The audience enjoyed stories about life in the field for Australia's best journalists.
Leigh Sales AM, one of Australia's most respected journalists, presenter of Australian Story and recent recipient of an honorary doctorate from Edith Cowan University (ECU), spent an evening with staff, alumni, and media heavyweights to discuss the art of storytelling.
Following the launch of her new book, Storytellers. Questions, Answers and the Craft of Journalism, Dr Leigh Sales was joined on stage by long-time friend and fellow distinguished journalist, Seven's Michael Usher.
"We are human, as such we are all storytellers, some of us though, are just not very good at it," Dr Sales said.
Recipient of three Walkley Awards and former host of ABC's leading current affairs program, 7.30, Dr Sales has interviewed dozens of world leaders and celebrities, including Hillary Clinton, Tony Blair, the Dalai Lama, Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Elton John, Bill Gates and, not to mention, every living Australian Prime Minister.
In conversation with ECU students past and present, she discussed the qualities she believes make a great storyteller: curiosity, being a good listener and having empathy.
"One thing great storytellers have in common is going the extra mile," she said.
"People who are genuinely driven by curiosity just cannot let go of something until they get to the bottom of it."
"You'd be amazed how much people actually open up when they experience genuine empathy."
Professional and personal journeys
Working for different television news networks in US bureaus, Dr Sales and Mr Usher laughed together with the audience while sharing stories from many years ago while working out in the field.
They delved into the craft of journalism, how they view the future of media and the creative industries, and how it will be positively impacted by ECU's new City campus, due to be completed in 2026.
Storytellers and aspiring journalists
Already a best-selling author, Leigh Sales signed her new book for many of ECU's current and former journalism students.
In Storytellers, she turns her interviewing skills onto colleagues and those usually asking the questions: journalists.
She interviews the best in the industry about their craft, delving into how and why they bring us the stories that inform our everyday lives.
It's a fascinating insight into a gruelling, important and much-misunderstood profession which will appeal to anyone who has ever wanted to be a journalist or has their own healthy dose of curiosity.
