In a profile in the Guardian's 'Walk with...' series, former Q+A host turned documentary film-maker Tony Jones discusses his career trajectory, his investigation into animal testing, and being part of one of Australia's most enduring media power couples. The 69-year-old journalist, speaking while swimming at Murray Rose Pool in Sydney, describes himself as 'very far from being an activist'. Jones, who premiered a film at Sundance in January, is also the author of the novel The Twentieth Man.
🔍 The Backstory
Tony Jones is one of Australia's most recognisable broadcast journalists, best known for two decades hosting Q+A on the ABC before leaving to pursue documentary film-making. A novel he wrote, The Twentieth Man, was drafted at the building now housing Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf. He is married to fellow journalist Virginia Trioli, and the pair are widely regarded as one of Australia's most prominent media power couples.
🎯 Why It Matters
The profile offers insight into the motivations and self-image of a major figure in Australian public broadcasting at a time when the role of legacy media is under pressure. Jones's emphasis that he is not an activist speaks to contemporary debates about journalists' objectivity and influence, and his move into documentary film-making reflects a broader transition of senior broadcast talent toward long-form factual storytelling.
In a profile in the Guardian's 'Walk with...' series, former Q+A host turned documentary film-maker Tony Jones discusses his career trajectory, his investigation into animal testing, and being part of one of Australia's most enduring media power couples. The 69-year-old journalist, speaking while swimming at Murray Rose Pool in Sydney, describes himself as 'very far from being an activist'. Jones, who premiered a film at Sundance in January, is also the author of the novel The Twentieth Man.
Tony Jones is one of Australia's most recognisable broadcast journalists, best known for two decades hosting Q+A on the ABC before leaving to pursue documentary film-making. A novel he wrote, The Twentieth Man, was drafted at the building now housing Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf. He is married to fellow journalist Virginia Trioli, and the pair are widely regarded as one of Australia's most prominent media power couples.
The profile offers insight into the motivations and self-image of a major figure in Australian public broadcasting at a time when the role of legacy media is under pressure. Jones's emphasis that he is not an activist speaks to contemporary debates about journalists' objectivity and influence, and his move into documentary film-making reflects a broader transition of senior broadcast talent toward long-form factual storytelling.