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Kerryn Johnston is one of the region’s most accomplished journalists and a highly respected News Presenter for the Illawarra and South Coast’s leading news bulletin, WIN News.
Kerryn has worked within the media industry for over 20 years, spent eight years as WIN News Presenter and also presented “World Around Us” for Prime’s New South Wales Network and a weekly documentary “Focus” across the Illawarra and South Coast.
In 1990 her hard work and dedication saw Kerryn awarded the prestigious Raward for Best Australasian news presenter.
Having completed her Master of Journalism at the University of Wollongong, Kerryn is devoted to her role, which she describes as exciting, challenging and ever-changing.
Kerryn loves to spend her spare time with her husband, Stuart and her two children. She also enjoys photography, travelling, gardening and reading.
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- What motivated you to take on a leadership position?
I chose to pursue journalism once I’d left school and after a stint in radio, have ended up writing and reading television news for the last 17 years. I believe loving what you do, is the key to success. While I don’t consider myself a leader, I’d like to think that being a female and holding down this position, provides some inspiration or hope to other young women, interested in pursuing a career in this field.
- Were you encouraged or mentored during the process of becoming a leader?
My first boss in radio journalism, Shon Walker, was an inspiration and made journalism seem so enticing and interesting. He nurtured me through my first unsteady years until I found my footing and developed a passion for it.
- How did you reach your current position – your career path, studies, opportunities?
I worked in radio for several years, before taking up a newsreading/writing position with Prime Television. Ten years later, I moved back to breakfast radio news at i98FM and then onto television news at WIN TV. During this time I collected a Raward for Best regional Australasian news presenter and completed my Master of Journalism at Wollongong university.
- How has your leadership role impacted your relationships with family, friends and colleagues?
My job fits in perfectly with my lifestyle. After working as a writer and news presenter for many years, I’ve ended up subbing and presenting news, since the birth of my children 6½ years ago. This has allowed me to be home to spend time with my young children during the day and still pursue my career.
- What responsibilities do you believe you have to those who “look up to you” as a leader?
I guess my responsibility is to do the best job that I can – to ensure the news that I present is true and accurate and for me to be proud of the product. I do try to work with the journalists and impart anything I may have picked up on my travels, just as others have done with me.
- How do you measure your success as a leader?
I always put in 100% and hope that it translates on screen. Again, I don’t consider myself a leader or regularly measure my successes/failures – I just try to be the best Mum and wife that I can be whilst trying to do the best that I can in my position as a news anchor.
- What has inspired you to maintain your current position, and do you have aspirations for further leadership roles?
I do love my job. It’s a cliché, but journalism is in my blood and whilst holding down a job and bringing up a family is a juggling act, it holds the perfect balance for me. It’s not a struggle - I love that I have the opportunity to do both. I
certainly aspire to further myself and continue to learn.
- What advice would you give other women who are aspiring to be future leaders?
Stick to your goals and if you do stray from the path, find a way to get back on track. It will definitely be worth it in the end. Taking pride in what you do and providing leadership and hope to others is a just reward for hard work.
- How do you handle conflict and adversity in your leadership role?
I try to handle both conflict and adversity with as much diplomacy as I can muster. Some days it’s tricky, but it’s important to try to consider the feelings of other people. You never know what’s going on in other people’s lives and it often pays to
give people the benefit of the doubt.
- Who is your leadership role model, and what qualities do they display that you admire?
Our State News Director at WIN TV is a woman, a leader and an absolute inspiration. Stella Lauri is a young female, who manages to be enthusiastic, knowledgeable, diplomatic and retain a sense of humour – all essential traits for good leadership - traits I’d like to develop further.
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