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Michael Schildberger
Michael Schildberger
Michael Schildberger
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Michael Julius Schildberger (4 April 1938 – 2 June 2010) was an Australian journalist, radio and television presenter, and author. He is best known for hosting A Current Affair in the 1970s.

Key Information

He was the son of Hermann Schildberger.[1][circular reference] Hermann had had an important musical career in Berlin prior to being brought out to Melbourne in 1939 by Rabbi Dr Herman Sanger,[2] to escape the Nazis. He was accompanied by two his wife (check name) and by Michael who was then a babe-in-arms.

Hermann became musical director of Temple Beth Israel in St. Kilda upon arrival in Melbourne in 1939, as well as taking on a number of other important musical roles including being the founding Musical Director of the Camberwell Chorale.[3]

Career

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Michael Schildberger began his media career in 1955 when he joined The Sun News-Pictorial as a copy boy and subsequently became a cadet reporter.[4]

In 1958 he moved to GTV 9 where he remained for the next twenty years. During the 1970s he was executive producer and national host of A Current Affair.[4] For that role, he was awarded a 1976 Logie Award for Best TV Interviewer.[5] While at A Current Affair he conducted the first full-length television interview with singer-songwriter Neil Diamond, who had only previously done brief group press conferences. The interview was in conjunction with Diamond's 1975-76 "Thank You Australia" tour and nationally broadcast live concert.[6]

After leaving Channel 9, Schildberger worked for several years as Director of News for ATV 10 and FOX-FM. He then moved to Melbourne radio station 3LO where he hosted the morning program,[4] with a short stint at 3DB.[7]

In 1984 he founded the media production company Business Essentials.[8]

Schildberger was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1997.[4] He achieved remission, and became a strong advocate of positron emission tomography.[9] The cancer returned in early 2010. Schildberger died at the Cabrini Hospital in Prahran on 2 June 2010.[4]

Publications

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  • The sorcerer's apprentice. Spectrum. 2000. ISBN 0-86786-300-5.
  • Secrets of success. Information Australia. 2000. ISBN 1-86350-319-6.

References

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Michael Schildberger

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Michael Schildberger (4 April 1938 – 2 June 2010) was an Australian journalist, radio and television presenter, and media executive born in Berlin, Germany, known for his influential work in current affairs broadcasting, particularly as host and executive producer of the Nine Network's A Current Affair during the 1970s. His career spanned more than five decades across print, commercial television, public radio, and business media training, earning him a reputation as a versatile and respected figure in Australian media who set high standards for professionalism and storytelling. Schildberger began his journalism career in 1955 as a copyboy and cadet at The Sun News-Pictorial in Melbourne before transitioning to television at GTV9 (Channel Nine), where he worked as a reporter and later served as head of the Canberra bureau and executive producer and presenter of A Current Affair. He went on to hold senior roles including news director at Channel Nine and Channel Ten, where he introduced the hour-long Eyewitness News format, and later hosted morning programs on ABC Radio 3LO and worked at Fox FM. In 1984 he founded Business Essentials, a company providing media training and business resources, which he continued to lead with his son in later years. He authored the autobiography The Sorcerer's Apprentice in 2000, reflecting on his encounters with major political figures and media leaders. After a 14-year battle with prostate cancer, Schildberger died on 2 June 2010 at age 72, remembered by colleagues and family as a consummate professional, generous mentor, and positive influence in Australian journalism and public life.

Early life

Family background and immigration

Michael Julius Schildberger was born on 4 April 1938 in Berlin, Germany. He was the son of Hermann Schildberger, a lawyer, pianist, and conductor active in Berlin's Jewish Cultural League. Facing Nazi persecution, the family fled Germany, with Hermann obtaining an entry permit to Australia after receiving an invitation from Rabbi Hermann Sänger to serve as musical director of Temple Beth Israel in Melbourne. They arrived in Melbourne in early August 1939, when Michael was 16 months old, accompanied by his parents. This immigration marked the family's resettlement in Australia as refugees from Nazi Germany.

Education

Michael Schildberger was educated at Melbourne Grammar School. He attended the independent Anglican school in Melbourne, Victoria.

Early career

Michael Schildberger began his journalism career in 1955 when he joined The Sun News-Pictorial in Melbourne as a copy boy. This entry-level role at the newspaper, part of The Herald and Weekly Times group, introduced him to newsroom operations and provided his first hands-on experience in print media. A stint in this position led to a reporting cadetship, during which he served as a cadet reporter and underwent formal journalistic training. His early years in print journalism at The Sun News-Pictorial established the foundation for his subsequent career in media. Following this newspaper experience, he moved into television at GTV9.

Early television work

Michael Schildberger began his television career in 1958 when he joined GTV9 (Channel 9 Melbourne), initially working in the station's publicity department. He quickly transferred to the newsroom as a reporter, with a former colleague recalling that the move happened rapidly: "He very soon gravitated to the newsroom. It only took about a month for the news director to see where he really belonged." Schildberger spent 20 years at the Nine Network, remaining until the late 1970s. Colleagues described his reporting style as marked by natural warmth and empathy that drew people to share their stories, making him believable and relatable on screen. He progressed to executive producer and host roles, including on A Current Affair.

A Current Affair

Later career

News direction at Channel 10

In 1979, Michael Schildberger joined Melbourne's ATV-0 (Channel Ten) as Director of News, where he introduced the hour-long Eyewitness News format as an innovation in Australian television news presentation. This extended bulletin aimed to deliver more detailed reporting but proved short-lived. Later in 1979, when the station reverted Eyewitness News to a half-hour format, Schildberger returned to an on-air role, serving as co-newsreader alongside Peter Hanrahan during the summer of 1979/80. In 1980, he was removed from the presenting position and replaced by Jana Wendt. In 1980, Schildberger transitioned from television to radio broadcasting.

Radio broadcasting

Michael Schildberger pursued radio broadcasting in Melbourne during the 1980s following his television work. He served as news chief at FOX-FM upon the station's launch in mid-1980, where he also worked as a radio host. He presented morning talkback on commercial station 3DB during the 1980s. He later moved to ABC Radio station 3LO (now ABC Radio Melbourne 774), presenting its morning program in the late 1980s and joining as a senior broadcaster in 1989. He remained in prominent radio roles for close to a decade after leaving television in 1980. Colleagues lauded his professionalism during this period. Former ABC colleague Richard Brown described him as a consummate professional who brought a high level of professionalism to 3LO from his prior experience as news director at Nine. Jon Faine, a presenter at ABC 774, recalled Schildberger's presence as incredible for a novice learning the power of the microphone, adding that his passing meant a little piece of the collective memory of the radio station, and a big part of Melbourne, was now gone.

Business Essentials

In 1984, Michael Schildberger founded Business Essentials, a media production company focused on creating training packages, including media training, for business leaders and politicians. The venture marked his transition from mainstream journalism to specialized media content, beginning with audio programs featuring interviews and advice that established it as one of the earliest monthly business audio series. Schildberger authored The Sorcerer's Apprentice in 2000, a book drawing on his media career through anecdotes, humor, and reflections on the industry. Despite health challenges after his prostate cancer diagnosis in 1996, Schildberger continued active involvement with Business Essentials. He recorded his final interview for the company, featuring former NAB and BHP chief Don Argus, in May 2010. Following Schildberger's death, his son Nick Schildberger assumed leadership as Managing Director, ensuring the company's ongoing operation and evolution into its current format of audio magazines and business advice resources.

Personal life

Family

Schildberger had four adult children: Tim, Kate, Nick, and Amy. He also had an adult stepdaughter, Randi. At the time of his death in 2010, he was survived by his children Tim, Kate, Nick, and Amy, as well as his stepdaughter Randi. His son Nick later took over presenting Business Essentials.

Health challenges and advocacy

Michael Schildberger was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1997. Following his diagnosis, he publicly shared details of his condition through media interviews to urge other men to seek regular prostate cancer screenings. He candidly discussed the treatment side effects he experienced, including impotence and the need to wear a nappy, framing these challenges as preferable to the alternative of advanced disease. In one widely noted statement, Schildberger remarked, “You’re better off being in a nappy than being in a coffin,” to highlight the value of early detection despite potential embarrassment or discomfort. Schildberger emerged as an advocate for advanced diagnostic tools and preventive care in men's health. He was among the first patients to undergo treatment using the positron emission tomography (PET) machine at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne and promoted its benefits in avoiding unnecessary invasive procedures. In a 2007 appearance on The 7:30 Report, he explained how the PET scan had spared him from damaging treatments and suggested it might have prolonged his life. His broader contributions to raising awareness of male reproductive health were acknowledged through his significant involvement with Andrology Australia, the nation's center of excellence in the field. At his funeral service, Victorian Governor David de Kretser described him as a great advocate and public educator for men's health issues. Schildberger continued his professional broadcasting work while managing his illness for much of the intervening years.

Death

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