Richard Guilliatt is one of the best investigative journalists in Australia. He is a storyteller who brings patience, honesty, and compassion to his work. He has shown that journalism can still value truth over speed and depth over noise for more than 40 years.
Early Career and Building Blocks
In the late 1970s, when typewriters were common in newsrooms, Guilliatt started his career in journalism. He began as a young reporter who cared more about observing and sticking with a story than getting quick headlines. He became known for telling clear, detailed stories while working for The Age in Melbourne.
In 1986, he moved to New York and started working as a freelancer for big newspapers like The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times. He learned how to be strong and accurate by working alone; every word had to earn its place.
Going back to Australia and getting recognition
Guilliatt came back to Australia after years of living abroad with a more mature view of narrative journalism. He started working for The Weekend Australian Magazine, where he found his true calling in long-form writing. His articles looked at culture, psychology, and belief systems with empathy and balance. People liked the way he spoke and how dedicated he was to the truth.
His reputation as a writer who trusted the reader's intelligence grew as he wrote more and more about complicated topics instead of controversial ones.
Books and Success in Literature
Talk of the Devil (1996) was Guilliatt's first book. It looked at the panic over repressed memories that spread through Australia and the rest of the world. He showed the human side of a moral hysteria by doing careful research and thinking things through.
He worked with Peter Hohnen to write The Wolf in 2009. It's about a German raider ship that scared Allied trade routes during World War I. The book, which mixes history and storytelling, became a worldwide hit, winning the UK's Mountbatten Maritime Award and making the shortlist for the NSW Premier's Literary Awards.
These works cemented his reputation as a journalist and author who could turn facts into art.
Investigations and Effects
Guilliatt wrote about things that were important to the whole country at The Australian, like the Stolen Generations and online deception. The Walkley Award for Best Magazine Feature went to his 2000 article about Indigenous history.
He also looked into the Belle Gibson scandal, but instead of treating it like a tabloid story, he looked at it as a psychological study of belief and deception. His work was notable for its perceptiveness and empathy.
Writing Philosophy
Guilliatt thinks that journalism is a slow art that comes from listening. He thinks that a journalist should act like a "historian in real time" by writing down events as they happen without changing them. His writing doesn't use too many words; instead, it builds meaning through rhythm and restraint.
He thinks that stories should last longer than the news cycle and that they should be clear, accurate, and show empathy. His method reminds readers that truth can't be rushed and that telling stories is still one of the most important things journalists do.
Awards and Guidance
Guilliatt's work has won the Walkley Award, the Mountbatten Maritime Award, and has been included in collections of great Australian writing over the years. But he stays humble, putting the trust of his readers above fame.
In addition to writing, he teaches young journalists how to do research, tell stories in an ethical way, and treat readers with respect through workshops and festivals.
Legacy and Impact
Richard Guilliatt's impact goes beyond what he has written. His style changed the way long-form journalism is done in Australia, showing that readers want stories that make them think and feel.
His books are still on university reading lists, and The Wolf is still a standard for historical non-fiction. His career is a reminder to journalists that courage and patience can go hand in hand, and that good reporting is still based on moral clarity.
Last Thoughts
Richard Guilliatt is a great example of what Australian journalism should be: thoughtful, disciplined, and quietly powerful. He has built a career based on honesty and empathy, from his early days in the newsroom to his fame around the world.
In a time when there are so many things to do, his work reminds us that real journalism is about understanding, not noise, and that stories told with honesty never go out of style.
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