Faculty of Arts

Australian journalist, radio and television host Geraldine Doogue joined the Advisory Board in August 2009.

Geraldine Doogue, a UWA Arts graduate originally planned her career as a school teacher. Instead as a result of an impulsive application for a journalism cadetship with the West Australian in 1972, she now has a significant reputation in print, radio and television.

Initially Geraldine spent 2 years in the London Bureau working for the Murdoch group’s Australian papers. After an impressive on-camera presence during an ABC Television interview for a Four Corners program, ABC head office executives offered Geraldine a position in Perth to host the then new program Nationwide.

She soon moved to Sydney to host the NSW edition of the program and established herself as one of the most respected and popular personalities on national television.

Geraldine worked for some time on commercial television, co-presenting Channel 10’s main news bulletin, and on commercial radio with 2UE before returning to the ABC in 1990. She played a major role in ABC TV’s coverage of the Gulf War and during this time was awarded two Penguin Awards and a United Nations Media Peace Prize.

In 1992 she continued her career in radio and began presenting the ABC’s Life Matters, and in 1998 she also became host of ABC TV’s Compass program, exploring issues of spirituality, philosophy and belief. After 11 years with Life Matters, Geraldine moved to a morning host program called Saturday Extra where she explored international politics, business, and Australia’s role on the world stage.

In 2000 Geraldine was awarded with a Churchill Fellowship for social and cultural reporting. In 2003 she was recognised with an Officer in the Order of Australia for services to the community and media.