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This week for the Presenters Class we have the opportunity of doing
Interview Skills with Brett Zarb, a former graduate of the class. This
will replace Voice, which we'll do later in the course. This is the
publicity material on Brett's (proposed) new book
 
Life, Death and the News
A book by Brett Zarb
 
Ever wondered what it's like to live the lives of a thousand people?
Delve into their deepest and darkest of moments? Feel their pain and
their elation?
 
That's how radio journalist Brett Zarb describes life as a reporter in
Australia's biggest city, on its number one radio station. He's been a
journalist for six years at Macquarie National News; the engine room
of radio station 2GB.
 
Brett says it "all hit the fan" shortly after he arrived at the
station, when two planes went crashing into the world trade centre
towers in New York and almost simultaneously Australia's second
largest airline went "belly up." He was just year into the job and got
thrown into the depths of 24 hour, adrenaline pumping, world-changing
news.
 
It led to him being posted in the newsroom specifically to cover the
war on Afghanistan, Brett then watched as the 'War on Terror', as we
know it today, unfolded.
 
Brett's most recognised achievements have followed in the time since;
as a police reporter. He's covered the gang wars of Sydney's west and
south western suburbs and the tit-for-tat bikie attacks that continue
to re-surface, year to year.
 
Most recently Brett has covered two major stories which don't fit into
his reporting round, but which he says have changed him as a
journalist. The first was an assignment in Singapore; to document the
final moments in the life of convicted drug trafficker and death row
inmate Van Nguyen. Brett followed the political battle to save Nguyen
and the emotional rollercoaster for his family which ended in the
Vietnamese born Australian's death.
 
The second story, he says is "just as important", but is more a story
of survival and a reminder to never give up hope. The story of two
Tasmanian miners trapped underground for a fortnight. A story about a
small mining town thrust onto the world stage.