Mal Walden

Mal Walden (born 20 May 1943) is a former Australian journalist and television news presenter based in Melbourne. On his retirement, he was reported to be the longest continually serving face on Australian television with a media career spanning six decades. Walden was the main presenter of Melbourne's Seven National News from 1978 to 1987 and Ten Eyewitness News from Monday to Wednesday until 2013.[1]

Mal Walden
Born (1943-05-20) 20 May 1943
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
OccupationNews presenter
Years active1961-2013
Spouse(s)Pauline Durham
Children2
WebsiteMal Walden
Presenter profile

Walden was farewelled at State Parliament hosted by Premier Denis Napthine and awarded a lifetime achievement quill by the Melbourne Press Club.

Since his retirement Walden has published two books: a memoir The Newsman, and Good News, a selection of stories that shaped the city of Melbourne.

Career

Starting his media career at radio station 3YB-FM at Warrnambool, Victoria, in 1961, he worked as a cadet journalist in radio. After joining radio station 3DB, Walden moved to television to sister station HSV-7 in early 1970 as a reporter. One of his first assignments at HSV-7 was to go to Darwin to report on the devastation of Cyclone Tracy which ripped through the tropical city on 25 December 1974 (Christmas Day).

In 1978, he became the first working journalist appointed chief news presenter at HSV-7, replacing Brian Naylor who had moved to rival station GTV-9. On 27 March 1987, Walden was sacked by new management after HSV-7 was taken over by the Fairfax group. He was told of his dismissal only minutes before going on air to present what became his final news bulletin for the station. Exactly a month later, Mal joined the Eyewitness News team at ATV-10 as a reporter and presenter of the segment "Mal's Melbourne", presenting human interest stories. Walden continued as relieving news presenter, reporter and weekend news presenter at ATV-10, as well as presenting special programming such as Young Australian of the Year and ATV-10's 30th Anniversary.

In 1996, Walden took on the role of chief news presenter after David Johnston announced his return to HSV-7. He was appointed news presenter of the station's Ten News at Five alongside Jennifer Hansen and later Helen Kapalos. He celebrated 30 years in television news on 8 June 2000. In 2004, he published a detailed history of ATV-10 to commemorate the station's upcoming 40th anniversary. In September 2010, Walden was announced as presenter of Melbourne's 6:30 pm Ten Evening News bulletin which commenced in January 2011 but was axed four months later. After Helen Kapalos was dismissed in December 2012, Walden became solo presenter of Ten News at Five.

In 2006, Walden became the longest continually serving face on Australian television, following 36 years presenting.

In June 2011, Walden celebrated 50 years of broadcasting (media).

In June 2013, Mal downscaled his role with Network Ten ahead of his intended retirement at the end of 2013 after 40 years as a news presenter and reporter. Walden became the Monday to Wednesday presenter with Stephen Quartermain presenting the Thursday and Friday night editions.[1]

On Wednesday 4 December 2013, he presented his last Ten Eyewitness News Melbourne bulletin thanking his family, past and present colleagues, station management and viewers.[2]

Personal life

Walden and his wife (Pauline Durham, who originally worked in the programming department at HSV-7) have two adult children.[3]

gollark: Approximately, yes, but facial muscles are hard.
gollark: I never actually worked out how to do smirks.
gollark: ¿
gollark: ***BEE YOU.***
gollark: I don't sleep, except when I sleep.

References
  1. Veteran Channel Ten newsreader Mal Walden to step down, HeraldSun.com.au, 30 June March 2013; retrieved 1 July 2013.
  2. Knox, David (4 December 2013). "Television newsreader Mal Walden reads his last bulletin for Channel 10". TV Tonight. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  3. Mal Walden profile Archived 19 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine, ten.com.au; accessed 10 May 2015.
Media offices
Preceded by
Brian Naylor		 Seven National News
Weeknight Presenter
1979 - 1987		 Succeeded by
Greg Pearce
Preceded by
David Johnston		 Ten Eyewitness News
Weeknight Presente
1996 - 2013		 Succeeded by
Stephen Quartermain
Preceded by
Originator		 Ten's Evening News
Weeknight Presenter
24 January 2011 – 1 April 2011		 Succeeded by
6.30 with George Negus
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