The ABC and The Sydney Morning Herald is today paying tribute to Judith Whelan . As a journalist, she was the editor of The Sydney Morning Herald for a time. Later she worked as an ABC executive.
Whelan has died aged 62 after a long battle with cancer. The newspaper she once edited reported: Whelan died at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital surrounded by husband Christopher Henning , daughter Sophia and son Patrick . She had been battling cancer for several years.
Herald editor Bevan Shields said Whelan was adored by the newsroom. “Judith was a wonderful editor, colleague and friend,” he said. “She was at the Herald for more than three decades and remains part of our DNA.
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.” Lisa Davies , the Herald editor between 2017 and 2021, said Whelan had “journalism in her veins”. Whelan edited Good Weekend for seven years before first editing the flagship Saturday edition of The Sydney Morning Herald , later moving up to edit the weekday newspaper.
See also: Judith Whelan, former Herald editor and ABC executive, remembered as a trailblazer for women Former SMH editors Amanda Wilson, Lisa Davies and Judith Whelan pictured in 2021 to mark the Herald’s 190th birthday. Photo: James Brickwood/The SMH The ABC has noted Whelan was first appointed di.