“Some people think there’s a massive conspiracy where what goes on the news is controlled my media magnates. For that I’d just like to say, “Come in, sit down and watch how quickly decisions are made and you’ll quickly find out there’s no way possible we could ask a higher power if they are ok with the content of that.” Kate McGrath.
Kate McGrath is up at 4.20am each day for her high pressure “dream gig” as Nine Melbourne’s Chief of Staff.
Having worked with her in TV news I can vouch for her incredible people skills, this girl knows how to network.
Here’s how my date with Kate went down…
Martine Harte: So Kate just what does a television Chief of Staff do?
Kate McGrath: I always think of it as playing an insane game of Tetris, you’ve got all the falling blocks and you’re constantly trying to make them fit. I’m the point that all the information comes to and then I pass it on to the news director.
A Chief of Staff has to have faith in their own news instincts – it’s about suiting different journalists to their strengths, cameramen to their strengths.
It’s also knowing when to play good cop and when to play bad cop, sometimes people need to be just told to harden up, other times they may need a cuddle.
MH: You started as a reporter at Network Ten was it a natural progression from reporting to the desk?
KM: For me absolutely. I stopped caring so much about one aspect of the news and I started caring about the news as a whole.
I started thinking about what our news looked like compared to other bulletins and how we could do it better, I cared about the news service as a whole rather than my particular story.
MH: Name your most fabulous career moment?
KM: It has to be getting a shot at being a foreign correspondent. I’m not going to lie, I was in holidays in Rome, the Pope died and I happened to be there. I was catholic so I’d done my thirteen years of homework! (laughs)
I was in the right place at the right time and it was great. I’d look behind me and there was the Vatican and I was telling the story of the Pope’s life. For me – I was a history major at university – so for me this was my moment in telly to share history.
MH: Do you have moments where the pressure gets to you?
KM: Well you see they are my favourite moments, I love it when everything is falling apart; my favourite thing is making decisions under a lot of pressure, because essentially that’s my job. I go totally Zen when that happens.
I love watching everyone else freak out around me and for some reason I can still make decisions and remain unflustered. After the fact when we are off air that’s when I say “oh my god, someone get me a wine!” (laughs)
MH: What about the heartbreaking stories? How do you cope with those?
KM: I cope with the heartbreaking stories in the same way our audience does. I’m utterly devastated by the Luke Batty story. I cannot get it out of my mind. All at once saddened and angry. The day I stop caring is the day I need to find a new job.
MH: Best tips for someone wanting to work in news?
KM: Just love it! If you love it and you’ve got massive drive then you’re half way there. But you have to love it and I can tell and if you don’t then I’m not going to put you on a story of the day.
I’m absolutely not interested in anybody who just wants to be on TV, or just wants to be famous, seriously try another show other than news.
It’s a conundrum because you look at TV news and everyone there is very attractive, but they’re not there because they are attractive. They are there because they present well and lets face it there’s a lot of time that goes into giving yourself a bit of a spit and polish. But if you can’t chase and you can’t deliver then I’m sorry you’ve got no place.
MH: Anything you’d like to clear up in relation to your job?
KM: Some people think there’s a massive conspiracy where what goes on the news is controlled my media magnates. For that I’d just like to say, “Come in, sit down and watch how quickly decisions are made and you’ll quickly find out there’s no way possible we could ask a higher power if they are ok with the content of that.”
It all happens too fast, it’s certainly not a conspiracy.
Kate with good friend Elise Elliott at a St Vincent’s hospital “sisterhood” function
HOOK UP WITH: Kate McGrath
Follow her on Twitter https://twitter.com/KateMcG6
She’s also a St Vincent’s Hospital Foundation board member and one of three women to start the Sisterhood Foundation.