General Press Release No. 242 (October 2000)

Appointment of New Chairman

The Australian Press Council has appointed Emeritus Professor Ken McKinnon as its new Chairman, commencing December 1st, 2000.

One of the country's most distinguished educators, Professor McKinnon was Vice Chancellor of Wollongong University from 1981-1995. His professional interests and achievements have covered a wide field in education, science, technology and the arts, both in Australia and in Papua-New Guinea.

Professor McKinnon will succeed Professor Dennis Pearce, a former Commonwealth Ombudsman, who was appointed Chairman of the Council in 1997.

The Press Council's Vice Chairman, Lange Powell, said today that Professor Pearce's Chairmanship had greatly enhanced the Council's role and public profile.

"Dennis Pearce has been a strong moving force in many areas of interest to the Council, and has extended its reputation as a vigorous, independent advocate for newspaper readers and for the freedoms and responsibilities of the Australian press", he said.

"Dennis has led our representations to the Federal Government on media self-regulation, cross media ownership rules, and privacy legislation. He has guided several major structural and procedural changes needed to ensure the Council remains responsive to new developments in the press, such as the growth of on-line publications".

"Above all, he has provided just the right mixture of diplomacy, intellectual rigour and, on occasion, sheer negotiating toughness. They're essential qualities in a Chairman of an organisation that regularly has to mediate between the competing perspectives of private individuals, editors, and commercial, professional or political interests", he said.

Mr Powell said Professor Pearce's achievements had made the task of finding his successor all the more exacting.

"Professor McKinnon's experience and personal standing demonstrate precisely the independence and commitment to the public interest that the Council wants to maintain. We are delighted that he has responded with such enthusiasm to our invitation to take up the Council's key position", he said.

Professor McKinnon said he relished the opportunity to be part of the effort to maintain the strength, freedom and fairness of Australia's press.

"I've long valued and admired that tenacity, skilled news-gathering and irreverence for sacred cows that characterises our press. It has to fight off regular attempts to muzzle news sources, cover up scams and take refuge in antiquated defamation laws.

"There is equal interest for me in combating the potential modern technology offers for completely stripping away the privacy of individuals. Technological developments are forcing the press to grapple with a fascinating range of new questions of fairness", he said.

Professor Pearce said he had greatly enjoyed working with the Press Council, and regretted that the pressure of other commitments prevented him from seeking a further term of office.

"Australia is fortunate to have not only a free but responsible press. The Council plays a vital role in maintaining this position, and provides a flexible and effective mechanism for dealing with complaints against newspapers at no cost to taxpayers", he said.

"I wish Professor McKinnon and the Council well for the future".

A short CV for Professor McKinnon
Index of articles by Prof Dennis Pearce.

return to
Index of guidelines

[ return to top ]