The Australian at 60: Sky News Aust boss Paul Whittaker interviews Rupert Murdoch

Sky News has announced it will premiere a new documentary The Australian: 60 Years of News on Monday 15 July at 8.00pm AEST. The documentary is being released as the country’s only national broadsheet marks its sixtieth anniversary.

On Wednesday 15 July 1964, a new national newspaper was launched in the Australian capital of Canberra, dedicated to servicing every corner of the country.

The Australian was brought to life by then 33-year-old media proprietor Rupert Murdoch, who was fulfilling the long-held dream of his father, Sir Keith Murdoch, to create a national broadsheet newspaper.

Hosted by Sky News Host and associate editor of The Australian Chris Kenny, the one-hour documentary The Australian: 60 Years of News will take viewers through the archives. It is promising to uncover historic newsroom footage and speak to prominent figures who have contributed to the masthead’s national affairs coverage for six decades. The most anticipated moments of the documentary will no doubt be highlights of an interview with The Australian’s founder Rupert Murdoch.

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Murdoch sat down with chief executive officer of Sky News Australia and former editor-in-chief of The Australian Paul Whittaker in a series of exclusive interviews.

During the conversations, the chairman emeritus of News Corp and Fox Corporation spoke about the early challenges of creating a national newspaper and the impact it had on the Australian media landscape.

The documentary also hears from current editor-in-chief of The Australian Michelle Gunn, editor-at-large Paul Kelly, former editor-in-chief Chris Mitchell, columnist Janet Albrechtsen, investigative journalist and podcast creator Hedley Thomas, cartoonist Johannes Leak, and political leaders including former Prime Ministers John Howard and Tony Abbott and Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price.

Documentary host Chris Kenny said: “It is impossible to imagine this country and our national debate without The Australian now, but its establishment, survival and evolution has been a story of imagination and determination that mirrors the national project it champions. It is a compelling and inspirational story to tell.”

To watch an extended first-look visit SkyNews.com.au.
The Australian: 60 Years of News
The one-hour documentary premieres Monday 15 July at 8.00pm AEST