Judith Whelan, a former editor of the Sydney Morning Herald and an ABC executive, has died aged 63.
Senior journalists, editors and media executives around Australia have paid tribute to the woman they described as “a true fighter” for journalism, a “fearless” advocate for truth and a beacon for women in newsrooms.
Whelan’s death on Wednesday afternoon followed several years of treatment for cancer. She is survived by her husband, Chris Henning, and her children, Sophia and Patrick.
Whelan was a career journalist who started as a cadet at the Herald in 1985. She was described on Wednesday by the Herald as “a gifted journalist with an obsessive eye for detail”.
She worked as a health reporter then a foreign correspondent, in New Zealand and Europe. She was a repeated finalist in the Walkley awards for feature and news writing. In 2004 she became editor of the Good Weekend magazine and in 2011 took over as editor of the Saturday edition.
In 2013 Whelan was appointed editor of the Sydney Morning Herald – one of only three women to have held the role in the masthead’s 193-year history.
The Sydney Morning Herald editor, Bevan Shields, said Whelan had been “a wonderful editor, colleague and friend”.
“She was at the Herald for more than three decades and remains part of our DNA,” he said. “We are heartbroken by her death. She had a finely tuned news radar but also revelled in journalism that could entertain and inform readers. She was a natural leader and a beautiful person. Our thoughts are with Chris, Sophia and Patrick.”
The former Herald editor Lisa Davies said Whelan had been “a trailblazer for women in media, who found her greatest satisfaction in spotting talent and helping them achieve great things – we are all the better for her leadership and love”.
In 2016 Whelan joined the ABC as head of specialist content, and was later appointed director of regional and local content. In 2022 she became the ABC’s editorial director.
The national broadcaster’s managing director, David Anderson, said Whelan was “our dear friend and colleague” who was “loved and respected across the ABC, especially by our radio and regional teams around the country”.
“Judith was a terrific colleague and friend, caring deeply about the people she worked with and meeting every challenge with warmth, compassion and wit,” Anderson said.
“Judith always had the instincts that made her such a formidable journalist. She carried with her a commitment to truth and accountability and instilled these values in those who worked with her.”
Whelan was a valued mentor to younger journalists with a “tough but caring” approach and she “wanted those around her to succeed”, Anderson said.
“Judith spoke her mind and was often the rare voice that called out the truth that needed to be said, regardless of the views of those around her. Judith was fearless and never took a backwards step throughout her career or when faced with the cancer she has fought in recent years. We have lost a great friend and journalism has lost a true fighter.”
The investigation reporter Kate McClymont, a longtime friend and colleague of Whelan, posted on X that she was “beyond heartbroken” at her death.
The author and journalist Julia Baird also wrote on X: “Still reeling. Judith Whelan was a close, true friend. I so admired her wit, her grit & her judgment. As my editor, her belief in my writing fueled me. She loved music, dancing, opera (esp. Rigoletto!), cooking, supping on joy. I’ll miss her.”
