General Press Release No. 237 (January 2000)

Inaugural Press Council Medal to David McNicoll

The Australian Press Council has awarded its inaugural Australian Press Council Medal to one of its founding members, David McNicoll.

The Medal is the Council's way of honouring a lifetime achievement in support of the print media, its self-regulation and the freedom and responsibility of the press. It will be awarded by the Council from time to time to worthy candidates.

The initial recipient, David McNicoll, has devoted his life to responsible journalism from his cadetship with The Sydney Morning Herald in 1933, through his service as a war correspondent and his subsequent career at the Daily Telegraph and Consolidated Press.

He was a columnist and sub-editor at The Daily Telegraph and later Editor-in-Chief of Australian Consolidated Press (ACP) from 1953 until 1974. After stepping down, he became a columnist and editorial consultant to The Bulletin. He was for many years the moderator of TV's Meet the Press and thus one of the most recognisable faces of Australian journalism.

His prominence enabled him to promote his views on the need for a free press and for responsible journalism. When the Council was mooted in 1976, Mr McNicoll was one of the senior editorial figures involved in the negotiations towards the Council's formation. He suggested the appointment of retired High Court Justice, Sir Frank Kitto, as the founding Chairman.

Mr McNicoll was appointed as a founding member of the Council by the then Australian Newspaper Council and, following the restructure of the Council in 1987, was appointed by ACP as its nominee to the Council. He served in that position until his retirement in June 1999.

Mr McNicoll suffered a stroke in early 1999 from which he is recovering. He hopes to return to his column at The Bulletin in the future.

He was awarded the CBE in 1969 for his services to journalism and later created a Chevalier of the Legion d'Honneur by the French government.

The Press Council Medal will be presented by the Council's Chairman, Professor Dennis Pearce, at a special Press Council lunch in Mr McNicoll's honour on 20 January 2000.

Professor Pearce said today:

"The Press Council has been most fortunate to have had the benefit of David McNicoll's wisdom and good sense throughout its existence.

"David believes passionately in freedom of the press but recognises that with that freedom comes responsibility - a responsibility that he saw as the role of the Council to oversight.

"His contribution to the Council is remembered with respect and affection by all who have served with him."

see also
GPR 232 - David McNicoll's Retirement

[ return to top ]