Former ABC television presenter Ken Randall has died aged 88.
The respected political journalist, who spent six decades reporting for newspapers, magazines, radio and TV, passed away peacefully on Monday night.
Mr Randall was also the longest serving president of the National Press Club- a role he had for 22 years until he became a patron in 2016.
He remained a supporter of the organisation until his death.
The National Press Club issued a statement to express their condolences to his former wife Helen and his son Tom, daughter Lindsey and stepson Christopher.
It added that Mr Randall had left an ‘indelible imprint on Australian journalism’.
Current president of the Press Club and ABC Chief Political Correspondent Laura Tingle led the outpouring of tributes to her former colleague.
‘Ken was literally the first person I ever worked with when I came to Canberra and he was a kind, generous and wise colleague to me and other young reporters,’ Ms Tingle told the ABC.
Respected political journalist and former ABC television presenter Ken Randall (pictured centre) has died aged 88
Nine Newspapers chief political correspondent David Crowe, took to X to express his condolences.
‘Ken Randall helped make sure the National Press Club survives and thrives to this day. He’ll be missed. RIP,’ he wrote.
Mr Randall began his career working at the ABC in Hobart before he spent stints in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Canberra.
He was also one of the inaugural staff members of The Australian newspaper, which was founded in July 1964.
Mr Randall was the publication’s first defence and diplomatic reporter before becoming an associate editor and chief political correspondent for the broadsheet.
Mr Randall (fourth from left) was among a group of Australian journalists, who accompanied former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, on his historic visit to China in 1971
Mr Randall began his career working at the ABC in Hobart and was one of the founding staff members of The Australian newspaper in 1964 (pictured stock image)
Some of Mr Randall’s most notable achievements included being among a group of Australian journalists, who accompanied former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, on his historic visit to China in 1971.
Mr Whitlam was the federal opposition leader at the time and Mr Randall went on to serve as a press secretary in the Whitlam government.
He was also a foreign policy advisor to former opposition leader Bill Hayden.
Mr Randall also moderated the first televised debate between former Prime Minister Bob Hawke and the then opposition leader Andrew Peacock in the lead up to the 1984 federal election.
Ken Randall (pictured centre with Peter Costello and Wayne Swan) left an ‘indelible imprint on Australian journalism’
He also worked as a consultant to the Australian Defence Force chief and Defence secretary.
Mr Randall was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his services to Journalism and Public Affairs in 1997.
He was recognised as a Member of the Order (AM) in 1999.
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