Rebecca Wilson
{{Short description|Australian journalist}}
{{for|the art curator and editor|Rebecca Wilson (curator)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Rebecca Wilson
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=y|1961|12|22}}
| birth_place = Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|2016|10|7|1961|12|22}}
| death_place = Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| occupation = {{hlist| Journalist| radio broadcaster|television presenter}}
| spouse = Howard Sacre (1990–2003, divorced)
John Hartigan (2012–her death)
| children = Two sons
| relatives = Bruce Wilson (father)
Jim Wilson (brother)
| nationality = Australian
| years_active= 1980–2016
| credits =
| URL =
}}
Rebecca Louise Wilson (22 December 1961 – 7 October 2016) was an Australian sports journalist, radio and television broadcaster and personality, known for the comic television talk sports show The Fat, in which she appeared regularly with host Tony Squires. She was a panellist on numerous television programs including Beauty and the Beast, Sunrise and The Footy Show. She worked in both the newspaper and television industries for over 20 years and won a Kennedy Award in 2013.{{cite web|url=http://kennedyawards.com.au/2013-awards/|title=2013 Awards - The NRMA Kennedy Awards for Excellence in Journalism|work=kennedyawards.com.au|access-date=14 October 2016}}
Biography
= Early life =
Wilson was born in Brisbane in 1961. She recollected that she could not remember a time when newspapers were not in her life – her grandfather was a newsagent and her father a journalist. She attended the University of Queensland and began to study a Bachelor of Arts in journalism, however she was offered a four-year cadetship with the Brisbane Courier-Mail and abandoned her studies in order to take the position.
After four years of general reporting at the Courier-Mail, Wilson moved into television. She worked for Channel 10 Brisbane, where she reported on the Brisbane Commonwealth Games, the Seoul Olympics and rugby league.{{cite web|url=http://www.saxton.com.au/rebecca-wilson/|title=Rebecca Wilson|publisher=Saxton|access-date=7 October 2016}} She also worked for ABC Television as a host and reporter on the show Saturday Afternoon Sports, and was later Media Manager for Super League for four years, a role which she later described as "the most interesting time in my career".{{cite web|url=http://www.mediaman.com.au/interviews/wilson1.html|title=Interview: Rebecca Wilson|last=Tingle|first=Greg|date=14 April 2003|work=mediaman.com.au|access-date=27 December 2010}} Following this, she moved to News Limited as General Manager of their Sydney Olympics Division and then Project Manager for the agency's Rugby World Cup coverage.
Wilson continued her newspaper work with a sports column in the Sunday Telegraph and also co-wrote a sports blog called Bec and Buzz with Phillip Rothfield in the Daily Telegraph.{{cite news|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/inglis-for-better-or-for-worse/story-e6freye0-1225969570177|title=Inglis for better or for worse?|last=Rothfield|first=Phil|author2=Wilson, Rebecca |date=12 December 2010|work=dailytelegraph.com.au|access-date=27 December 2010}} Wilson's opinion pieces regarding the A-League have been controversial and faced significant criticism.{{cite web |url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/les-murray/blog/1178696/The-culture-war |title=The culture war |publisher=theworldgame.sbs.com.au |access-date=7 October 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.theroar.com.au/2014/01/09/faux-media-outrage-is-driven-by-prejudice-not-hooliganism/ |title=Faux media outrage is driven by prejudice, not hooliganism |date=9 January 2014 |publisher=www.theroar.com.au}}{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/sydney-fcs-seb-ryall-supports-calls-for-fan-boycott-victory-chairman-speaks-about-issues-facing-football/story-e6frf4gl-1227631247203|title=FFA, David Gallop, Seb Ryall calls for boycott, Melbourne Victory's Anthony Di Pietro responds|date=2 December 2015}} She leaked the names and faces of 198 individuals who were banned from entering football stadiums by the Football Federation Australia.{{Cite news|url=http://www.goal.com/en-au/news/4021/a-league/2015/11/25/17680762/football-vs-wilson-and-jones-the-week-that-was|title=Football versus Rebecca Wilson and Alan Jones – The Story So Far – Goal.com|date=25 November 2015|newspaper=Goal.com|language=en-AU|access-date=7 October 2016}} As a result, Wilson received death threats from the public and the Football Federation issued a statement urging football fans to refrain from threatening her.{{Cite news|url=http://www.fourfourtwo.com/au/news/ffa-stop-sending-rebecca-wilson-death-threats|title=FFA: Stop sending Rebecca Wilson death threats|date=25 November 2015|newspaper=FourFourTwo|access-date=7 October 2016}} For many years she was an ambassador for the Sydney Swans, but she claimed this did not influence her writings {{cite web |last1=Sydney Swans |title=Vale Rebecca Wilson |url=https://www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/114852/vale-rebecca-wilson |access-date=26 February 2023}}
She was a co-host on the Vega 95.3 breakfast show with Tony Squires and Mikey Robins.{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/how-vegas-star-faded-20100306-ppg2.html|title=How Vega's star faded|first=Tony|last=Squires|work=smh.com.au|date=8 March 2010|access-date=24 October 2016}} In early 2009, Wilson announced that she was leaving Vega and in October it was announced that Vega would no longer continue with the breakfast show.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/the-shows-not-going-on-at-vega/story-e6frewz0-1225783515279|title=The show's not going on at Vega|work=dailytelegraph.com.au|access-date=24 October 2016}}
Wilson was a regular panellist on SportsNight with James Bracey on Sky News Australia.{{cite web|url=http://www.mediaweek.com.au/sky-news-live-hosts-all-girl-panel-on-sports-tonight/|title=Sky News Live hosts all-girl panel on Sports Tonight|publisher=MediaWeek|date=8 April 2015|access-date=29 July 2015}}
= Awards =
In 2013, Wilson was a joint finalist in the Walkley Awards for Excellence in Journalism in the Print/Text News Report category.{{cite web|url=http://www.newsboost.com/newsroom/the-walkley-foundation-for-journalism/finalists-announced-in-the-2013-walkley-awards-for-excellence-in-journalism|title=FINALISTS ANNOUNCED IN THE 2013 WALKLEY AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM – The Walkley Foundation for Journalism|website=www.newsboost.com|access-date=8 October 2016}} The same year, she was a joint finalist in the Kennedy Awards For Excellence in New South Wales Journalism in the Outstanding Investigative Reporting category and the Splash of the Year category.{{Cite news|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2013/07/kennedy-awards-for-nsw-journalism-nominees.html|title=Kennedy Awards for NSW journalism: nominees|date=25 July 2013|newspaper=TV Tonight|access-date=8 October 2016}} Her team won the Splash of the Year category.{{cite web|url=http://kennedyawards.com.au/2013-awards/|title=2013 Awards - The NRMA Kennedy Awards for Excellence in Journalism|work=kennedyawards.com.au|access-date=9 October 2016}} She was awarded 2016 Australian Sports Commission Media Award for Lifetime Achievement,{{cite web|title=Rebecca Wilson honoured with ASC Lifetime Achievement Award for media|url=https://www.ausport.gov.au/news/asc_news/story_652587_vale_rebecca_wilson|website=Australian Sports Commission website|access-date=6 February 2018}} and later that year, a Walkley Award for Journalistic Leadership.{{Cite web|url=https://mediaweek.com.au/2016-walkley-award-winners/|title=2016 Walkley Award winners announced|date=4 December 2016|website=Mediaweek|language=en-AU|access-date=29 March 2019}}
On 12 December 2021, Rebecca Wilson was posthumously inducted to the Sydney Cricket Ground Media Hall of Honour, alongside 11 others added to the inaugural 15 media personalities who were first celebrated in 2014.{{Cite web |date=12 December 2021 |title=Second induction to SCG Media Hall of Honour |url=https://www.sydneycricketground.com.au/articles/second_induction_to_scg_media_hall_of_honour |access-date=4 August 2023 |website=Sydney Cricket Ground}}
=Television career=
| class="wikitable" |
| Year(s)
! Program ! Network ! Role |
|---|
| 2013–2016
| SportsNight with James Bracey | Panellist |
| 2010
| Sunrise |
| 2010
| Foxtel |
| 2008 |
| 2005 |
| 2004 |
| 2004
| 110% Tony Squires |
| 2000–2003
| The Fat |
| 1992–1995
| Saturday Afternoon Sports |
| 1984–1988
| Ten News (Brisbane) |
Personal life
Wilson was the daughter of former News Limited foreign correspondent Bruce Wilson, and the sister of sports reporter Jim Wilson.{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/03/22/1079823298101.html|title=Blood sports|last=Nguyen|first=Kenneth|date=23 March 2004|work=smh.com.au|access-date=27 December 2010}} She was married to television producer Howard Sacre from 1990{{cite web|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/hartos-heartfelt-tribute-to-his-wife-rebecca-wilson-at-her-funeral/news-story/d3bcf5741a8616bd8d12b80443034eda|title=Harto's heartfelt tribute to Bec Wilson|work=adelaidenow.com.au|access-date=25 October 2016}} to 2003,{{cite web|url=http://forums.leagueunlimited.com/threads/rebecca-wilson-is-at-it-yet-again.108474/|title=Rebecca Wilson is at it YET AGAIN......!|work=leagueunlimited.com|access-date=25 October 2016}} with whom she had two children.{{cite news|url=http://www.boatauction.com.au/boat-auction-articles/2003/3/9/jodhis-beach-beauty-draws-3m-smiles/|title=Quick sale for TV duo|last=Chancellor|first=Jonathan|date=9 March 2003|work=Sun-Herald|access-date=27 December 2010}} Her second marriage, in 2012,{{cite web| url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/hartos-heartfelt-tribute-to-his-wife-rebecca-wilson-at-her-funeral/news-story/d3bcf5741a8616bd8d12b80443034eda| website= The Daily Telegraph| title=Harto's heartfelt tribute to his wife Rebecca Wilson at her funeral| author=Hartigan, John}} was to former News Limited chief executive, John Hartigan.{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/pillow-talk-has-a-place-but-not-in-newspapers-20100430-tzev.html|title=Pillow talk has a place, but not in newspapers|last=Baum|first=Greg|date=1 May 2010|work=theage.com.au|access-date=27 December 2010|location=Melbourne}}
Wilson was a repeat offender on driving charges including drink driving and driving without a licence.{{cite news|title=Roosters' salary cap fight brings out worst in NRL|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/12/27/1072308726945.html?from=storyrhs | work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=28 December 2003}}{{cite news|url=http://www.crikey.com.au/2004/08/09/sydneys-sunday-sports-stoush|title=Sydney's Sunday sports stoush|work=crikey.com.au}}
=Death=
Wilson died at her family home in Sydney on 7 October 2016 from breast cancer. Her death was announced that morning by her friend and radio broadcaster Alan Jones who subsequently wrote an obituary in The Australian.{{cite web|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/rebecca-wilson-was-a-warrior-who-tackled-everything-headon/news-story/b472676bed9a9c0664ab97058af2801b|title=Jones, Alan - Rebecca Wilson was a warrior who tackled everything head-on|date=8 October 2016|work=theaustralian.com.au|access-date=28 January 2017}} {{subscription required}}
Her death came as a shock to many people around her because she had kept her diagnosis a secret.{{cite news |url=http://www.9news.com.au/national/2016/10/07/06/47/sports-journalist-rebecca-wilson-has-died |title=Sports journalist Rebecca Wilson has died |work=9news.com.au |agency=AAP |date=7 October 2016 |access-date=7 October 2016}}{{cite news|title=Rebecca Wilson dead at 54|url=http://www.themercury.com.au/news/national/journalist-and-columnist-rebecca-wilson-dead-at-54/news-story/fc785f08eed03ea8bb2f066d2e9f7d82|access-date=7 October 2016|newspaper=The Mercury |date=7 October 2016}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/sports-journalist-rebecca-wilson-dead-at-54-20161006-grwtt9.html|title=Sports journalist Rebecca Wilson dead at 54|date=6 October 2016|newspaper=Brisbane Times|language=en-US|access-date=7 October 2016}} Her funeral was held at St Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney on 14 October 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/celebrity/private-sydney/rebecca-wilson-funeral-attended-by-media-political-and-sporting-identities-20161013-gs258j.html|title=Rebecca Wilson funeral attended by media, political and sporting identities|first=Andrew|last=Hornery|date=14 October 2016|work=smh.com.au|access-date=14 October 2016}}
Wilson is survived by her husband John and two sons.{{cite news |url=http://www.9news.com.au/national/2016/10/07/06/47/sports-journalist-rebecca-wilson-has-died |title=Sports journalist Rebecca Wilson has died |work=9news.com.au |agency=AAP |date=7 October 2016 |access-date=7 October 2016}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilson, Rebecca}}
Category:Australian radio personalities
Category:Australian women radio presenters
Category:Australian television personalities
Category:Australian women television personalities
Category:Writers from Brisbane