From small-town reporter to media executive

Warwick’s life was simple and leisurely, best exemplified by the fact that on his 16th birthday in 1948, Johnson rode his bicycle to the police station to ask if he could get a driver’s license. His only test was to answer the officer’s questions: “Does your father know you’re here?” and “Can you drive?” Johnson answered “yes” to both questions, even though he should have said “no.” Johnson got his license and rode home.

Ironically, the first major turning point in his life came when he was hit in the knee by a hard ball while playing cricket, his favourite sport. This happened at a crucial time in his education. He needed two operations and spent three months in hospital before taking his Junior or Intermediate Certificate exams at Warwick State High School. He went on to study for a Higher Certificate but lost interest and dropped out. He only had an Intermediate Certificate with a low pass mark, which frustrated his dream of becoming a newspaper reporter.

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Johnson applied for cadet positions across Australia, but was unsuccessful. The most pointed rejection came from The Courier-MailTed Bray of Brisbane, later Sir Theodore Bray, told him to forget about being a journalist because he only had an intermediate certificate with low marks.

He joined the National Australia Bank with a starting salary of Shs 210 per week. After working in the bank for 9 months, his life took a dramatic turn as he was offered an opportunity to work as a first-year trainee in the National Australia Bank. Warwick Daily News. “I didn’t hesitate,” Johnson wrote in his memoir. “At 19, I began a lifelong love affair with journalism.”

He spent the next four years zealously learning the art of newsgathering, covering everything from courthouses and legislative sessions to sports and rodeos. What followed was what Johnson called “a wonderful irony.” Ted Bray, The Courier-Mail An editor who had rejected Johnson’s internship application hired him on the recommendation of a senior journalist. Johnson was soon writing front-page stories, including reporting on unrest in New Guinea, and became a roving reporter in the South Pacific islands and Queensland. He was in his 20s.

As his fame grew, Johnson was Sydney Morning HeraldWorked there for a year and then moved to Melbourne Sun News Pictorial Soon gained a reputation as a ‘colour’ writer, covering major events such as the Melbourne Cup, VFL Grand Final and Grand Prix.

Johnson tried his hand at career in London, where he worked for Daily Sketchbut after his father’s death he returned to Australia, Sun News Pictorial. He was poached again, this time by Fred Peterson, the editor-in-chief of The New York Times. Sun HeraldAustralia’s largest selling newspaper. He became chief feature writer and reporter, but at Fred Peterson’s urging he soon rose from reporter and feature writer to senior executive of John Fairfax & Sons, beginning his highly successful career, one of two new turning points in his life.

Another time, across the dance floor at Sydney’s Trocadero, he spotted his fiancée, Penelope Susan Tait (always known as Penny), to whom he had been married for 57 years.

He was then promoted to Director of News and Current Affairs at Seven Network Australia, tasked with revitalising the ailing Seven News, a new area of ​​journalism for him. His shrewd moves helped boost ratings by making good use of newsreader Roger Climpson’s popularity and hiring Alan Wilkie, the first trained meteorologist to present the weather on Australian television.

After successfully rebuilding Channel 7’s news and current affairs programming, he returned to Broadway headquarters in 1977 as Financial Review, National Times, sun and Sun HeraldIt was an administrative position he had never enjoyed.

Johnson’s next serious challenge came in 1981 when he was appointed chief executive of the Macquarie Radio Network, charged with halting the decline in popularity of its eight capital city and regional radio stations.

“This is another new area I’m passionate about,” Johnson wrote. At Macquarie, Mike Carlton, John Laws, Derrien Hinch and Alan Jones all called him “the boss”. They all played a key role in the rebuild.

In 1988, after a successful stint at Macquarie, he returned to Channel 7 as Director of News and Current Affairs, a position he held until his retirement in 1992 at the age of 60.

However, his career was far from over. Village Publishing was one of the jewels in the Fairfax crown and John B. Fairfax took over the publishing company on behalf of his family after Warwick Fairfax II’s failed bid for the main company and asked Johnson to use his expertise in broadcasting as an advisor to help diversify media assets, including radio stations. Village Publishing subsequently built the largest radio network in regional Australia.

Brian McCarthy, then head of Rural Press, praised Johnson’s outstanding contribution. John B Fairfax, who was chairman of Macquarie Broadcasting during Johnson’s tenure as CEO of John Fairfax Limited, praised Johnson’s professionalism in dealing with broadcasting entrepreneurs such as Mike Carlton, John Laws and Derryn Hinch, none of whom, as Laws pointed out, were “cowards”.

John Fairfax said: “Bob was a people person who knew how to respect his employees and get the best out of them. He was an excellent journalist who later became an executive with a humble and pragmatic approach to decision making. He represented the best of John Fairfax’s organizational culture and character at the time.”

Johnson had always been aware of his lack of higher education, and after retirement he enrolled at Macquarie University to study Arts, with a major in English and Philosophy.

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For the past 17 years, family and friends have watched him slowly and heartbreakingly age from multiple myeloma, a blood disease. During COVID, he was diagnosed with inoperable spinal stenosis.

During this period, he has always maintained an optimistic attitude, showing courage and tenacity. Penny has always been by his side. The last words Johnson said before his death were Penny’s name.

Bob Johnson’s survivors include Penny, children James and Susie and their families.