Peter Charley
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Peter Charley is a U.S-based journalist, documentary film maker, television producer and author.[1][2][3][4]
Early life and education[]
Charley was born in Deniliquin, Australia. His father, Philip Charley OAM[5] was the son of Sir Philip Charley and grandson of Major Philip Charley, one of the ‘Syndicate of Seven’ who founded Broken Hill Proprietary Ltd (BHP) in 1883. [6] In 2018, BHP's revenue was estimated to be $US43.64 billion.[7] Charley spent his teenage years at boarding school in Australia and in Papua New Guinea where his family was based in Goroka, Madang and Port Moresby. In 1973, he was invited to accompany a medical expedition into the remote Eastern Highlands of Papua New Guinea to investigate an outbreak of the fatal brain disorder ‘kuru’, caused by ritualistic cannibalism.[8]
Charley attended The Scots School, Albury, and Newington College, in Sydney. He studied communications at New York University and holds a master's degree in media practice from the University of Sydney.
At Harvard University, Charley studied Central Challenges of American National Security, Strategy and the Press (via Ed-X).
Charley undertook European studies at the European Academy in Berlin and studied Spanish Language at Escuela Dinámico in Antigua, Guatemala, and Spanish Language and Latin American Culture at the Academia de Español in Quito, Ecuador.
Journalism career[]
Charley began his career as a reporter on the Sydney Morning Herald and the Sydney Sun newspapers in Australia where he worked as a general news reporter, feature writer and music critic. He later worked as an on-air news and current affairs reporter and producer at the Seven Network in Australia before moving to New York, where he worked as Associate Producer at Sixty Minutes, Channel Nine, and as a reporter for National Public Radio.
Charley traveled extensively throughout Central and South America, covering conflict and civil unrest in El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Bolivia, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Brazil.
Charley's coverage of conflict also included unrest in Syria, Cambodia's fight against the Khmer Rouge, East Timor's struggle for independence, the Bougainville war, unrest in South Africa, Libya and the Los Angeles riots.
In 1986, Charley was appointed Show Producer of the weekly, current affairs program, The Reporters, produced by Fox Television, New York.
Between 2000 and 2007, Charley worked as Executive Producer of the ABC's flagship news program, Lateline. He then joined Australia's SBS television as Executive Producer of the international current affairs program, Dateline – a position he held for seven years. In 2014, he left Dateline to take up the role of Senior Executive Producer of Al Jazeera's North American investigative unit, based in Washington DC.
At Al Jazeera, Charley was responsible for producing, writing and reporting the controversial two-part series 'How to Sell a Massacre' which involved a three-year undercover infiltration of the National Rifle Association of America. The program led to the resignation of 'Pauline Hanson's One Nation' Senate candidate Steve Dickson after secretly-recorded video showed Dickson and One Nation's Chief of Staff James Ashby meeting with officials from the NRA and with representatives of Koch Industries in Washington, DC.
In 2019, Charley was approached by HarperCollins to write a book on the making of the documentary series. The book, 'How to Sell a Massacre - One Nation, the US gun lobby and $20 million - inside journalism's most audacious sting', was published in August, 2020, reaching an Amazon ranking of Number One Best Seller under the categories of Federal Jurisdiction Law, Conventional Weapons and Warfare History, Political Freedom, Journalism & Nonfiction Writing Reference, and Radical Political Thought.
Charley has twice been invited by the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences to participate as Juror for the International Emmy Awards competition to judge international television programming.
Awards[]
- How to Sell a Massacre
- Gold Medal, Telly Awards, 'Part Two' (2021) https://www.tellyawards.com/?s=How+to+Sell+a+Massacre
- Webby Awards, 'Al Jazeera Investigates Extra' Nominee (2021) https://winners.webbyawards.com/winners/podcasts/general-series/news-politics?years=0
- Gold Lovie Award (Winner, Documentary) (2020) https://winners.lovieawards.eu/#!v=176
- Walkley Award (Winner, Scoop of the Year) (2019) https://www.walkleys.com/awards/walkleys/
- Gold World Medal, Film, New York Festivals, (2019) TVFilm.NewYorkFestivals.com
- Australian Journalist of the Year - Graham Perkin Awards. (2019) finalist https://www.melbournepressclub.com/article/2019-perkin-award-finalists
- Association of International Broadcasters (Winner, International Affairs) (2019) https://theaibs.tv/
- Winner, Most Outstanding Investigative Report, Kennedy Awards.(2019) https://www.mediaweek.com.au/medias-finest-all-35-2019-nrma-kennedy-award-winners/
- Scoop of the Year, Kennedy Awards - finalist. (2019) https://www.mediaweek.com.au/2019-nrma-kennedy-awards-nominees-sorted-from-record-field/
- Broadcast Awards, (2019) finalist. https://broadcastawards.co.uk/
- Journalist of the Year, Kennedy Awards - nominee. (2019) https://www.mediaweek.com.au/2019-nrma-kennedy-awards-nominees-sorted-from-record-field/
- BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) 'Football's Wall of Silence' (2019). Current Affairs category - finalist. https://amp.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/mar/28/bafta-tv-awards-2019-full-list-of-nominations
- Gold World Medal, New York Festivals (Current Affairs) 'Football's Wall of Silence' (2019) https://www.newyorkfestivals.com/tvfilm/
- Gold World Medal, New York Festivals (Sports) 'Football's Wall of Silence' (2019) https://www.newyorkfestivals.com/tvfilm/
- Gold World Medal, New York Festivals (Current Affairs) 'Islamophobia' (2019) https://www.newyorkfestivals.com/tvfilm/
- Silver World Medal, New York Festivals (Religious) 'Islamophobia' (2019) https://www.newyorkfestivals.com/tvfilm/
- Association of International Broadcasters (Investigative) 'Football's Wall of Silence'. Highly Commended (2018) http://theaibs.tv/AIBs-2018/Shortlist-2018/SHORTLIST4-19102018.pdf
- Rockie Awards, Banff World Media Festival (Crime and Investigation). Finalist, ‘Spy Merchants’ (2018) http://rockieawards.brunico.com/
- Gold World Medal, New York Festivals (Current Affairs), ‘Spy Merchants’ (2018) http://www.newyorkfestivals.com/winners/2018/index.php?page=2&keywordSearch=Al%20Jazeera&sAwardType=&sCompetitionType=&sCategoriesType=&sCountryType=#res
- Best Investigative Documentary, Long Form, DIG Awards, Riccione, Italy. 'Spy Merchants' (2018) Finalist. https://www.dig-awards.org/en/
- Gold World Medal, New York Festivals (Current Affairs), 'The Dark Side' (2017) http://www.newyorkfestivals.com/winners/2017/
- Gold World Medal, New York Festivals (Sports), 'The Dark Side' (2017) http://www.newyorkfestivals.com/winners/2017/
- The Poacher's Pipeline
- Silver World Medal, New York Festivals (Nature and Wildlife), (2018) http://www.newyorkfestivals.com/winners/2018/index.php?page=3&keywordSearch=Al%20Jazeera&sAwardType=&sCompetitionType=&sCategoriesType=&sCountryType=#res
- Silver World Medal, New York Festivals (Current Affairs), (2018) http://www.newyorkfestivals.com/winners/2018/index.php?page=3&keywordSearch=Al%20Jazeera&sAwardType=&sCompetitionType=&sCategoriesType=&sCountryType=#res
- Winner, Best Story Presentation, Envirofilm Awards, (2018) https://filmfreeway.com/laurels/9551/ekotopfilm
- People's Choice Winner, Vancouver South African Film Festival (2017) http://www.vsaff.org/2017/04/2017-vsaff-peoples-choice-awards-announced/
- Best Middle East Film, Wildlife Conservation Film Festival, New York.(2017) http://www.wcff.org/nyc-festival-2017/
- Winner, Foreign Press Association Media Awards. Environment Story of the Year (2017). https://web.archive.org/web/20171218084922/https://www.fpalondon.net/media-awards
- Rockie Awards, Banff World Media Festival (Social & Investigative). Finalist, (2017) http://banffmediafestival.playbackonline.ca/2017/agenda/
- Outstanding In-Depth Reporting, Society of Environmental Journalists. Honorable Mention, (2017) https://www.sej.org/winners-sej-16th-annual-awards-reporting-environment
- Headliner Awards (Documentary). Second Place, (2017) https://www.headlinerawards.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/2017headlinerawardwinners.pdf
- Highly commended, Association of International Broadcasters (Investigative) (2017) http://theaibs.tv/Assets/AIBs-2017-books/Winners/files/assets/common/downloads/publication.pdf
- CINE Golden Eagle Awards (Investigations). Finalist. (2017) https://web.archive.org/web/20151105213253/http://cine.org/awards/
- Highly Commended, Asian Television Awards. (2017) https://www.asiantvawards.com/winners/2017-winners/
- Honorable Mention, Society for Environmental Journalists. (2017) https://www.sej.org/winners-sej-16th-annual-awards-reporting-environment
- Best Current Affairs Program, New York Festivals. Silver Medal, ‘Dateline, SBS’. (2013)https://tvtonight.com.au/2013/04/abc-sbs-and-nine-awarded-at-the-ny-film-t-festival.html[permanent dead link]
- Winner, Human Rights Press Award, Hong Kong. 'Kidnapped' Dateline, SBS (2009) Executive Producer. https://www.sbs.com.au/news/dateline/story/video-journalist-wins-award
- Chris Award Statue, Columbus International Film & Video Festival, ‘One Last Chance’ (2000) https://www.roninfilms.com.au/feature/13108/one-last-chance.html
- Best Investigative Report, New York Festivals, ‘One Last Chance’ (2000) https://www.roninfilms.com.au/feature/13108/one-last-chance.html
- Walkley Award for Excellence in International Reporting, ‘On Life’s Border – The Struggle of North Korea’s Refugees’ (2000) http://www.walkleys.com/awards/walkley-winners-archive/
- First Prize, Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), SAIS Novartis Awards, ‘On Life’s Border – the Plight of North Korean Refugees in China’ (2000) https://www.upi.com/Archives/2001/04/10/SAIS-Awards-Journalism-Prizes/9367986875200/
Examples of Peter's Work[]
How to Sell a Massacre. 2019. Reporter and Producer. Episode One: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYyX7O02yOg
How to Sell a Massacre. 2019. Reporter and Producer. Episode Two: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zIodf0o3T0
Football's Wall of Silence. 2018. Executive Producer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kz85ZyOGWeE
The Poacher's Pipeline – Dealers, Diplomats and the Illegal Horn Trade. 2017. Executive Producer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMguWY99q6s
Spy Merchants. 2017. Executive Producer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HA-cEMKCDs
The Dark Side – The Secret World of Sports Doping. 2016. Executive Producer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJRPxmTuxoI
On Life's Border. 2000. Writer and Producer. https://www.sbs.com.au/guide/video/11755075787/On-Lifes-Border
Border Lives. 2001. Writer and Producer. https://www.sbs.com.au/news/dateline/story/border-lives
Bolivia's Coca Wars. 2000. Reporter, Producer/Director, Cameraman. https://www.sbs.com.au/topics/video/11807811536/Bolivias-Coca-Wars
References[]
Peter's experiences as a reporter and producer have been cited in 'Bearing Witness: The Lives of War Correspondents and Photojournalists' by Denise Leith (2004) ISBN 978-1-74051-260-2 (pp. 72–91) and ‘The Man Who Saw Too Much’ by John Little (2004) ISBN 978-0-7336-1725-6.
Australian journalist Bruce Guthrie referenced Peter's work as a television producer in his book 'Man Bites Murdoch: Four Decades in Print, Six Days in Court' (2010) ISBN 978-0-522-85816-7) pp 118-122.
In his book 'Say it with Feeling' (2011) ISBN 978-1-74261-025-2, 60 Minutes Australia's founding Executive Producer Gerald Stone referred to Peter as "(a man with) a scruffy, just-got-home-after-an-all-night-bender appearance" who "was at the very top of his game, the kind of journalist who would never let you down on a good story".
SBS Director of News and Current Affairs Jim Carroll referred to Peter as "a person and journalist of the highest integrity, intelligence and capability," (The Guardian, 2014) https://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/dec/03/the-weekly-beast-abc-staff-say-no-to-the-hunger-games
- ^ SBS Dateline Website[permanent dead link]
- ^ Stone, Gerald (2011). Say It With Feeling. Pan MacMillan. pp. 299, 301–2. ISBN 978-1-74261-025-2.
- ^ Stone, Gerald (2011). Say It With Feeling. Pan Macmillan Australia Pty, Limited. pp. 299, 301–2. ISBN 978-1-74261-025-2.
- ^ Little, John (2004). The Man Who Saw Too Much. Hachette UK. p. 315. ISBN 978-0-7336-1725-6.
- ^ "Phil Charley OAM, PNG commercial radio pioneer, dies at 89". Keith Jackson & Friends: PNG ATTITUDE.
- ^ "History". www.brokenhill.nsw.gov.au.
- ^ https://www.bhp.com/
- ^ "Kuru Information Page | National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke".
- Living people
- People from Deniliquin
- Australian emigrants to the United States
- American male journalists
- People educated at Newington College