Monica Attard

Monica Attard
Born	(1958-12-12) December 12, 1958 Sydney, Australia
Occupation(s)	Journalist, academic
Years active	1977–present
Known for	Reporting on 1991 Soviet coup attempt, hosting ABC's Media Watch

Monica Ann Attard (born 12 December 1958) is a distinguished Australian journalist and academic.

Early life

Born in Sydney to parents of Maltese heritage, Attard completed her schooling at Bethlehem College, Ashfield and Santa Sabina College. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Sydney and, in 2002, earned a Bachelor of Laws from the University of New South Wales.

Career

Attard launched her journalism profession at Channel Seven (1977–1981), subsequently working in radio at 2WS and 2GB. In 1983, she joined the ABC, contributing to ABC Radio News and programs including The World Today and PM. Her research work supported Four Corners between 1988 and 1999, alongside reporting duties for Lateline during 1989–1990.

Between 1990 and 1994, Attard served as ABC's correspondent in Russia. Her coverage of the 1991 Soviet coup attempt from Moscow brought her international acclaim and resulted in three Walkley Awards, notably the coveted Gold Walkley. She authored the book Russia: Which Way Paradise? in 1997, analyzing Russia’s period of significant change.

Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, Attard returned to hosting ABC radio programs nationally, including Sunday Profile. She secured a Walkley Award in 2002 for Broadcast Interviewing and completed her law degree that same year. In 2005, she earned another Walkley Award for her interview series On The Brink, which featured prominent personalities such as NSW magistrate Pat O'Shane and former HIH Insurance director Rodney Adler.

In December 2005, Attard was named host of ABC TV's Media Watch, a position she held until her retirement in 2007 due to the role's intensity combined with other responsibilities. From 2003 to 2004, she practiced law with Coudert Bros in Moscow. Early in 2012, she became the founding editor of The Global Mail.

Attard took on the role of head of journalism at Macleay College in June 2016. Subsequently, in February 2018, she was appointed professor and Head of Journalism within the faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Technology Sydney, commencing duties in July. In 2019, she contributed as a judge for New Zealand’s 2019 Voyager Media Awards.

Personal life

During her time in Moscow, Attard met Gregory ("Grisha") Klumov, originally from Russia; they married in 1993. Klumov was designated Australia's Senior Trade Representative to Moscow in 2003. The couple has one son named Sasha.

Awards and honours

• Gold Walkley Award for Excellence in Journalism, 1991
• Walkley Awards for Best International Report (all Media) and Best Coverage of a Current Story (Radio), both awarded in 1991
• Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM), awarded in 1992 for distinguished service as a radio correspondent in Russia
• Walkley Award for Broadcast Interviewing for Kernot, Beazley and The Bishop, received in 2002
• Walkley Award for Broadcast Interviewing for On The Brink, awarded in 2005