.
Attard also worked as a lawyer for Coudert Bros in Moscow from 2003-04.
Awards and honours
- Medal of the Order of AustraliaOrder of AustraliaThe Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(OAM) in 1992 for services to the community as a radio correspondent while working in RussiaRussiaRussia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. - Walkley Award for Bcast Interviewing for 'on the Brink' 2005
- Walkley Award for Bcast Interviewing for 'Kernot, Beazley and The Bishop' 2002
- Gold Walkley Award for Excellence in Journalism 1991
- Walkley Award for Best International Report (all Media) and Best Coverage of a Current Story (Radio) 1991
External links
- Media Watch website (ABC TV)
- Bearing Witness - An extract by Monica Attard from a book entitled Bearing Witness.