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60 Minutes publicity portrait of Jana Wendt
https://www.nfsa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-07/photo-jana-wendt-1985-1496051.jpg
Title:
60 Minutes publicity portrait of Jana Wendt
NFSA ID
1496051
Year
1985
This unsmiling publicity portrait of TV journalist Jana Wendt hints at her sharp, steely interviewing style, which quickly earned her the nickname ‘perfumed steamroller’ from fellow journalist George Negus. Smart, outspoken and defiant, Wendt made her mark when she joined top-rating 60 Minutes in 1982, becoming the first female reporter on the iconic current affairs team and changing the face of Australian TV journalism. At just 24, Wendt had swapped her Melbourne newsreader’s chair for a passport to dive into the world’s biggest stories. Handpicked by executive producer Gerald Stone, she joined legends like Negus, Ray Martin and Ian Leslie. Wendt's talent soon won over her male colleagues and captivated Australia. She made her stories unforgettable, sparking ‘water cooler conversations’ the next day – the ultimate mark of TV journalism success.
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