Veteran broadcaster Geraldine Doogue, left, enthralled a passionate audience in Sydney on Friday. In fact, it was at the 28th annual Andrew Olle Media Lecture, presented on July 25, 2025. Her keynote, called “Not Drowning, Waving,” was a mix of irony and introspection. It would examine the changing nature of journalism and what that means to the changing role of media in our democracy.
Doogue is a towering, veteran figure in Australian media. In her prolific career, she’s always been a seeker—challenging questions of faith and spirituality that speak to the core of her listeners. In her keynote, she focused on the dogged reporting of journalists Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward in breaking the Watergate scandal. She called on all of today’s media to do the example of truth and integrity justice.
A Career Spanning Decades
Doogue on the steps of Newspaper House on St Georges Terrace in Perth, where she began her journalism career in 1972. Since then, she’s been reporting abroad, mostly in the Middle East, China and around the U.S. It is this experience that gives her uncommon perspective on the world and has allowed her to approach complicated subject matter with unmatched expertise.
Through the decades, Doogue has witnessed, reported, and shaped some of the most influential moments and cultural advancements in this country. Importantly, she covered the rookie reporters who helped topple Richard Nixon’s White House. Their unflinching quest for justice is a testament to journalism’s power to make the world a better place.
Reflecting on her career, Doogue stated, “The centre cannot hold … The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity.” This quote from W.B. Yeats sums up nicely what she worried about—like too many journalists today—with the direction journalism and public discourse have taken.
The Changing Face of Media
In 2022, Doogue explored faith and belief in all their forms here in Australia. Her brilliance was on full display in her creative direction for ABC TV’s “The Australian Soul.” This collaborative exploration underscored the dynamic quality of religious conviction and pursuit, as well as its relevance and role in today’s society. By leaning into these themes, she showed real authenticity through a focus on connecting with voters on urgent issues.
In her address, Doogue pointed out that an overwhelming number of young people are being pulled into a career in journalism in unprecedented numbers right now. She quoted Mathias Döpfner, who remarked, “More and more young people want to become journalists because they want to improve the world.” This growing trend reflects a larger national movement and a realization that journalism can be an effective engine for social change.
Doogue recognized the realities that are crushing the dreams of young journalists. As Döpfner cautioned, “I think that’s a dangerous misunderstanding of journalism.” The duty to truthfully educate the public has never been more important, particularly in a time when lies and clickbait run rampant.
Navigating Challenges Ahead
Doogue’s lecture was a troubling reminder of what is a continuing crisis in the current media landscape. Christopher Clark aptly stated, “A crisis is unfolding before our eyes — and in our heads.” This use of the term apocalypse shows the increasing fear foreseen in both journalists and consumers about the future of news.
Rasmus Kleis Nielsen further emphasized this point by asserting that “the public doesn’t miss yesterday’s news, but journalists miss the public.” This disconnect between media outlets and the public they serve is a huge challenge that Doogue sought to tackle.
To combat this disconnect, Nielsen suggested that “a wiser course of action might be to impress people, rather than try to depress them.” I think compelling storytelling and creative approaches are the keys to finding and reigniting people’s passion for journalism. Doogue was a fierce proponent of getting journalists to meet audiences where they are— in their tiny homes. This mindset encourages a partnership-oriented connection between media and public.
