Judith Whelan, the editorial director of the ABC and a former editor of the Sydney Morning Herald, has died aged 62.
Whelan died at Royal Prince Alfred hospital in Sydney on Wednesday afternoon following a seven-year battle with most cancers.
She is survived by her husband Christopher Henning, her daughter Sophia and her son Patrick.
Whelan started her profession on the Herald with a cadetship in 1985 and would turn out to be one in all solely three girls to turn out to be editor of the masthead.
Present editor Bevan Shields stated Whelan had been a ‘great editor, colleague and pal’ throughout her three many years within the newsroom.
‘We’re heartbroken by her loss of life,’ Shields stated.
‘She had a finely tuned information radar but additionally revelled in journalism that would entertain and inform readers. She was a pure chief and a lovely individual.
‘Our ideas are with Chris, Sophia and Patrick.’
Judith Whelan, the editorial director of the ABC and a former editor of the Sydney Morning Herald, has died aged 62
Whelan died at Royal Prince Alfred hospital on Wednesday following a seven-year battle with most cancers. She is survived by her husband Chris and two youngsters, Patrick and Sophia
Whelan is being remembered as a fierce advocate for girls within the trade and for having a eager eye for rising expertise.
Lisa Davies, who was editor of the Herald between 2017 and 2021, stated Whelan had been a ‘fiercely aggressive’ chief who had ‘journalism in her veins’.
‘She had the compassionate contact of somebody who genuinely cared; she was fiercely aggressive however would relish the chance to cuddle a colleague’s new child,’ Ms Davies stated.
‘She was additionally a trailblazer for girls in media, who discovered her best satisfaction in recognizing expertise and serving to them obtain nice issues – we’re all the higher for her management and love.’
After beginning as a cadet on the Herald, Whelan excelled on the well being desk earlier than changing into one of many newspaper’s youngest overseas correspondents.
She took a posting in New Zealand and later labored for the publication in Europe.
Whelan was the editor of the Good Weekend between 2004 and 2011, Saturday editor from 2011 and 2013 and editor of the Herald till 2016.
Whelan grew to become one of many Herald’s youngest overseas correspondents when she took a posting in New Zealand throughout her twenties
She was a finalist for the celebrated Walkley Awards on plenty of events.
In 2016, Whelan give up Fairfax Media (now 9 Newspapers) to hitch the ABC.
She labored as head of radio earlier than changing into the nationwide broadcaster’s head of specialist content material after which director of regional and native.
On this position, Whelan managed capital metropolis radio stations and native display content material in 48 regional and rural places throughout Australia.
Final February, she was appointed editorial director of the ABC.
ABC managing director David Anderson stated Whelan had been ‘fearless’ within the face of most cancers and continued to be a ‘formidable’ journalist.
Whelan edited the Sydney Morning Herald and Good Weekend throughout her five-decade profession
‘She carried along with her a dedication to reality and accountability and instilled these values in those that labored along with her,’ he stated.
‘A valued mentor to youthful journalists, Judith nurtured whereas main by instance. Judith was powerful however caring and wished these round her to succeed. Younger reporters knew Judith would champion their work if the story wanted to be advised.
‘Judith spoke her thoughts and was typically the uncommon voice that referred to as out the reality that wanted to be stated, whatever the views of these round her.’
