Former ABC TV host Ken Randall has died at the age of 88.
The respected political journalistwho reported for newspapers, magazines, radio and TV for sixty years, passed away peacefully on Monday evening.
Mr. Randall was also the longest-serving president of the National Press Club.
He served as president of the organization for 22 years until he became a patron in 2016 and remained a supporter of the organization until his death.
The National Press Club released a statement to express their condolences to his ex-wife Helen and his children Tom, daughter Lindsey and stepson Christopher.
The Press Club said Mr Randall left an “indelible mark on Australian journalism”.
His colleagues, including the current president of the Press Club and ABC chief political correspondent Laura Tingle, paid tribute to Mr Randall.
“Ken was literally the first person I ever worked with when I came to Canberra and he was a kind, generous and wise colleague to me and other young reporters,” Ms Tingle told the newspaper. ABC.
Respected political journalist and former ABC TV host Ken Randall (pictured center) has died at the age of 88
Chief Political Correspondent for The Age and Sydney Morning Herald newspapers, David Crowe, went to X to offer his condolences.
“Ken Randall ensured that the National Press Club survives and thrives to this day. He will be missed. RIP,” he wrote.
Mr Randall started his career at the ABC in Hobart before moving to several capital cities including Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Canberra.
He was also one of the founders of The Australian Newspaper, which was established in July 1964.
Mr. Randall became the paper’s first defense and diplomatic correspondent before serving as the paper’s editor-in-chief.
He also worked as the paper’s associate editor before becoming chief political correspondent for the broadsheet.
Mr Randall (fourth from left) was among a group of Australian journalists who accompanied former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam on his historic visit to China in 1971
Mr Randall started his career at the ABC in Hobart and was a founding editor of the Australian newspaper in 1964 (stock photo)
Some of Mr Randall’s most notable achievements included being part of a group of Australian journalists who accompanied former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam on his historic visit to China in 1971.
Mr Whitlam was the federal opposition leader at the time and Mr Randall served as press secretary in Whitlam’s government.
Mr Randall also moderated the first televised debate between former Prime Minister Bob Hawke and then Opposition Leader Andrew Peacock in the run-up to the 1984 federal election.
He was president of the National Press Club at the time.
Mr. Randall also held high-profile positions in his career, including as foreign policy adviser to former Opposition Leader Bill Hayden.
Mr Randall (pictured centre) moderated the first televised debate between former Prime Minister Bob Hawke and then Opposition Leader Andrew Peacock in 1984 (pictured left Peter Costello and pictured right Wayne Swan)
He also worked as an advisor to the Chief of the Australian Defense Force and the Minister of Defence.
Mr Randall was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 1997 for services to journalism and public affairs.
He was recognized as a Member of the Order (AM) in 1999.