Mike Munro
Michael Munro | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 12, 1953 Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Journalist, television presenter |
| Years active | 1971–present |
| Known for | 60 Minutes, A Current Affair, This Is Your Life, Sunday Night |
Michael Kenneth Munro (born 12 April 1953) is a distinguished Australian journalist and television presenter.
Early life
Munro attributes his drive for achievement to a challenging upbringing, which included an alcoholic and abusive mother. His education began at Sacred Heart Primary School in Mosman, followed by attendance at Marist Catholic College North Shore located in North Sydney. Launching his career at the age of 17, he started as a copyboy for The Daily Mirror in 1971. After seven years working in print journalism, he briefly transitioned to television before returning to newspapers when Rupert Murdoch appointed him to the NewsCorp bureau in New York, where he contributed to publications across Great Britain and Australia.
Television career
In 1982, Munro made his way back to Sydney’s television scene as a senior reporter with Channel 10. Two years later, he became part of the Nine Network's Willesee current affairs show. By 1986, he succeeded George Negus as a reporter on 60 Minutes, remaining there for seven years and earning acclaim for interviews with high-profile figures such as Madonna and Katharine Hepburn.
Subsequently, Munro took on roles as both reporter and presenter for A Current Affair. In 1996, he played a pivotal role in the contentious Paxton family investigation. He stepped down from hosting duties in 2003 after voicing concerns that the show had shifted its emphasis from investigative journalism to consumer-oriented stories. His professionalism during this time was commended by his then-superior, Peter Meakin.
Munro is also well known for hosting This Is Your Life between 1995 and 2005, returning briefly in 2008. In 2005, he succeeded Georgie Gardner as presenter of National Nine News: Afternoon Edition, resigning from that role in 2006 but continuing as weekend news anchor until 2008.
In 2006, Munro hosted two programs on the Nine Network: Missing Persons Unit and What a Year, both of which were discontinued by the following year.
After more than two decades with Nine Network, Munro resigned on 26 October 2008. Early in 2009, he signed a three-year deal with the Seven Network to launch the current affairs show Sunday Night. He also occasionally filled in on the breakfast program Sunrise.
Munro joined Network Ten in January 2014 as presenter of Ten Eyewitness News Weekend, but left after one year in protest against staff layoffs within the news division.
In recognition of his contributions to journalism and community service, Munro was appointed a member of the Order of Australia in 2014.
In 2017, he hosted and co-produced Lawless – The Real Bushrangers, a four-part documentary series aired on Foxtel's History Channel that examined crime scenes connected to infamous figures like Ned Kelly and featured his own great uncles from the Kenniff gang. The following year, Munro presented Mateship – Australia & USA: A Century Together, a documentary celebrating the enduring military partnership between Australia and the United States.
In August 2019, HarperCollins published Munro’s book titled The Last Bushrangers: When History Becomes Personal — The Story of the Murderous Kenniff Gang.
Honours
During the 2014 Queen's Birthday Honours, Munro received the distinction of Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in recognition of his "notable contributions to journalism as a television current affairs reporter and presenter, as well as his role as an ambassador for multiple charitable organizations."
Personal life
Munro is married to Lea, and together they have two children.