Monica Attard

Monica Ann Attard OAM (born December 12, 1958 in Sydney) is an award-winning Australian journalist. She is of Maltese descent.

Education

Attard was educated at Bethlehem College in Sydney.^[1] She attended Sydney University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts. She also holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of New South Wales,^[1] which she attained in 2002.

Career

Attard's career in journalism began at Channel Seven, where she was a reporter from 1977-1981. From 1981-82, she worked for 2WS Radio and at 2GB Radio from 1982-83.^[1] In 1983, Attard moved to the ABC, where she has remained since.^[1]

Attard worked on ABC Radio News from 1983–85 and reporter on ABC Radio programs 'The World Today' and 'PM' from 1985-88. She was a researcher for TV programs 'Four Corners' from 1988–99 and a reporter for 'Lateline' from 1989-90.^[1]

Attard was Russian Correspondent for ABC Radio and TV from 1990-94.^[1] She received three Walkley Awards during this period, including the Gold Walkley in 1991. Attard published a book entitled Russia: Which Way Paradise? in 1997, which documented some of her experiences and interactions with Russians during a period of rapid change.

Attard returned to 'The World Today' from 1997–99 and to 'PM' from 1994-97.^[1]

During 2001-03 and 2005–06, Attard was the national presenter on 'Sunday Profile' on ABC Local Radio.^[2] In the same year, she received the 2002 Walkley Award for Broadcast Interviewing, and graduated with a law degree from the University of New South Wales.

On December 1, 2005, Attard received the 2005 Walkley Award for Broadcast Interviewing. This was given for a series of interviews entitled On The Brink, which aimed to examine the lives of several prominent people who had been experiencing some kind of upheaval in their lives. She interviewed NSW magistrate Pat O'Shane, former HIH Insurance director Rodney Adler and Douglas Wood, a former hostage in Iraq. Her interview with Rodney Adler was a scoop and she received particular praise from the Walkley judges.^[3]

On December 6, 2005, Attard was announced as the new host of the ABC TV program Media Watch for 2006.^[4] She hosted Media Watch for two years, until announcing her retirement at the end of the 2007 series, citing the "extremely taxing" nature of making the program as well as radio presenting commitments.^[5]

Attard also worked as a lawyer for Coudert Bros in Moscow from 2003-04.^[1]

Awards and honours

• Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 1992 for services to the community as a radio correspondent while working in Russia.^[6]
• Walkley Award for Bcast Interviewing for 'on the Brink' 2005
• Walkley Award for Bcast Interviewing for 'Kernot, Beazley and The Bishop' 2002
• Gold Walkley Award for Excellence in Journalism 1991
• Walkley Award for Best International Report (all Media) and Best Coverage of a Current Story (Radio) 1991

External links

• Media Watch website (ABC TV)
• Bearing Witness - An extract by Monica Attard from a book entitled Bearing Witness.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} Who's Who in Australia - entry on Monica Attard
2. ^ "Monica Attard". 612 ABC Brisbane. http://www.abc.net.au/backyard/presenters/MONICAATTARD.htm?brisbane. Retrieved December 7, 2005. ^{[dead link]}
3. ^ "The Walkley Awards". 2005 winners. http://www.walkleys.com/. Retrieved December 7, 2005. 
4. ^ "Attard Fronts Media Watch". The Sydney Morning Herald. December 7, 2005. http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/attard-fronts-media-watch/2005/12/07/1133829602483.html. Retrieved December 7, 2005. 
5. ^ Ricketson, Matthew: Media Watch presenter steps down, The Age, September 19, 2007.
6. ^ Monica Attard OAM, It's an Honour, 12 December 2006.

Media offices
Preceded by Liz Jackson	Presenter of Media Watch 2006–2007	Succeeded by Jonathan Holmes

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Name	Attard, Monica
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Date of birth	December 12, 1958
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