Rob Brough
Robert Edward Brough (born 1955) is an Australian journalist, television presenter and rugby league coach.
Media career
Radio
Brough began his media career in radio in the 1970s as an announcer at radio station
Sports Journalism
Following on from his radio work, Brough moved into television in the mid 1980s, covering sport for ABC Television in Brisbane before moving over to Channel 9 to present the sports news on National Nine News in Brisbane until 1989.[1]
Family Feud
In 1990, Brough moved away from news reporting when he joined the
In an opinion piece written for the
Brough was often parodied by Steve Vizard on Seven's sketch comedy show Fast Forward.
Seven News
Following his job as the host of Family Feud, Brough moved back into news for Seven's regional Queensland affiliate Sunshine Television on the Sunshine Coast. Shortly after Brough joined, Sunshine Television News became Seven News following the purchase of Sunshine Television by Seven and as such, the network's name and look changed to reflect the metropolitan Channel 7 stations.
Initially, Brough presented the local Sunshine Coast edition of Seven News and pre-recorded two additional bulletins for the
Brough is joined by Joanne Desmond as a co-presenter on the
With the studio producing seven 30-minute news bulletins each weeknight, along with additional afternoon and evening updates, it's one of the busiest news studios in Australia, making Brough one of the country's busiest news presenters.
In 2007, Media Watch questioned the credibility of the Townsville edition of WIN News after they convinced local political candidates standing in the 2007 Federal Election to endorse WIN News in on air promos. Media Watch claimed the dubious actions of WIN News outraged Seven Local News but only because they didn't think of the idea first. Media Watch then played a clip of the Townsville edition of Seven Local News with Brough introducing a story about the WIN News controversy.[4]
In 2008, Rob Brough again appeared on Media Watch after a graphics designer mistakenly inserted pictures of dairy cows in an "over-the-shoulder" graphic beside Brough while he was introducing a story on the Townsville edition of Seven Local News. The story was actually about local sports venue Dairy Farmers Stadium preparing for an upcoming NRL match.[5]
In 2015, Brough fronted a campaign launched by Seven Queensland in response to the "Save Our Voices" campaign, which was a joint promotion between WIN Television, Southern Cross Austereo and Seven aimed at encouraging viewers to lobby the Federal Government to relax media ownership laws. The "Leave TV Laws Alone" spot that Seven Queensland ran in commercial breaks featured Brough in the Seven Local News studio claiming Seven Queensland spends more on local news than their competitors. A voice-over that follows states that Seven Queensland doesn't support the bullying by the other networks and said that viewers shouldn't be used as pawns.[6]
Brough has said that his work in the media has been influenced by television presenters Mike Walsh and Mike Willesee.[3]
The Coolangatta Gold
While working at Gold Coast radio station
Brough has said it was Michael Edgley, whose production company Hoyts Edgley produced The Coolangatta Gold, who suggested and encouraged a move from radio to television.[3]
Rugby League
Brough is also a rugby league coach and is currently the head coach of the Kawana Dolphins, a team that plays in the Sunshine Coast–Gympie rugby league competition, as part of the larger Central Division of Queensland Rugby League.[3]
Brough began coaching on the Sunshine Coast after earning a reputation as a skilled coach after establishing Mountain Creek State High School's "Rugby League School of Excellence" and coaching junior sides. In 2005, after Brough ran a one-off pre-season session with the Kawana Dolphins' senior team, the club asked him to consider coaching the team permanently. Brough accepted the job and began coaching the Dolphins A-grade side.[8]
In 2013, he faced some criticism for not seeming to have a positive attitude towards his team despite the team's above-average performance during the season.[9]
In 2016, Brough's Kawana Dolphins narrowly missed out on claiming victory over the Maroochydore Swans in the grand final, losing the game 18–14. Brough said Maroochydore played some fast footy which put Kawana on the back foot, and unable to catch up.
Brough has always had an interest in rugby league. In a 1994 interview, Brough said he had always wanted to go to Sydney to play rugby league as he had always wanted to play for the
Personal life
Brough and his brother
Rob Brough's son Sam died on his third birthday in 1989, after suffering from health issues. Brough has two other children Jess and Tyson.[3]
In 2014, Brough attempted a 1,200 kilometre charity bike ride from Sydney to Brisbane. "Rob's Ride for Kids" was an attempt to raise money for the Children's Hospital Foundation in memory of his son Sam, who died 25 years prior. Due to illness, Brough pulled out of the ride without completing it but still managed to raise $16,000 for the charity.[10][11]
Brough's brother Mal Brough was a Federal Member of Parliament from 1996 until 2016. Due to his brother's involvement in politics, Brough has had to introduce numerous local news stories about his brother, including those that have detailed controversies such as Mal Brough's involvement in the James Ashby affair.[12]
References
- ^ a b Holmes, Peter (24 July 1994). "Rob's other game plan". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
- ^ Would the last viewer to leave Channel Nine please turn out the lights?, Dom Knight, Sydney Morning Herald, 9 March 2006. Retrieved 17 October 2016
- ^ a b c d e f g Hill, Janine (16 December 2007). "Brough and ready". Sunshine Coast Daily. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
- ^ Vote 1: WIN News, Media Watch, ABC Television, 5 November 2007. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
- ^ Footy Lovin' Cows, Media Watch, ABC Television, 17 March 2008. Retrieved 16 October 2016
- ^ "Leave TV laws alone." Seven Qld returns fire at regional campaign, David Knox, TV Tonight, 17 August 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2016
- ^ The Coolangatta Gold, Peter Schreck, Hoyts Edgley, 1984
- ^ Why Rob Brough wants to coach first grade football, Sunshine Coast Daily, 25 August 2005. Retrieved 16 October 2016
- ^ Why Rob Brough has plenty to smile about, Mark Bode, Sunshine Coast Daily, 12 August 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2016
- ^ Rob's Ride For Kids, Facebook page. Retrieved 16 October 2016
- ^ Facebook post, Rob Brough, Rob's Ride for Kids Facebook page, 8 June 2014. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
- ^ Crabb, Annabel (30 June 2007). "In the eye of the storm". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 February 2010.