Mal Walden

Mal Walden (born 20 May 1943) is an Australian retired journalist and television news presenter based in Melbourne. On his retirement from Channel Ten in 2013 he was reported to be the longest ‘continually’ serving face on Australian television. Then after 10 years in radio, and 43 years in television, a life in publishing beckoned with nine books contributing to an extraordinary media career spanning seven decades.

Biography

Walden was the main presenter of the Seven Network Melbourne program Seven National News from 1978 to 1987 and the Ten Network program Ten Eyewitness News from 1987 until 2013.<ref name="MW"/>

Walden was farewelled at State Parliament hosted by Premier Denis Napthine and awarded a lifetime achievement quill by the Melbourne Press Club.

Since his retirement Walden has published nine books: a memoir The Newsman, Good News, a selection of stories that shaped the city of Melbourne, "Don't Piss in my Pocket" a book of quotes, “Crazy Aussie Crims”, "Aussie Icons and Legends" and his ninth book in 2025, “Hidden Headlines”, an unintentional memoir which he describes as his “final chapter” in a media career spanning radio, television and publishing over seven decades.

Career

Walden started his media career at radio station 3YB-FM at Warrnambool, Victoria, in 1961, he worked as a cadet journalist in radio. After joining radio station 3DB, Walden moved to television to sister station HSV-7 in early 1970 as a reporter. One of his first assignments was to go to Darwin to report on the devastation of Cyclone Tracy which ripped through the tropical city on 25 December 1974 (Christmas Day).

In 1978, he became the first working journalist appointed chief news presenter at Seven Network studio. HSV-7, replacing Brian Naylor who had moved to rival Nine Network station GTV-9.

On 27 March 1987, Walden was sacked by new management after HSV-7 was taken over by the Fairfax group. He was told of his dismissal only minutes before going on air to present what became his final news bulletin for the station.

Exactly a month later, Mal joined the Ten Network program. Eyewitness News team at ATV-10 as a reporter and presenter of the segment "Mal's Melbourne", presenting human interest stories. Walden continued as relieving news presenter, reporter and weekend news presenter at ATV-10, as well as presenting special programming such as Young Australian of the Year and ATV-10's 30th Anniversary.

In 1996, Walden took on the role of chief news presenter after David Johnston announced his return to HSV-7. He was appointed news presenter of the station's Ten News at Five alongside Jennifer Hansen and later Helen Kapalos.

In 2004, he published a detailed history of ATV-10 to commemorate the station's upcoming 40th anniversary. In September 2010, Walden was announced as presenter of Melbourne's 6:30 pm Ten Evening News bulletin which commenced in January 2011 but was axed four months later. After Helen Kapalos was dismissed in December 2012, Walden became solo presenter of Ten News at Five.

In 2006, Walden became the longest 'continually serving' face on Australian television, following 36 years presenting.Template:Citation needed

In June 2013, Walden downscaled his role with Network Ten ahead of his intended retirement at the end of 2013 after 40 years as a news presenter and reporter. Walden became the Monday to Wednesday presenter with Stephen Quartermain presenting the Thursday and Friday night editions.<ref name="MW">"Veteran Channel Ten newsreader Mal Walden to step down". HeraldSun.com.au. 30 June 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2013.Template:Dead link</ref>

On Wednesday 4 December 2013, he presented his last Ten Eyewitness News Melbourne bulletin thanking his family, past and present colleagues, station management and viewers.<ref name="Television newsreader Mal Walden reads his last bulletin for Channel 10">Template:Cite web</ref>

Personal life

Walden and his wife Pauline Durham, who originally worked in the programming department at the Seven Network HSV-7 studio, have two adult children.<ref>Mal Walden profile Template:Webarchive, ten.com.au; accessed 10 May 2015.</ref>

External links

• "Mal Walden's 40 years read well", news.com.au; accessed 10 May 2015.