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Ita Buttrose

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Ita Buttrose
AC, OBE
Buttrose in June 2014
Chair of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Incumbent
Assumed office
28 February 2019[1]
Nominated byScott Morrison[1]
Governor‑GeneralPeter Cosgrove
DeputyKirstin Ferguson
Preceded byKirstin Ferguson (Acting)
Personal details
Born
Ita Clare Buttrose

(1942-01-17) 17 January 1942 (age 82)
Potts Point, New South Wales, Australia
Spouses
  • Alasdair Macdonald
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1963; div. 1976)​
  • Peter Sawyer
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1979; div. 1981)​
Children2
Residence(s)Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation
  • Television Network ChairMagazine editor
  • Fashion journalist
  • Media personality
  • Businesswoman
  • Author
  • Ambassador

Ita Clare Buttrose AC, OBE (born 17 January 1942) is an Australian TV network chairperson, television and radio personality, author and former magazine editor, publishing executive and newspaper journalist.

She was the founding editor of Cleo, a high-circulation magazine aimed at women aged 20 to 40 that was frank about sexuality (and, in its infancy, featured nude male centrefolds) and, later, the editor of the more conventional The Australian Women's Weekly. She was the youngest person to be appointed editor of The Weekly, which was then, per capita, the largest-selling magazine in the world.

Buttrose was a panellist on the Network Ten morning program Studio 10 from 2013 until 2018.[2]

In 2019 Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced Buttrose as the new chair of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).[1]

Early life and education

Buttrose was born on 17 January 1942 at Potts Point, Sydney,[3][4] and named after her maternal grandmother, Ita Clare Rodgers (née Rosenthal), pronounced /ˈaɪtə/ (rhyming with 'fighter').[5] She has Jewish ancestry on her maternal side.[6] She was raised as a Catholic by her parents.[7] Buttrose's father, Charles Oswald Buttrose, was a journalist and at one time the editor of The Daily Mirror in Sydney. By her own account she had decided on a career in journalism at the age of 11.[8] Buttrose spent her first five years in New York City when her father was the New York correspondent for The Daily Mirror.[9] The family returned to Australia in 1949 and settled in the harbourside suburb of Vaucluse. Her parents divorced during her teens, after 25 years of marriage, and details of her father's private life were printed in the tabloid press, causing considerable anguish to her mother. Buttrose briefly attended a private school but because her father could not afford the fees she was then moved to a public school. She completed her secondary education at Dover Heights Home Science High School, leaving at 15 to begin her career.[4]

She started her career at Australian Consolidated Press, owned by the Packer family, working as a copy girl at The Australian Women's Weekly, then became a cadet journalist on The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph in Sydney. Her first byline came in 1959 when the 17-year-old covered the Australian tour by Princess Alexandra.[9][10]

Career

Buttrose was appointed women's editor of the Telegraph at just 23 years old. In 1966 she won a racetrack fashion contest run by a rival newspaper, for which the first prize was an overseas trip, including a visit to Expo 67 in Montreal. Buttrose and her husband then stopped in England in 1967 where she worked for a time on the British national magazine Woman's Own before giving birth to her first child, a daughter, Kate.[4] It was after her daughter's birth that she received a telegram from Sir Frank Packer, head of Australian Consolidated Press, offering her back her former job as women's editor at the Telegraph. The family then returned to Australia.

In 1971 Buttrose was chosen as founding editor of a new Australian women's magazine.[11] This was originally to have been an Australian edition of the renowned American magazine Cosmopolitan, but the deal fell through after Hearst Magazines sold the Cosmopolitan rights to longtime Packer rivals Fairfax, so Packer and Buttrose set about creating a new publication, dubbed Cleo which they launched in 1972, several months ahead of its rival. Cleo was an instant hit, selling its entire original print run in just two days; the magazine broke new ground in Australian mainstream publishing, featuring the first nude male centrefold (actor Jack Thompson) and frank articles on female sexuality and other topics, leading to the inclusion of the first sealed section in an Australian magazine. During the early months of the magazine, Buttrose became pregnant with her second child, Ben, but with the grudging support of the Packers she worked through her pregnancy; an unusual feat for that time as it was still common for women to have to give up work permanently after they became pregnant.[12]

Buttrose edited Cleo until 1975, when she was appointed editor of the Packers' flagship magazine, The Australian Women's Weekly (1975–76), then she became editor-in-chief of both publications from 1976 to 1978, before being appointed Publisher of Australian Consolidated Press Women's Division from 1978 to 1981. In 1981 she left the Packers after their rival Rupert Murdoch offered her the job of Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph in 1981, making her the first female editor of a major metropolitan newspaper in Australia, a position she held until 1984; she was also appointed to the board of News Limited. During the period 1982-1983 she also had her own weekend radio talk back show simply titled ‘Ita’ for 2UE radio station. She made frequent appearances on radio and TV and in 1980, her media prominence led to her becoming the subject of the song "Ita", recorded by rock band Cold Chisel, which was included on their successful East album.

Buttrose was the chairperson of the National Advisory Committee on AIDS (NACAIDS) from 1984 until 1988.[13] On one occasion, she appeared personally in a nationwide TV campaign to explain that donating blood at a blood bank did not pose a risk of catching AIDS (the fear of which had caused a significant drop in donations). During the mid to late 1980s Ita also had a regular weekly 'Ask Ita' page for the magazine Woman’s Day which gave readers advice on issues.

After her stint with News Limited, Buttrose founded her own publishing company, Capricorn Publishing, and launched her own magazine, Ita during 1989 though due to the recession and a decline in monthly sales the publication eventually folded and she launched a new company, the Good Life Publishing Company, which in 2005 published bark!, a lifestyle magazine aimed at dog owners.[14]

Ita Buttrose at La Traviata at Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour 2012

Author

Buttrose is also a prolific author and has published ten books, including her autobiography, A Passionate Life. In 2011 Penguin published A Guide to Australian Etiquette.

Television

Ita Buttrose at the AACTA Awards with Ross Steele AM

Buttrose was a regular on Beauty and the Beast in the 1990s and early 2000s. Buttrose was also a regular commentator on the Nine Network breakfast show Today and was at one point considered to replace Kerri-Anne Kennerley in the network's morning slot.[15]

In June 2013, Buttrose joined Network Ten where she hosted morning program Studio 10 two mornings a week for the station alongside Joe Hildebrand, Sarah Harris, Denise Drysdale and Jessica Rowe. The show premiered in late 2013.[16] However, 2016 saw Buttrose reduce her appearances on the program to just twice a week to spend more time with her grandchildren.

Ita made a cameo appearance in episode 7547 of The Bold and the Beautiful alongside Brendan Jones and Amanda Keller as a news reporter airing in March 2017.[17]

Buttrose at the premiere of Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

In April 2018, Buttrose resigned as panelist on Studio 10 to focus on other parts of her life, including spending more time with her grandchildren and writing.[18]

Since leaving Network Ten, Buttrose has appeared on The Morning Show on the Seven Network and filled in for Sonia Kruger on Today Extra on the Nine Network.

In 2019 she was appointed chair of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) for a five-year term, which will end in March 2024.[19]

Television programs Ita was on

Year Title Role Type
1974 No Man's Land Herself TV series, 1 episode
1975 This Day Tonight Herself ABC TV series, 1 episode
1977 Maggi Eckhardt Show Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
1978 John Singleton Show Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
1979 This Is Your Life: Ita Buttrose Special Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
1979 This Fabulous Century Herself TV series, 1 episode
1979; 1981 Parkinson In Australia Guest - Herself ABC TV series, 1 episode
1980 Celebrity Tattletales Herself TV series
1980; 1982 The Mike Walsh Show Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
1980 Our World with Ita Buttrose Presenter / Narrator TV series
1981 The Don Lane Show Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
1981 Parkinson In Australia Guest - Herself ABC TV series, 1 episode
1982; 1984 The Mike Walsh Show Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
1982 Beauty and the Beast Herself - Guest Panelist TV series
1984 The Mike Walsh Show Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
1984 Tonight With Bert Newton Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
1985 After Noon Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
1986 Late Night with Jono and Dano Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
1986 Wednesday Woman Herself - Presenter TV series
1986 Television: The First 30 Years Herself TV special
1988 Late Night Oz Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
1989 The Bert Newton Show Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
1989; 1992 The Midday Show Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
1989 60 Minutes Herself TV series, 1 episode
1990; 1992 Tonight Live With Steve Vizard Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
1991 Clive James' Postcard From... Herself ABC TV series, 1 episode
1991 Page One Herself TV series, 1 episode
1991 The World Tonight Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
1991 The Main Event Contestant TV series, 1 episode
1991 Celebrity Wheel Of Fortune Contestant TV series, 1 episode
1992; 1993 Tonight Live With Steve Vizard Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
1992 In Sydney Today Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
1992 The Midday Show Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
1992 Hinch Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
1992 Sydney Extra Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
1992; 1993; 1994; 1995; 1996; 1998; 2000; 2001; 2002; 2003; 2005 Good Morning Australia Guest - Herself TV series, 26 episodes
1993 Real Life Herself TV series, 1 episode
1993 Top Sorts and Superstars Herself TV Special
1993 Tonight Live Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
1994 At Home Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
1994 Midday with Derryn Hinch Guest Host TV series, 1 episode
1994 World Series Debating Herself ABC TV series, 1 episode
1994; 1995 Midday with Derryn Hinch Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
1994 Live It Up Herself TV series, 1 episode
1994 Witness Herself TV series, 1 episode
1995 Dr Feelgood Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
1995 Today Tonight Herself TV series, 1 episode
1995 Midday Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
1996 Our Century Herself TV series, 1 episode
1996-2002 Beauty and the Beast Regular panelist TV series
1997 Roy & HG Guest - Herself ABC TV series, 1 episode
1997 Midday with Kerri-Anne Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
1997 Sex & Beyond: 25 Years Of Cleo Herself TV special
1998 Burke's Backyard Guest - Celebrity Gardner TV series, 1 episode
1998 A Current Affair Herself TV series, 1 episode
1998; 1998 Midday with Kerri-Anne Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
1998 Midday with Kerri-Anne Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
1998; 2001 Denise Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
1998; 1999 Good News Week Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
1999 Good News Week Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
1999 This Fabulous Century: Heroes and Legends Herself TV special
2000 The Morning Shift Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
2000 Laws Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
2001 Denise Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
2002 This Is Your Life: The Showbiz Greats Guest - Herself TV special
2002 New Idea: 100 Fabulous Years Herself TV special
2003 The Panel Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
2004 Rove Live Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
2004 The Way We Were Guest - Herself ABC TV series, 1 episode
2005-2009 20 to One Herself TV series
2005; 2008; 2011 Today Guest - Herself TV series, 3 episodes
2006 Good As Gold Herself TV series, 1 episode
2006 50 Years 50 Stars Herself TV special
2006 Wishbone Herself TV series
2007 Rampant: How A City Stopped A Plague Herself ABC TV special
2007 What A Year Herself TV series, 1 episode
2007 Susie Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
2008 Who Do You Think You Are? Herself - Subject SBS TV series, 1 episode
2008 Talking Heads Guest - Herself ABC TV series, 1 episode
2010 Ten News Herself TV series, 1 episode
2010 Nine News Herself TV series, 1 episode
2010 Seven News Herself TV series, 1 episode
2010 ABC News Herself TV series, 1 episode
2011 Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation Contestant - Herself TV series, 1 episode
2011 Mornings with Kerri-Anne Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
2011 9am with David & Kim Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
2011 Sunrise Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
2011; 2022 The Morning Show Guest - herself TV series, 2 episodes
2013 Australian Of The Year Awards 2013 Herself ABC TV special
2013-2018 Studio 10 Regular host TV series
2015 Julia Zemiro's Home Delivery Guest - herself ABC TV series, 1 episode
2016; 2022 Today Extra Guest host TV series, 2 episodes
2016 Silvia's Italian Table Guest - herself ABC TV series, 1 episode
2017 2017 Logie Awards Herself - Audience member TV Special
2017 The Bold and the Beautiful Guest role: Reporter #1 TV series, US/Australia, 1 episode
2018 Hughesy, We Have a Problem Guest - herself TV series, 1 episode
2019 The Daily Edition Guest - herself TV series, 1 episode
2019 One Plus One Guest - Herself ABC TV series, 1 episode
2019; 2021 News Breakfast Guest - Herself ABC TV series, 2 episodes
2019 7.30 Guest - Herself ABC TV series, 1 episode
2020; 2022 Shaun Micallef's Mad as Hell Herself ABC TV series, 2 episodes
2021 National Press Club Herself - Guest speaker ABC TV series, 1 episode
2022 Back in Time For the Corner Shop Herself ABC TV series, 1 episode
2022 The ABC Of Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
2022 Ticketyboo Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
2022 Insiders Herself - Talking Pictures ABC TV series, 1 episode
2022 Australian Story Herself ABC TV series, 1 episode
2022 Today Extra Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
2022 The Morning Show Guest - Herself TV series, 1 episode
2022; 2023 Studio 10 Guest - Herself TV series, 3 episodes

Other roles and activities

In 2011 she was elected President of Alzheimer's Australia until end of June 2014. She is currently[when?] an ambassador for Alzheimer's Australia.[citation needed]

Buttrose is or has been a patron of Women of Vision, World Vision Australia, the Macular Disease Foundation of Australia, the University of the Third Age, the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation of Australia, Amarant, the National Menopause Foundation, the Sydney Women's Festival, Safety House, and the National Institute of Secretaries and Administrators.[citation needed]

Buttrose is[when?] also an ambassador of the Australian Women Chamber of Commerce (AWCCI) and sits on the AWCCI Advisory Board.[10] She works on the professional speakers' circuit.[20][21]

Recognition and honours

Buttrose was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1979,[22] and appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 1988.[23] In 2003, she was awarded the Centenary Medal.[24] Buttrose was inducted to the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2001, and advanced to Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 2019.[25]

In August 2017 Buttrose was recognised for Outstanding Lifetime Achievement at the annual Kennedy Awards for Excellence in Journalism.[26][27]

In 1984 she was named the Variety Club 'Personality of the Year' as well as winning the Australasian Academy of Broadcast, Arts and Sciences for the 'Most Promising Newcomer to Radio'. In 1993 Buttrose was named Juvenile Diabetes Foundation's 'Australian of the Year'. [citation needed]

In April 2011, Buttrose and Cleo were the subject of the ABC-TV two-part telemovie Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo, starring Asher Keddie as Buttrose, Rob Carlton as Kerry Packer and Tony Barry as Frank Packer.[28]

In January 2013, Buttrose was named the 2013 Australian of the Year.[citation needed]

She was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters degree by Macquarie University in 2014 in recognition of her contribution to the arts. In 2015, she was awarded a second honorary Doctor of Letters degree by the University of Wollongong for her distinguished service to Australian society and for her commitment to advocating for vulnerable people in the community.[citation needed] She was awarded an honorary Doctor of the university degree by the University of New South Wales in 2018 in recognition of her eminent service to health, and for being an inspirational role model for aspiring women in business and for those wanting to make a difference in society.[29]

Personal life

At 21 years of age, Buttrose married architect Alasdair "Mac" Macdonald and had two children. In 1975, while editing The Australian Women's Weekly, her marriage to Macdonald broke down and the couple divorced in 1976. Later she met Peter Sawyer and they married in 1979. By her own account it was "not a very happy marriage"; Sawyer left in 1980 and they subsequently divorced.[4]

Buttrose cared for her father after he was diagnosed with vascular dementia. He died in 1999.[30]

In his 2007 book Who Killed Channel Nine?, former Nine Network producer Gerald Stone claimed that Buttrose and Kerry Packer conducted a private but intense affair during Buttrose's tenure on Cleo. Stone also claimed that Packer even offered to marry her but she rejected the idea and they split after a "blazing row". Buttrose herself has repeatedly declined to comment on the matter.[31]

Buttrose resides in Sydney.

List of works

Buttrose has authored or co-authored 10 books:

  • A Guide to Australian Etiquette (2011)
  • Eating for Eye Health: the Macular Degeneration Cookbook, co-authored with Sydney chef Vanessa Jones (2009)
  • Get in Shape: A complete workout for strength, health & vitality, co-authored with Lee Campbell (2007)
  • Motherguilt: Australian women reveal their true feelings about Motherhood, co-authored with Dr Penny Adams (2005; reprinted 2006)
  • How Much Is Enough? Your Financial Roadmap to a Happy Retirement, co- authored with Will Buttrose and Mike Galgut (2003)
  • What is Love? (2000)
  • A Word to the Wise (1999)
  • A Passionate Life (1998; updated paperback version published 2001)
  • Every Occasion: The Guide to Modern Etiquette (1985)
  • Early Edition: My First Forty Years (1985)

Chapter profile

  • "Ita Buttrose AO, OBE: Journalist, businesswoman, television personality and author", pp. [52]-55, in: The world we see: leadership lessons from Australia's iconic change makers, Sarah Liu, 2016 (ISBN 9780646958804)

Introductions

  • Foreword: Martins, Ralph and Ragg, Mark. Understanding Alzheimer's: the complete Australian guide to the management and prevention of Alzheimer's (2013, Pan Macmillan Australia).

References

  1. ^ a b c Meade, Amanda (28 February 2019). "Ita Buttrose appointed chair of the ABC". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  2. ^ "Ita Buttrose still bringing it in at 71" Archived 21 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine, News.com.au (Australia), 29 June 2014.
  3. ^ Buttrose, Ita Clare (1942–) at The Australian Women's Register (archive)
  4. ^ a b c d "Ita Buttrose". Talking Heads. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 17 March 2008. Archived from the original on 24 January 2010. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  5. ^ Studio 10 (16 January 2017). "Ita Buttrose, This Is Your Life Part 1". Archived from the original on 13 December 2021 – via YouTube.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ "The most surprising celebrity discoveries made on Who do You Think You Are?". 30 August 2016.
  7. ^ Pitt, Helen. (10 April 2011). "Girl talk: Cover story". The Sun-Herald, Sydney. p. 12.
  8. ^ "Enough Rope, 21 June 2004, interview transcript". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 26 April 2006.
  9. ^ a b Helen Pitt, "Ita Buttrose on kick-starting a sexual revolution", Brisbane Times, 11 April 2011
  10. ^ a b Heaney, Claire. "Women to take poll position". Herald Sun. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  11. ^ Australian of the Year 2013, www.australianoftheyear.org.au Retrieved on 7 February 2022
  12. ^ "Ita Buttrose Pt2: 'Paper Giants' – the birth of Cleo, Life Matters, ABC Radio National". Archived from the original on 13 December 2021 – via YouTube.
  13. ^ Buttrose, Ita (1942–), 2008, retrieved 26 February 2012 – via Trove
  14. ^ "National Library of Australia catalogue: Bark!". Retrieved 26 February 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ^ Nine wants an early Ita Buttrose for Kerri Anne Kennerleys morning slot , news.com.au, 22 October 2011
  16. ^ Ita Buttrose joins Ten's morning show, news.com.au, 9 June 2013
  17. ^ "Bold and Beautiful Episode 7547". Archived from the original on 13 December 2021 – via YouTube.
  18. ^ "Ita Buttrose to depart Studio 10". News.com.au. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  19. ^ Evans, Jake (22 August 2023). "ABC chair Ita Buttrose will not seek reappointment in 2024". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  20. ^ "Book Ita Buttrose for your next event".
  21. ^ "Advisory Committee". awcci.org.au. Australian Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Archived from the original on 9 March 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
  22. ^ It's an Honour – Officer of the Order of the British Empire
  23. ^ It's an Honour – Officer of the Order of Australia
  24. ^ It's an Honour – Centenary Medal
  25. ^ "'Extraordinary' Australians honoured in annual Queen's Birthday ceremonies". The Sydney Morning Herald. 9 June 2019. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  26. ^ tvtonight.com.au
  27. ^ "Kennedy Awards Honour Roll". The Kennedy Awards. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  28. ^ IMDb – Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo
  29. ^ Dubach, Isabelle (13 November 2018). "Honorary doctorate awarded to Ita Buttrose, health advocate and inspirational role model". UNSW Newsroom. University of New South Wales. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  30. ^ Martins, Ralph; Ragg, Mark (2013). "Foreword". Understanding Alzheimer's: the complete Australian guide to the management and prevention of Alzheimer's. Sydney: Pan Macmillan Australia. pp. ix. ISBN 9781742611983.
  31. ^ Sharri Markson and Sarah Blake, "Ita's volatile affair with Packer", Sydney Daily Telegraph, 8 July 2007.
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Program started
 Studio 10
Co-host with Joe Hildebrand & Sarah Harris
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Preceded by Chair of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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