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Anita Jacoby, is an
Australian Australian(s) may refer to: Australia * Australia, a country * Australians, citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia ** European Australians ** Anglo-Celtic Australians, Australians descended principally from British colonists ** Aboriginal Aus ...
television producer and journalist.


Life

Jacoby was born in
Sydney, Australia Sydney is the capital city of the state of New South Wales and the most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about 80 km (50 mi) from the Pacific Ocean ...
, the daughter of political refugees displaced through the
Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
. Her father was born in Heinrichswalde, Germany, and her mother, a White Russian, was born in Harbin, Manchuria. Growing up, Jacoby aspired to a career in the creative industries, although she was expelled from
Pymble Ladies' College Pymble Ladies' College is an Independent school, independent, non-selective, day school, day and boarding school for girls, located in Pymble, New South Wales, Pymble, a suburb on the North Shore (Sydney), Upper North Shore of Sydney, New South ...
at the beginning of Year 10 “for being a pretty adventurous and difficult 15-year-old determined to push the boundaries”. Before entering the television industry, she had a number of jobs in book publishing and the print industry. Her first job after leaving school was as a marketing trainee at Paul Hamlyn Publishing Company before becoming a trainee book editor working on ''Australia’s Heritage''. She then studied economics at
Sydney University The University of Sydney (USYD) is a public university, public research university in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in both Australia and Oceania. One of Australia's six sandstone universities, it was one of the ...
before returning to Paul Hamlyn's as a book editor. After Hamlyn's Jacoby joined
Australian Consolidated Press Are Media is an Australian media company. It was formed after the 2020 purchase of the assets of Bauer Media Australia, which had in turn acquired the assets of Pacific Magazines, AP Magazines and Australian Consolidated Press (ACP) during th ...
as a journalist working on the ''Australian Women’s Weekly''.


Career

Jacoby's first job in television was as a researcher on ''Makin’ Trax'', a children's show hosted by singer, Robin Jolley and produced at the studios of BTV6 Ballarat (1980). She then joined leading children's TV program, '' Simon Townsend's Wonder World!'' (
Network Ten Network 10 (commonly known as the 10 Network, Channel 10 or simply 10) is an Australian commercial television network. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Paramount Global's Paramount Networks UK & Australia, UK & Australia division and is o ...
) as a researcher/writer (1981). In 1982, Jacoby joined the newsroom at NBN3 Newcastle as a reporter/journalist before forming G & J Productions with producer, Helen Grasswill creating and producing an original TV series for ATN7, ''Weekend Sydney'' (1983). She then worked as a reporter/director on ''Magazine'', a current affairs series on SBS (1984). In 1985 she moved to breakfast television as an on-air producer at ''Good Morning Australia'' (Network Ten) hosted by Kerri-Anne Kennerley and Gordon Elliott. The following year (1986) Jacoby joined rival breakfast show, ''today'' with George Negus and Liz Hayes (Nine Network), rising through the ranks to supervising producer. She was never promoted to executive producer, with a man being promoted ahead of her on each occasion when the position became vacant. Jacoby was appointed an associate producer, then producer at ''60 Minutes'' (
Nine Network Nine Network (stylised 9Network, and commonly known as Channel Nine or simply Nine) is an Australian commercial free-to-air television network. It is owned by parent company Nine Entertainment and is one of the five main free-to-air television ...
) where she worked from 1989 to 1995. She left the Nine Network to join the Seven Network as a producer on various specials including ''The Backpacker Murders, Towards Sydney 2000, Andrew Denton meets Kevin Costner'' and as Series Producer on ''Missing Pieces'' and ''Who Dares Wins''. In 1997 she joined current affairs program ''Witness'' (Seven Network) as a producer. Towards the end of 1997 Jacoby was approached to set up an interview program with broadcaster, John Laws for
Foxtel NXE Australia Pty Ltd, trading as the Foxtel Group, is an Australian pay television company that operates cable television, direct-broadcast satellite, direct broadcast satellite television, and IPTV streaming services. It was formed in April ...
. The ''LAWS'' program secured a world exclusive final interview with fugitive businessman, Christopher Skase at his home, La Noria in
Majorca, Spain Mallorca, or Majorca, is the largest of the Balearic Islands, which are part of Spain, and the seventh largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. The capital of the island, Palma, is also the capital of the autonomous community of the Balear ...
. LAWS was broadcast five nights a week from 1998 to 2000 and guests included Earl Spencer, brother of
Princess Diana Diana, Princess of Wales (born Diana Frances Spencer; 1 July 1961 – 31 August 1997), was a member of the British royal family. She was the first wife of Charles III (then Prince of Wales) and mother of Princes William ...
,
Helen Mirren Dame Helen Mirren (; born Ilyena Lydia Vasilievna Mironov; 26 July 1945) is an English actor. With a career spanning over six decades of Helen Mirren on screen and stage, screen and stage, List of awards and nominations received by Helen Mirre ...
, Viscount Linley,
Jerry Lewis Jerry Lewis (born Joseph Levitch; March 16, 1926 – August 20, 2017) was an American comedian, actor, singer, filmmaker and humanitarian, with a career spanning seven decades in film, stage, television and radio. Famously nicknamed as "Th ...
, and the Irish actor
Richard Harris Richard St John Francis Harris (1 October 1930 – 25 October 2002) was an Irish actor and singer. Having studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, he rose to prominence as an icon of the British New Wave. He received numerous a ...
. In 2001, Jacoby returned to the Nine Network as a producer on the ''Sunday'' program where she produced an award-winning story on the theft of body parts at Glebe Morgue alongside reporter, Helen Dalley. She then rejoined ''60 Minutes'' as a senior producer. Jacoby was appointed Executive Producer of the Canadian format, ''Surprise Surprise'' (Nine Network) and an original program idea, ''Only Human'', hosted by Liz Hayes. Towards the end of 2002 she was approached by Andrew Denton to become executive producer on ''Enough Rope'' for an initial 13-week series on the ABC. From 2003 to 2012, Jacoby worked as the head of production and development as well as executive producer, alongside Andrew Denton at independent production company, Zapruder's Other Films. Zapruder's became one of Australia's leading producers of original programs including: ''Enough Rope'' with Andrew Denton, 2003-2008 (ABC); ''Brothers in Arms'', 2005 (ABC); ''The Gruen Transfer''/''Gruen Nation''/''Gruen Sport'', 2008- (ABC); ''Elders'', 2006-2008 (ABC); ''God on My Side'', 2006 (Feature Documentary/ABC); ''David Tench Tonight'', 2006 (Network Ten); ''Angels & Demons'', 2008 (ABC) ''Hungry Beast'' 2010-2011 (ABC); ''Can of Worms'' 2011-2012 (Network Ten); ''AFP'' 2011-2012 (Nine Network); ''Country Town Rescue'' 2012 (ABC). In 2013, Jacoby was appointed managing director of
ITV Studios Australia ITV Studios Australia is an Australian television production company and the Australian arm of UK company ITV Studios. It was formed as Artist Services in 1989, later becoming Granada Media Australia before being rebranded to its current name i ...
. She was responsible for the commission of ''I’m A Celebrity'' by Network Ten and ''The Chase'' by the Seven Network. In 2015, Jacoby left ITV Studios Australia to pursue new opportunities.


Other media

In 2013, Jacoby was appointed to the
Australian Communications and Media Authority The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is an Australian government statutory authority within the Communications portfolio. ACMA was formed on 1 July 2005 with the merger of the Australian Broadcasting Authority and the Aus ...
(ACMA) for a five-year term by the Minister of Communications. In the same year she established the annual Jacoby Walkley Scholarship for young broadcast journalists through the
Walkley Foundation The annual Walkley Awards are presented in Australia to recognise and reward excellence in journalism. They cover all media including print, television, documentary, radio, photographic and online media. The Gold Walkley is the highest prize and ...
. The program was still active as of 2019. She was a board director of Arts Law Centre of Australia from 2013 to 2016. Jacoby has been a supporter of Documentary Australia Foundation since 2013 and a member of the Screen Producer's Association since 2015. In 2016 Jacoby joined the National Advisory Board of Women in Media Australia, becoming a director in 2018. Since 2017, Jacoby has been a board director with the
Australian Film Institute The Australian Film Institute (AFI) was founded in 1958 as a non-profit organisation devoted to developing an active film culture in Australia and fostering engagement between the general public and the Cinema of Australia, Australian film indu ...
(AFI) and
Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) is a professional organisation of film and television practitioners in Australia. The academy's aim is "to identify, award, promote, and celebrate Australia's greatest achievements i ...
(AACTA). In 2018, Jacoby was appointed to a second five-year term at the ACMA. She has also been a member of the Chair's Circle at Belvoir St. Theatre since 2013. In 2022 her memoir, ''Secrets Beyond the Screen'', was published by Ventura Press.


Community roles

Jacoby is an ambassador for The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award – Australia and was chair of the 60th Anniversary Committee (2019). and chair of the Brand, Media & Marketing Committee . Alzheimer's Australia/Dementia Australia: * Member, New South Wales Advisory Committee, 2012-2017 * Involved in the establishment of the Phillip Jacoby Scholarship, Genetic Research of Alzheimer's, Faculty of Medicine, Sydney University, 2007–2012.
Headspace Headspace may refer to: Science and technology * Headspace gas chromatography, a technique in analytical chemistry * Headspace or ullage, the unfilled space in a container * Headspace technology, the gaseous constituents of a closed space abo ...
: * Non-Executive Board Director, 2013-2016 * Member, Headspace Finance, Audit and Risk Committee, 2013-2016 The
Duke of Edinburgh International Award Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and above sovereign princes. As royalty or nobility, they are ...
- Australia: * Chair, 60th Anniversary (2019) Committee, since 2017 * National Board's Communications and Media Advisor, since 2016 * Award Ambassador, since 2013 The Funding Network: * Non-Executive Board Director, since 2016 1 Million Women: * Advisory Board Member, since 2012 * Ambassador, since 2009 Merry Makers Australia: * Supporter, since 1992


Honours and awards

Anita Jacoby was appointed a member of the
Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an Australian honours and awards system, Australian honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Monarch ...
(AM) on
Australia Day Australia Day is the official national day of Australia. Observed annually on 26 January, it marks the 1788 landing of the First Fleet and raising of the Flag of Great Britain, Union Flag of Great Britain by Arthur Phillip at Sydney Cove, a ...
2019 for her significant service to broadcasting and print media, and to community mental health groups. * Australian Academy of Cinema & Television Arts (AACTA) Award, Best Light Entertainment: ''The Gruen Transfer'', 2012 * Australian Academy of Cinema & Television Arts (AACTA) Nomination, Best Light Entertainment: ''Hungry Beast'', 2011 * TV Tonight Awards – Best Light Entertainment Program: ''The Gruen Transfer/Gruen Planet'', 2011 * Australian Film Institute (AFI) Award, Best Light Entertainment: ''Enough Rope with Andrew Denton'', 2008 * Australian Film Institute (AFI) Award Nomination, Best Light Entertainment: ''The Gruen Transfer'', 2008 * OPSO (Older People Speak Out) Award: ''Elders Series'', 2008 * Human Rights Award (Highly Commended): ''Angels & Demons'' (Mental Health Documentary), 2008 * Australian & NZ Mental Health Service Achievement Award: ''Angels & Demons'', 2008 * QLD Mental Health Week Achievement Awards: ''Angels & Demons'', 2008 * Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia – Commendation: ''Angels & Demons'', 2008 * LIFE Award: ''Angels & Demons'', 2008 * WA Mental Health Good Outcomes Award: ''Angels & Demons'', 2008 * Australian Film Institute (AFI) Award, Best Light Entertainment: ''Enough Rope'', 2006 * OPSO Award, National TV News and Current Affairs: ''Enough Rope'', 2005 * Australian Film Institute (AFI) Award, Best Light Entertainment: ''Enough Rope'', 2004 * OPSO Award – Electronic Media: ''Enough Rope'', 2004 * Australian Film Institute (AFI) Award, Best Light Entertainment: ''Enough Rope'', 2003 * OPSO Award: ''Enough Rope'', 2003 * Mental Health Matters Award: ''Enough Rope'', 2003 * Alzheimer's Association Award: ''Witness'', 1997 * Asia-Pacific Broadcast Union Award: ''60 Minutes'', 1996 * Order of Australia Media Award: ''60 Minutes'', 1995 * Australian Ski Award, Best Electronic Media: ''60 Minutes'', 1995 * Logie Award: ''60 Minutes'' – Chelmsford Hospital Documentary, 1991 * Gold Distinguished Service Medal, The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award – Australia (2021)


References


External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Jacoby, Anita Living people Members of the Order of Australia Australian television producers Australian women television producers People from the North Shore, Sydney People educated at Pymble Ladies' College Year of birth missing (living people)