Sunday, May 07, 2006

Richard Carleton: 1943-2006

Veteran reporter Richard Carleton died today in Beaconsfield, whilst covering the mine disaster. What I found particularly facinating is that he was captured on-camera literally minutes before he died. Its facinating to see the last few minutes of someone's life. And just seconds before he died, he signed an autograph for a little girl, saying "have a healthy life". Did he know something was happening?

Anyway, before selling out to 60 minutes, it would seem he was a reasonably respectable journalist with the ABC. He famously asked Bob Hawke: "Mr. Hawke could I ask you whether you feel a little embarressed tonight at the blood that's on your hands?" on national TV (of course, whilst he was with the ABC). THat takes guts, and I respect the man. In fact, his career is much like Anakin Skywalker's - he lured from the good side (the ABC) - to the easy path of the Commercial TV. Perhaps somewhere, in Journo's heaven, he is repenting. And then again, maybe not.