As Australia contemplates banning social media for those under 16, we find ourselves reflecting on an era before digital distractions dominated our lives. This reflection comes with poignant timing as we remember broadcasting icon Roger Climpson, who passed away in September at age 92.
The Golden Age of Australian Television News
Before Facebook turned 21 and Myspace faded into digital history, Australians gathered around television sets for their evening news ritual. The nightly bulletin wasn't just information delivery—it was a family event that set the national agenda.
Roger Climpson embodied this era as the trusted face of Seven National News throughout the 1980s and later Seven Nightly News. His commanding presence at the news desk earned respect from colleagues and viewers alike during a time when phone scrolling was unimaginable.
A Career Defining Australian Broadcasting
Climpson's career spanned decades of significant change in Australian media. After a period of temporary retirement due to illness, he made a triumphant return to television in 1997 as host of Australia's Most Wanted.
The program featured re-enactments of unsolved crimes and took viewer tips via landline—a stark contrast to today's digital tip lines. He also hosted This Is Your Life, creating emotional reunions between famous guests and influential figures from their past.
Lessons for Today's Digital Society
Climpson's passing invites us to consider what we've lost in our transition to digital communication. His era required actual conversations rather than likes and shares. Sydney residents admired him not just as a broadcaster but as a kind gentleman and lovely friend.
In today's world where Instagram presence often defines social standing, Climpson's legacy reminds us that nothing replaces the warmth of face-to-face interaction. As Australia debates social media restrictions for youth, perhaps we should all reconsider our screen time and return to being more social with each other rather than our devices.
The late newsreader's career serves as a powerful reminder of journalism's vital role in connecting communities—a lesson increasingly relevant in our fragmented digital age.
