Celebrating Excellence in Journalism

I was just about to switch off the fairly dull and confused SBS telecast of the Walkley Awards tonight when it suddenly got interesting.

A well-known journalist with whom I have a passing acquaintance was physically attacked by another well-known journalist with whom I used to work and socialise. On national television. Stephen Mayne, of the internet media/politics/business website crikey.com.au, was barreled on stage by News Ltd's political correspondent Glenn Milne.

(Barreled is perhaps too strong a word. Milne is these days certainly barrel chested, but his stumpy little legs prevent much momentum)

Anyway, it kept me watching. A good old-fashioned drunken journos' brawl. Possibly it doesn't confer great credibility on the craft of journalism to do it, live, in front of the cream of the industry, on its night of nights, before a national audience, but there you are.

Mayne, having been shoved from the stage by Milne, and then seconds later having leapt from it to avoid a second charge, recovered his composure well with a few amusing ripostes. Milne, dragged away by the floor manager and reportedly thrown out of the awards dinner by security staff, may think better of his precipitate actions by morning.

Within minutes of the amazing spectacle, reports and pictures of Milne's unedifying behaviour were all over key news websites (especially Fairfax ones). They showed a short, fat man with his shirttails hanging out, being frogmarched away. Not a great look.

I used to see Glenn on the road when we were both journos in Brisbane - he at the Telegraph, me at the ABC, both of us at the Journalists' Club in Bowen Hills. Years later I filled in for him as the Seven Network's Canberra correspondent during his holidays (it was, incidentally, the week of the Thredbo disaster - Glenn was staying in the lodge next to the one that was buried in a landslide. Does trouble follow this man?).

He has had professional and personal issues with Mayne for some time. This is no secret, and has been extensively chronicled in Crikey. Mayne's earnestness, self-obsession and frequent lack of regard for the consequences of his actions can be tedious and taxing. But the sight of Milne trying - at some length - to pick a fight, on-stage, at a supposedly prestigious event, was at best unbecoming, risible, and in a professional sense, idiotic.

Move on, Glenn. Use your journalistic talents to distinguish yourself. And you might want to think about giving away the grog, too.