Paul Barry
Encyclopedia
Paul Barry is a British
-born, Australia
n-based journalist
, who has won many awards for his investigative reporting. He now works as a senior writer for online media outlet The Power Index.
, as an economics correspondent for Investors Chronicle
. In 1978 he joined the BBC
as a reporter for The Money Programme, Newsnight
, and then Panorama
. In 1986 he moved to Australia and started work with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
.
From 1987 to 1994 he worked as an investigative reporter for the ABC's flagship current affairs program Four Corners. He specialised in reports on economic matters, government departmental failures and particularly corporate governance. A series of reports on now-disgraced businessman Alan Bond
(and his company Bond Corporation) brought his work to national prominence in 1993. He also wrote The Rise and Fall of Alan Bond, regarded as the definitive account of Bond's demise. Likewise his report on the Wittenoom
industrial disaster, "Blue Death" was similarly acclaimed.
In 1995, he joined the Seven Network
to present a short-lived news program The Times
. He stayed with the network, becoming presenter of the current affairs program Witness in 1997.
Paul moved back to the ABC to host the Media Watch program from 1999 to 2000. He was effectively sacked by controversial (and himself quickly replaced) ABC head Jonathon Shier after a hard-hitting interview with ABC Director Donald McDonald
on the subject of government funding for the ABC.
In 2001 he published "Going for Broke - How Alan Bond Got Away with It".
For the next two years he wrote for The Sydney Morning Herald
, winning an additional Walkley Award
exposing a tax scam involving some prominent barrister
s in Sydney. He is now on the Walkley advisory board. He also wrote a book Rich Kids, documenting the collapse of One.Tel
. In 2004 he moved to Channel 9 to work for 60 Minutes as an investigative reporter.
In 2006, Barry released a biography on Australian cricketer Shane Warne
, called Spun Out. Extracts of the book were published in The Age
's Good Weekend magazine, and the book has caused a degree of controversy. http://www.smh.com.au/news/stay-in-touch/warnies-ex-in-spin-over-bunch-of-lies-in-biography/2006/07/30/1154198011583.html.
During October 2009, Barry was the subject of criticism from Australian business identities for his 2009 unauthorised biography of media and gambling mogul James Packer
. The book details relations between the younger Packer and his father Kerry, citing anonymous sources as stating the pair had a difficult relationship, and that James was "relieved" by his father's death. Business leaders and friends of the Packers including former Nine Network
CEO Eddie McGuire
and mining tycoon Andrew Forrest
defended James Packer. Upon launching the book, Barry dismissed the criticism, calling the book "fair" and "considered"
In June 2010, the ABC announced that Paul Barry will be returning as Media Watch's temporary host for three months while Holmes takes long service leave. Barry's tenure will begin in August. Holmes returned when the show did in 2011.
In February 2011, Alan Bond
published a rebuttal to an article written by Paul Barry in December 2010 about Alan Bond's
investment in Global Diamond Resources
PLC.
In August 2011, he joined Private Media's The Power Index as a senior writer.
Paul Barry has been married twice and has six children.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
-born, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n-based journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, who has won many awards for his investigative reporting. He now works as a senior writer for online media outlet The Power Index.
Career
He started his journalistic career in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, as an economics correspondent for Investors Chronicle
Investors Chronicle
The Investors Chronicle is a weekly magazine in the United Kingdom for private investors and is published by the Financial Times Group. The magazine publishes articles about global markets and sectors, and news on corporate actions such as takeovers and share issues...
. In 1978 he joined the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
as a reporter for The Money Programme, Newsnight
Newsnight
Newsnight is a BBC Television current affairs programme noted for its in-depth analysis and often robust cross-examination of senior politicians. Jeremy Paxman has been its main presenter for over two decades....
, and then Panorama
Panorama (TV series)
Panorama is a BBC Television current affairs documentary programme, which was first broadcast in 1953, and is the longest-running public affairs television programme in the world. Panorama has been presented by many well known BBC presenters, including Richard Dimbleby, Robin Day, David Dimbleby...
. In 1986 he moved to Australia and started work with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
.
From 1987 to 1994 he worked as an investigative reporter for the ABC's flagship current affairs program Four Corners. He specialised in reports on economic matters, government departmental failures and particularly corporate governance. A series of reports on now-disgraced businessman Alan Bond
Alan Bond (businessman)
Alan Bond is an Australian businessman noted for his criminal convictions and high-profile business dealings, including what was at the time the biggest corporate collapse in Australian history. Bond was born in the Hammersmith district of London, England, and emigrated to Australia with his...
(and his company Bond Corporation) brought his work to national prominence in 1993. He also wrote The Rise and Fall of Alan Bond, regarded as the definitive account of Bond's demise. Likewise his report on the Wittenoom
Wittenoom
Wittenoom may refer to:People*John Burdett Wittenoom , colonial chaplain of the Swan River Colony*Charles Wittenoom , fifth son of John Burdett ....
industrial disaster, "Blue Death" was similarly acclaimed.
In 1995, he joined the Seven Network
Seven 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...
to present a short-lived news program The Times
The Times (Australian TV series)
The Times was a midweek current affairs program on the Seven Network hosted by Paul Barry. It aired from March 1994 until November 1995.It began in March 1994 airing late night on Wednesdays, and included regular contributions from Neil Mercer, and Seven's senior Canberra reporter, Glenn Milne...
. He stayed with the network, becoming presenter of the current affairs program Witness in 1997.
Paul moved back to the ABC to host the Media Watch program from 1999 to 2000. He was effectively sacked by controversial (and himself quickly replaced) ABC head Jonathon Shier after a hard-hitting interview with ABC Director Donald McDonald
Donald McDonald (ABC chairperson)
Donald Benjamin McDonald AC is an Australian arts administrator and between 1996 and 2006 was chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Australia's national public broadcaster...
on the subject of government funding for the ABC.
In 2001 he published "Going for Broke - How Alan Bond Got Away with It".
For the next two years he wrote for The Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald is a daily broadsheet newspaper published by Fairfax Media in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1831 as the Sydney Herald, the SMH is the oldest continuously published newspaper in Australia. The newspaper is published six days a week. The newspaper's Sunday counterpart, The...
, winning an additional Walkley Award
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...
exposing a tax scam involving some prominent barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
s in Sydney. He is now on the Walkley advisory board. He also wrote a book Rich Kids, documenting the collapse of One.Tel
One.Tel
One.Tel was a group of Australian based telecommunications companies, including principally the publicly listed One.Tel Limited established in 1995 soon after deregulation of the Australian telecommunications industry, most of which are currently under external administration by court appointed...
. In 2004 he moved to Channel 9 to work for 60 Minutes as an investigative reporter.
In 2006, Barry released a biography on Australian cricketer Shane Warne
Shane Warne
Shane Keith Warne is a former Australian international cricketer widely regarded as one of the greatest bowlers in the history of the game. In 2000, he was selected by a panel of cricket experts as one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Century, the only specialist bowler selected in the quintet...
, called Spun Out. Extracts of the book were published in The Age
The Age
The Age is a daily broadsheet newspaper, which has been published in Melbourne, Australia since 1854. Owned and published by Fairfax Media, The Age primarily serves Victoria, but is also available for purchase in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and border regions of South Australia and...
's Good Weekend magazine, and the book has caused a degree of controversy. http://www.smh.com.au/news/stay-in-touch/warnies-ex-in-spin-over-bunch-of-lies-in-biography/2006/07/30/1154198011583.html.
During October 2009, Barry was the subject of criticism from Australian business identities for his 2009 unauthorised biography of media and gambling mogul James Packer
James Packer
James Douglas Packer is an Australian businessman.Packer is the son of the late media mogul Kerry Packer and grandson of Frank Packer. He inherited the family company, Consolidated Press Holdings Limited, which controls investments in Crown Limited, Consolidated Media Holdings and other companies...
. The book details relations between the younger Packer and his father Kerry, citing anonymous sources as stating the pair had a difficult relationship, and that James was "relieved" by his father's death. Business leaders and friends of the Packers including former Nine Network
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
CEO Eddie McGuire
Eddie McGuire
Edward Joseph "Eddie" McGuire AM is an Australian television presenter and businessman known for his long association with Australian rules football and the Channel 9 television network....
and mining tycoon Andrew Forrest
Andrew Forrest
Andrew Forrest also known by his nickname "Twiggy", is a Western Australian mining entrepreneur, former chief executive officer, non-executive chairman, and the major shareholder of Fortescue Metals Group...
defended James Packer. Upon launching the book, Barry dismissed the criticism, calling the book "fair" and "considered"
In June 2010, the ABC announced that Paul Barry will be returning as Media Watch's temporary host for three months while Holmes takes long service leave. Barry's tenure will begin in August. Holmes returned when the show did in 2011.
In February 2011, Alan Bond
Alan Bond (businessman)
Alan Bond is an Australian businessman noted for his criminal convictions and high-profile business dealings, including what was at the time the biggest corporate collapse in Australian history. Bond was born in the Hammersmith district of London, England, and emigrated to Australia with his...
published a rebuttal to an article written by Paul Barry in December 2010 about Alan Bond's
Alan Bond (businessman)
Alan Bond is an Australian businessman noted for his criminal convictions and high-profile business dealings, including what was at the time the biggest corporate collapse in Australian history. Bond was born in the Hammersmith district of London, England, and emigrated to Australia with his...
investment in Global Diamond Resources
Global Diamond Resources
Global Diamond Resources plc is a Gibraltan company developing the Kao diamond pipe in the Kingdom of Lesotho. The founders of the company are Australian businessmen Alan Bond and Robert Nelson....
PLC.
In August 2011, he joined Private Media's The Power Index as a senior writer.
Paul Barry has been married twice and has six children.
Awards
- 1993 Logie Award for Best Public Affairs Report, ABC Four Corners "Other People's Money"
- 1993 Walkley Award for Best Business Report, ABC Four Corners "Rich man, poor man"
- 2001 Walkley Award for Best News Report, Sydney Morning Herald "Tax Cheats"
- 2011 Blake DawsonBlake DawsonBlake Dawson is a commercial law firm that operates in the Asia-Pacific region. In Australia it is considered one of the "Big Six" law firms.Blake Dawson was previously known as Blake Dawson Waldron or BDW...
Business Literature Prize
Books
- 1991: The Rise And Fall Of Alan Bond, ISBN 1-86359-037-4
- 1994: The Rise And Rise Of Kerry Packer, ISBN 1-86359-338-1
- 2001: Going For Broke, ISBN 1-86325-197-9
- 2003: Rich Kids, ISBN 1-86325-339-4
- 2006: Spun Out, ISBN 0-593-05662-0
- 2009: Who Want To Be A Billionaire?