Stuart Littlemore

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Stuart Littlemore KC is an Australian barrister and former journalist and television presenter. He created ABC Television's long-running Media Watch program, which he hosted from its inception in 1989 to 1997.

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Early career

Littlemore was educated at Scots College, and later studied law at the University of New South Wales, [1] winning the Australian Law Students' Association Championship Moot in 1978.[ citation needed ]

His broadcasting experience began in the late 1960s when he worked as a television current affairs journalist for the BBC in London, and then the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's TV network, firstly on This Day Tonight and then on Four Corners . [2] Having established his legal career, Littlemore created for the ABC in 1989 the media commentary program Media Watch , which he presented for a further nine years. His motivation was "I want to show people the problems – not tell them. The program will be contentious. I hope. And idiosyncratic." [3] He published a book about his media experiences entitled The Media and Me in 1996. [4] Following Media Watch, he had a short-running discussion program, Littlemore (2001), which, like the former program, examined issues about the media. [5]

Littlemore has made a few film and television appearances, playing a reporter in the 1978 film Money Movers and in the 1983 TV series The Dismissal . He made guest appearances on the 1990s comedy series Frontline , playing himself in his role as Media Watch host.

Writing

Between 2011 and 2014 he published the 'Harry Curry' series of novels about a renegade barrister's life at the Sydney Bar: Counsel of Choice, The Murder Book and Rats and Mice. [6]

Littlemore began practising law in 1979, and now specialises in media law and criminal law. [7] He has lectured in journalism and politics at three Australian universities, and been awarded a number of fellowships, including ones from the Australia Council, Deakin University, and the University of Tasmania. [8] As a lawyer, Littlemore has spoken publicly about how he feels it is a professional challenge to knowingly get the guilty acquitted at trial. In an interview in October 1995 on Channel 7 when asked by host Andrew Denton if he could defend "someone who you yourself believe not to be innocent", Littlemore's response was "Well, they're the best cases. I mean, you really feel you've done something when you get the guilty off. Anyone can get an innocent person off. I mean, they shouldn't be on trial. But the guilty – that's the challenge." [9] [10]

Littlemore represented Mercedes Corby, the sister of Schapelle Corby, in her defamation action against Australian television broadcaster the Seven Network which was decided in her favour. [11] He also represented Pauline Hanson in her defamation action against News Ltd., after The Sun-Herald and The Sunday Telegraph published (and later retracted) nude photographs that they claimed showed a young Ms Hanson. [12] A settlement was reached between the parties out of court. [13] In 2012, Littlemore represented former NSW Labor politician Eddie Obeid in hearings before the Independent Commission Against Corruption. [14] In 2020, Littlemore represented actor Craig McLachlan in a high-profile sexual assault case.

Honours

In 2001, Littlemore was appointed an Officier de l'Ordre national du Mérite by the President of France, Jacques Chirac, for services to Law and Journalism.[ citation needed ]

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References

  1. ↑ Brown, A. J. (7 January 2012). "Obituary: Robert Hayes: Backer of those without a voice". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  2. ↑ Davies, Brian (9 January 2008). "Newsman of a different age: John Crew (1927–2007)". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
  3. ↑ "Curator's notes Media Watch – Series 9 Episode 1 (1997) on ASO - Australia's audio and visual heritage online".
  4. ↑ Littlemore, Stuart (1996). The Media and Me. Sydney: ABC Books.
  5. ↑ Tabakoff, Jenny (2 April 2002). "The watchdog barks again". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
  6. ↑ "Stuart Littlemore". HarperCollins.
  7. ↑ "Interview: Stuart Littlemore". 21 July 2011.
  8. ↑ "Educational Integrity Conference". Unisa.edu.au. 22 November 2003. Archived from the original on 23 November 2008. Retrieved 22 November 2009.
  9. ↑ Ackland, Richard (16 March 2007). "Innocence and guilt in the hands of the brief". The Age . Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  10. ↑ Whitton, Evan. "The Cartel: Lawyers and Their Nine Magic Tricks". netk.net.au. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  11. ↑ Brown, Malcolm (30 May 2008). "Jury's verdict is a win at last for Team Corby". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 July 2008.
  12. ↑ "Hanson enlists a Littlemore aid as she takes her final bow". The Age . AAP. 22 March 2009. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  13. ↑ O'Malley, Nick & Jensen, Erik (19 May 2009). "Valuable lesson from Pauline". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  14. ↑ Kate McClymont; Linton Besser (14 November 2012). "Sartor did not want Obeid 'to own him'". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 3 May 2019.
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