Karen Middleton (journalist)
{{Short description|Australian journalist}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Refimprove|date=November 2024}}
Karen Middleton is an Australian political journalist in the Canberra Press Gallery covering the Parliament of Australia in Canberra, the national capital of Australia. Until March 2025, Middleton was Political Editor of Guardian Australia.
Career
Middleton was Chief Political Correspondent and Canberra Bureau Chief for SBS Television.{{when|date=November 2024}}{{cn|date=November 2024}}
She was a seasoned radio and TV commentator, had a weekly radio spot on James O'Loghlin's Evening Show on ABC Radio across New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, and on Perth radio 6PR, Sydney radio 2GB and ABC Radio National, and TV appearances on Sunrise on the Seven Network, Meet the Press on the Ten Network, and ABC TV's Insiders.{{cn|date=November 2024}} She is a fortnightly commentator on Radio New Zealand and has done commentary and analysis for CNBC and al Jazeera.{{cn|date=November 2024}}
Middleton was a political correspondent for several newspapers, such as The West Australian, the Melbourne Age and Herald Sun, as a weekend columnist for the Canberra Times, and as an occasional contributor to The New York Times.{{cn|date=November 2024}} In 2016, Middleton gained the position of Chief Political Correspondent for The Saturday Paper.{{Cite web|title = Erik Jensen on Twitter|url = https://twitter.com/erikojensen/status/677693866817028096|via = Twitter|accessdate = 2015-12-18}}
In October 2016, Middleton wrote about her experiences of being sexually harassed while covering Australian politics as a journalist.{{cite web|url=https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/opinion/topic/2016/10/15/sexual-harassment-politics/14764500003857|title=Sexual harassment in politics|date=2016-10-15|website=The Saturday Paper|publisher=Schwartz Media|access-date=2016-11-05|last1=Middleton|first1=Karen}} Later she described the strong response she had received for this article, and about how some who had read it described it as "jawdropping" or "deeply unsettling".{{cite web|url=https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/2016/10/22/the-ubiquity-sexual-harassment/14770548003886|title=The ubiquity of sexual harassment|date=2016-10-22|website=The Saturday Paper|publisher=Schwartz Media|access-date=2016-11-05|last1=Middleton|first1=Karen}}
In 2024, Middleton left her position at The Saturday Paper to become Guardian Australia's Political Editor.{{Cite web |last=Saeed |first=Danyaal |date=9 February 2024 |title=Exclusive: Guardian Australia appoints Karen Middleton as political editor |url=https://www.crikey.com.au/2024/02/09/guardian-australia-appoints-karen-middleton-political-editor/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250316132824/https://www.crikey.com.au/2024/02/09/guardian-australia-appoints-karen-middleton-political-editor/ |archive-date=16 March 2025 |access-date=17 March 2025 |website=Crikey}} However, from late 2024, Middleton went on extended leave.{{Cite web |last=Saeed |first=Daanyal |date=15 January 2025 |title=Why are so many journalists leaving Guardian Australia? |url=https://www.crikey.com.au/2025/01/15/why-are-journalists-leaving-guardian-australia/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250115074033/https://www.crikey.com.au/2025/01/15/why-are-journalists-leaving-guardian-australia/ |archive-date=15 January 2025 |access-date=17 March 2025 |website=Crikey}} In March 2025, Middleton announced her departure from the role, but revealed her intention to continue with political journalism.{{Cite web |last=Jaspan |first=Calum |date=5 March 2025 |title=Guardian staff stonewalled over status of absent political editor |url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/guardian-staff-stonewalled-over-status-of-absent-political-editor-20250305-p5lh3t.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250305062041/https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/guardian-staff-stonewalled-over-status-of-absent-political-editor-20250305-p5lh3t.html |archive-date=5 March 2025 |access-date=17 March 2025 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}{{Cite web |last=Jaspan |first=Calum |date=14 March 2025 |title=Guardian political editor exits after months of turmoil |url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/guardian-political-editor-exits-after-months-of-turmoil-20250314-p5ljql.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250314084855/https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/guardian-political-editor-exits-after-months-of-turmoil-20250314-p5ljql.html |archive-date=14 March 2025 |access-date=17 March 2025 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}{{Cite web |last=Madden |first=James |last2=Manning |first2=James |date=16 March 2025 |title=Media Diary: Married At First Sight expert caught up in street video drama |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/media-diary-married-at-first-sight-expert-caught-up-in-street-video-drama/news-story/23d5e37d890834ccd34e83e1971a9b58?amp |url-status=live |access-date=17 March 2025 |website=The Australian}}
=Notable professional achievements=
2011
Middleton reported for SBS from Afghanistan in August and published a book through Melbourne University Press on Australia's involvement in the War in Afghanistan, titled 'An Unwinnable War' in September.{{cn|date=November 2024}}
2008
Middleton was awarded a Churchill Fellowship.{{cn|date=November 2024}}
==Afghanistan, March 2007==
While on assignment in Afghanistan in March 2007, Middleton and other Australian journalists were travelling in an Australian Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter that was fired on with at least one rocket propelled grenade. Middleton's SBS colleague, cameraman Jamie Kidston, was at the rear ramp of the helicopter and filmed the RPG pass the back of the Chinook. He only saw the missile pass when reviewing and editing the tape. The story made national news on several TV and radio networks, and in newspapers.[http://www.worldnewsaustralia.com.au/region.php?id=135468®ion=2 Close call for Aussie journos] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070317061554/http://www.worldnewsaustralia.com.au/region.php?id=135468®ion=2 |date=17 March 2007 }}, SBS news, 14 March 2007, accessed 15 March 2007
This visit was neatly timed to coincide with an un-announced visit by Prime Minister John Howard and Chief of the Australian Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, to meet Australian troops. Howard also met the President, Hamid Karzai.[http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200703/s1873083.htm Howard pays Afghanistan surprise visit], Australian Broadcasting Corporation news, 15 March 2007, accessed 16 March 2007
==Copenhagen, 2009==
Middleton reported and blogged for SBS on the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, notably reporting from a "press room" in a shipping container in a snowy car park.[http://www.sbs.com.au/news/blog/108750/Copenhagen-Critical Copenhagen Critical: SBS Chief Political Correspondent Karen Middleton reports on the Copenhagen climate summit.], Karen Middleton, SBS, December 2009, accessed 9 February 2010
Personal life
Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada to Australian parents, Middleton grew up in Canberra, attending Belconnen High School and Hawker College.{{citation |url=http://www.education.act.gov.au/canberra-public-school-alumni/alumni-list?result_658003_result_page=M |title=Celebrating the Achievements of our Past Students |publisher=ACT Government |website=Education Directorate |accessdate=30 January 2017 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221192636/http://www.education.act.gov.au/canberra-public-school-alumni/alumni-list?result_658003_result_page=M |archivedate=21 December 2016 }}
She has been a regular volunteer of her time and talent to assist refugee families relocate to Australia.{{cite news|title='Karen Middleton, Chief Political Correspondent SBS: AMSA 2013 Journalism Excellence Award'|url=http://www.migrationcouncil.org.au/awards/amsa-2013/amsa-2013-guest-speakers/karen-middleton-speech/|accessdate=26 May 2015|work=Migration Council Australia|date=2013}}
Middleton's grandfather was Sir Crawford Nalder, who served as deputy premier of Western Australia from 1962 to 1971.MacDonald, Janine (1997). [http://global.factiva.com/aa/?ref=twau000020011009dt9r00f0o&pp=1&fcpil=en&napc=S&sa_from= New Bureau Chief] – The West Australian. Published 27 September 1997. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
Publications
- An Unwinnable War: Australia in Afghanistan, 2011 (Note: The original title was The... and there are numerous references to "The Unwinnable War".){{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2011/09/05/3310202.htm |title=Karen Middleton – An Unwinnable War|first1=Virginia|last1=Jones|first2=Alex|last2=Sloan|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date= 5 September 2011|accessdate=14 January 2017|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170114043301/http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2011/09/05/3310202.htm|website=666 ABC Canberra|archivedate=14 January 2017}}[http://www.borders.com.au/book/the-unwinnable-war-australia-in-afghanistan/24922261/ The Unwinnable War: Australia In Afghanistan], advertisement with "The..." but showing correct cover with "An...", Borders.com.au, accessed 8 October 2011
References
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Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Australian political journalists
Category:People educated at Hawker College
Category:Australian women television journalists
Category:Canadian emigrants to Australia