Interviewer: 60 Minutes presents a live interview with Ray Martin.
Interviewer: Ray thank you for taking the time to talk to us tonight, in our live online chat room.
Ray Martin: Tonight’s story probably revealed that I’ve had a fortunate life and a lot of fun.
nafyar asks: Hi Ray, wondering what first got you started in journalism? Was it something you had always wanted to do?
Ray Martin: Yes, I was editor of the school newspaper and magazine, but I began at University intended to be a History and English teacher at a high school. But got lucky when I got a cadetship at the ABC, and it’s been 44 years since and I’ve loved every minute of it.
kp_hardy asks: Ray what’s your favourite story you have ever reported on?
Ray Martin: That’s a tough question, my favourite interview was the last interview with Sir Donald Bradman. My most amazing story was getting to know Prof Fred Hollows. I did a story with an American spy called Christopher Boyce, that’s a story every network wanted and 60 Minutes got it. But I could list 50 stories that I’ve just loved doing and usually I’d tell people it was the last story I’ve just done, that’s how much I love doing what I do.
Renee asks: Hi Ray! What has been the strangest story you have ever had to cover?
Ray Martin: Wow, that’s a good question. Strangest story. Tonight’s story about my own life, that’s pretty strange. I’m used to asking other people questions, so I found that really strange to talk about myself. I did a story about the ghost of Norfolk Island a long time ago, and for someone who doesn’t believe in ghosts I have a lot of ordinary intelligent Australians who tell me their story of ghosts and I have to believe that. That was strange.
rayshead asks: What was your scariest moment in journalism ever?
Ray Martin: I went looking for Crocodile eggs along the Adelaide river in the NT, with the world’s expert on Australian Crocodile, Dr Graeme Webb only half way across the billabong, which was as thick as pea soup that eh said, “Beneath us is like a parking lot of crocodiles”, so I cam back about 5 times as fast as I took to get there. War zones can be scary and civil wars can be scary because they are unpredictable, that makes them dangerous. I’ve covered half a dozen civil wars.
Renee asks: How did you end up landing a job at 60 minutes?
Ray Martin: I was working for Four Corners at the ABC, Channel 9 was starting this new program called 60 Minutes and I was one of the 3 reporters lucky enough to get the job. I still ask myself the same question.
svastsos asks: How does a person, sent to witness the world's horrors, reflect, and perhaps even more basic, get to sleep at night after witnessing those horrors ?
Ray Martin: This is a great question, I covered the ACEH tsunami in 2004 in which 200,000 people were killed. I saw more dead bodies of children and people than I’ve ever wanted to see but I felt it was a privilege for the chance to tell the story for these amazing Archaize people and how strong and resilient they are. I guess, like fireman or police officers, that you have to try and not get emotionally involved. But for journalist, I think it’s probably harder to stay detached because part of the story telling requires you to get to know people. I’ve always worked with camera crews and producers’ conscience that we had to look out for each other, that emotionally we were are vulnerable as the next person. It reminds me of how lucky we are in Australia, and how lucky I am with my family.
kathryn asks: Is it true that you were a pharmacist or at least studied pharmacy?
Ray Martin: No, I did one week of Engineering at the University and then swapped to History. Which I know is a big swap!
PJWALLS asks: Ray. I am a big fan. Firstly your daughter bears a glaring resemblance to a character from the series of underbelly. Am I right?
Ray Martin: Umm, no. She is an actor but she wasn’t in Underbelly. I’m sure she would have loved to have been.
Tommo asks: Gedday Ray, I must say that your interview tonight was personal, honest and showed your extreme proudness of your family. It was extremely moving. What in your life would you change?
Ray Martin: I would have loved to have six children, not just two. I might have preferred having Jenna and Luke when I was younger, but then I wouldn’t have had the experience we have had together, so I wouldn’t change a thing in my life.
josh asks: What talents do you need to become a journalist?
Ray Martin: You got to like people. Got to like telling stories, maybe got to like asking questions. It helps if you can write.
iluka03 asks: Hi Ray. Did you enjoy Eric Bana's impersonations?
Ray Martin: I think Eric is fantastic, I had him on an interview show a few years ago and he was great fun and very intelligent. If someone had to take my off, I couldn’t think of anyone greater than Eric Bana. He also gave me my hair back.
Carmel asks: What is the one thing that you have achieved as a journalist that you are most proud of?
Ray Martin: I hope respect, I hope trust, but only audiences or viewers can decide that. But I try to be honest and hopefully not boring.
lukeyj15 asks: Have you ever felt unsafe or endangered whilst covering a story.
Ray Martin: Yes quite often, as I said in war zones there is no way that you can relax there. I mentioned the Crocodile story which was scary. I did a story in LA in which we had to burst into a house in a ghetto at about 3am where we knew there was some armed men, and that was scary. Afterwards I thought we shouldn’t have been there, and the police said we were foolhardy. We went with expert, but in retrospect we shouldn’t have. Often in television it is usually places like in war where there are no rules that people can do unexpected things.
Morag asks: After all your years in the media, do find all the technology of today incredible, especially with this online facility?
Ray Martin: It’s amazing. I wish I was only 20 and starting out so I could revel in it and exploit it and maybe understand it. The computer age and technology is the most exciting thing that has happened to journalism. I hope it doesn’t take control of journalism; it’s such a powerful medium.
jaclsmate asks: Is there anyone you would have liked to interview but were not able to?
Ray Martin: These are all such good questions. I’d love to have interview Frank Sinatra, I’d still like to interview the Queen and ask her what she carries in her handbag. I reckon it’s just the rolled up paper, because I don’t think there is anything else in her handbag.
hawkey asks: What would be the best part of your career? I met you at a wedding at HMAS Watson you are such a true gentleman!!
Ray Martin: Thank you. Midday was the most fun, 60 Minutes was an unbelievable passport to the world, and A Current Affair gave me daily the chance to do some of my favourite stories of all time. So I’ve never come to a Sunday night in my life and thought “Damn, I have to go to work tomorrow” and that’s a great privilege, I wish everyone had the privilege.
cliff asks: Hi Ray, It was a very brave of you to talk about the treatment at the hands of your father. Why did you choose that now was the time to tell your story?
Ray Martin: I wrote the book and tell the story of my life in that book, I guess in some ways the reason for me to write a book apart from having had a lot of amazing experiences is that people so often use their childhood has an excuse for not doing things. We could all use the bad things that have happened to us as a crutch, but I know a lot of people who just put that behind them, and almost use those experience as a reason for strength and succeeding and I’d like to be able to tell kids, all people that they can do everything. It helps to have a loving family, but I think the lesson in my story and many others is that if you really want to have a go, you can do it; irrespective of your childhood.
miriamlebovi asks: How do you stay so calm and happy despite your unhappy past ?
Ray Martin: The funny thing is, my past and childhoods was wonderful. I was just a boy and travelling and moving on was like a children’s adventure. My sisters were older and two of them were teenagers so it was much tougher on them than me. But I never felt hungry or felt unloved, I had the most wonderful mother and 3 older sisters who loved me. And while my mother was the target of violence from my father when he was drunk, but I wasn’t. My great fear was the trepidation. I talked to people who have come from refuge camps or concentration camps or from long boat voyages across the ocean, like stories form the bible. And my life was easy compared to those people. My life was calm and pure luxury as they said in Yorkshire. So my memory of my life was wonderful, it wasn’t terrible and I guess that is because I had the most wonderful mother.
mimi asks: Thank you Ray for your years of dedication bringing the truth to the Australian public, who was your mentor in the industry?
Ray Martin: In my book I mentioned a man called Selwyn Speight in ABC radio. He started the iconic programs AM and PM 40 years ago. Ita Buttrose’s father Charles Buttrose was my boss in New York in the ABC, he was my mentor and some of the American writers when I first went to NY became my mentors. But I look up to and admire a lot of people ad tried to cultivate the best habits they have, journalistically.
doug asks: Ray was your time on the midday show by your choice, or did the network "place" you there to keep your tenure??
Ray Martin: Our daughter Jenna was born and I wasn’t going to travel as I had for the last 20 years of my life, having waited for long for a child I wanted to be at home. Midday was the marvellous excuse for staying at home. It was the most fun I’ve had in journalism and it probably taught me more than any project I’ve worked on. I can blame Jeff Harvey for that.
ness_r_au asks: Hi Ray, Has your naturally curious nature followed you at all into your relationship with your father, for example have you ever felt the need to have an adult conversation with him to perhaps reveal more about the reasons for his alcoholism/behaviour?
Ray Martin: Yes, although he died 25 years ago and I didn’t get the chance. But I guess I given his violence towards my mother I found no excuse for his behaviour, no matter what the reasons. I can never excuse men who violate women or children.
sticks asks: Is there a question you ever regret asking?
Ray Martin: Wow, got a lot of good interviewers out. Asking Lindy Chamberlain if she killed her baby was honest and necessary, but probably cruel for her. I wish I didn’t have to ask that question, but she wanted me to ask it so she had the chance to tell the truth. She was probably the bravest women I’ve ever interviewed. But to ask any person who has lost a love one to tell their story is tough and really has to be done with great delicacy and sensitivity.
p.maldini asks: You covered the Aus vs Italy game? How did you feel about it? The Australian media was going crazy
Ray Martin: We were robbed! I loved being at the World Cup. I don’t think that Australia deserved the penalty and when Italy won the World Cup, like every Australian I thought “I could have been us!”. Maybe next year in South Africa.
mike asks: Who are the journalists that you respect the most?
Ray Martin: Many, Michael Willesee and Paul Murphy were the two best political interviewers I saw anywhere in the world. Liz Carlyon is not just the best writer among journalist, I think the best writer in Australia and I have huge respect for him. But I have a dozen journalist, Lori Oaks in politics, Alan Ramsay is as good as it gets and there are probably half a dozen American journalist who I love to read.
miaoukat asks: Is it hard to tell the story of people that you do not respect?
Ray Martin: Yes I try to avoid them. Generally I’ve found that most people are interesting and have reasons for their behaviour which is why I’ve obviously interested in their story. If it was an Adolf Hitler or Pol Pot, then that would have been tough. Because they were mad and maniacs and murderers. But generally people I’ve done stories on are not Black and White and there are areas that make them interesting. Any significant figure I’ve met is complex and therefore interesting.
Victor asks: What is most confronting interview you have encountered and why?
Ray Martin: Walter Miak lost his wife and two daughters – two little daughters – at Port Arthur when the massacre occurred. He asked me to come and talk to him about them. That was the hardest interview I ever did. He was so sad and so almost deranged and any man, as any father would be. He took me around his house where his wife and the girls still seemed to life, even days after their death. I felt like an intruder, yet he took my arm and wanted to show me how much he loved them.
Kerryrowe_1 asks: How did your book begin Ray was it hard to write? I’m trying to write one I to had an abusive father an amazing Mother guns also involved. But because of Mum we have all had the best life. I am awaiting a lung transplant and gosh I feel so lucky to have a crack at a second chance and i want the world to know how lucky I have been in my life’s journey.
Ray Martin: You must write your story, you must tell about your mum. It’s easier to write chronologically, although maybe that’s predictable. But I think that it’s a story of ordinary people – including me – that can inspire others who think life is too tough. Your story sounds inspiring.
abdullah asks: You've worked with some of Australia's most respected journalists, George Negus, Tracey Grimshaw and so on..... Was it always serious or did you all have different side behind the camera that we didn’t see?
Ray Martin: Yes of course. George, Tracey and Yanna are all great fun, great story tellers as well as great journalist. Like the people I mentioned earlier, what makes them special is about how complex, what you see on camera, on television night after night is only part of who they are.
mimi asks: As the old nine jingle "still the one" rattles in my head you will always be up there with Brian Henderson as one of the Aussie greats in TV Thanks Ray for the memories and representing common decency in the Australian community. What is your greatest wish for Australia today?
Ray Martin: Thank you for your nice comments. I think Australians are special because of their basic values and decency. I think families and “a fair go” remain and integral part of our character. I would wish that we remain decent.
fiona asks: Hi Ray, After the success of the Hey Hey reunions do you think Australia will ever get another Midday style show? I grew up watching it and enjoying the mix of serious, fun & celebrity. I also had the pleasure of meeting you recently at RedGroup conference and I am now excited about selling your book to readers. Thankyou & best of luck with it.
Ray Martin: Thank you, I loved Midday with a passion and with a lot of laughs. It would be nice to do a night time 25th anniversary of the start of Midday. It reminds one of the mysteries of television, firstly that Channel 9 dumped midday and secondly, that someone hasn’t started a similar program again. It’s an absolute winner!
Arrf asks: Has journalism standards improved or dropped in the last twenty years in Australia?
Ray Martin: I think journalist are better qualified than they were 20 years ago. I think the treatment of women and ethnical minorities and Aborigines is much better together than it was 20 years ago. I worry about the obsession with gossip and with rumours, without facts to back it up. But then as long as people keep buying magazines that deal in gossip, I guess we’ll keep getting it.
cristina asks: Have you ever thought about going in politics?
Ray Martin: I did for a while, a long time ago. But I’ve seen what it does to politicians. It’s not for me, but I admire the good ones.
ChipsRaff asks: Where do you see Australian journalism heading in the future?
Ray Martin: I’ve very optimistic, although I fear that we may have a world without enough newspapers. I love the Internet, but I also love having a newspaper in my hand to read at the breakfast table in the morning. Though I think that news and story telling is part of our culture and there is nothing to replace it. I just hope that the standards are maintained about accuracy and ethics.
carleyo asks: If you didn't become a journalist, what do you think you would have done?
Ray Martin: I would have loved to teach History, I’m a history nut especially Australian history. But if I had a choice, I’d loved to have been an architect. I love design in houses (not public buildings) and community structures. I’d love to have had a go at architecture. But even before that I’d love to open a bowling for Australians against the Poms. I still may in my dreams.
karynr asks: Hi Ray, enjoyed the interview. It was interesting to see you reveal some personal aspects of your own life after all these years of exploring other people's lives and as someone who remembers when your daughter was born during the Midday show years, it was great to see those wonderful images of you with your family. I remember those years fondly as I had my own children around that time and was at home watching the Midday show regularly!. I always remember the Robin Williams interview, how was it dealing with him in person?
Ray Martin: He was the craziest man I’ve ever met! Tough to interview because you never knew what he was going to say or going to do. And you didn’t want to step on his comedy routine. But I loved his humour and I think he was easiest the funniest person I’ve ever met, even those the next day it was hard to remember what it was funny about. He was just funny and mad.
jenniferclai asks: Will we see you on tele again doing what you do so well....you are fantastic. I sent a letter about my daughter with cystic fibrosis back in the days of Midday. You covered cf on the show and replied personally to me, she is 26 now and getting married next year..thanks Ray you are the best!!!
Ray Martin: That’s fantastic, congratulations! Yes I can’t stop telling stories so I will be doing lots more television. But its stories like yours and your daughter that make it all worthwhile. Good luck!
PJWALLS asks: Ray. What is next? Maybe more 60 minute segments reported by you or now you are being reported upon is this retirement in the making?
Ray Martin: No I can’t ever retire, I enjoy journalism too much. You can’t escape me. I’ll be back!
Interviewer: I am sorry we are out of time, do you have anything else you would like to share before we finish tonight?
Ray Martin: My book is called “Stories of my Life”. I’ve really enjoyed the questions tonight, you should all be reporters on 60 Minutes.
Interviewer: Once again thank you and goodnight.
Interviewer: This concludes our chat with Ray Martin, Sunday November 1, 2009.
