What does poor communication cost a business?
Missed opportunities. Confused customers. Messages that don’t land.
After fifty years as a journalist and writer, I’ve seen it everywhere – unclear messaging, videos that say nothing, emails that go unanswered, and people talking over each other instead of listening.
Businesses don’t fail because they don’t work hard. They fail because they don’t communicate clearly. And as the old line goes, “No man but a blockhead ever wrote, except for money”. Good writing isn’t decoration – it’s survival.
My value to you simple: I help you communicate so people actually listen, understand and respond. Everything I’ve learned over five decades – and how you can draw on it – is distilled in my history below. If it resonates, reach out.
Journalism
The Australian Jewish News – Cub reporter – (1976-1979)
I began as a cub reporter at the Australian Jewish News when I was just 18 – single, newly licensed, and stepping into a newsroom that would shape the rest of my life. I covered community news, events and profiles, learning the fundamentals of interviewing, listening and writing with accuracy.
During those years, I had the chance of interviewing remarkable people, including:
. Yosl Bergner, the late painter whose work shaped Australian modernism
. Better Midler, during her early rise as a global performer
It was my first real newsroom – and the place where I learned that journalism is built on curiosity, preparation and the ability to earn trust.
The Southern Cross – reporter – 1980 – 81
In this period, I worked at the Southern Cross which circulated through St Kilda and Prahran, I covered council news, local politics and community stories, many of them controversial. The paper sat in the middle of suburbs grappling with drugs, prostitution, social change and political tension, and my reporting often took me straight into those issues.
It was a newsroom where I learned to handle sensitive stories, navigate competing interests and write with accuracy, fairness and courage. Those years taught me how to report on difficult subjects without sensationalism – a discipline that has shaped my writing ever since.
The Richmond Clarion – 1982 – Editor & Sole Journalist –
In 1982 I joined the Richmond Clarion. I was told I would be the editor – but I was also the only journalist. I covered everything: local news, council meetings, community issues, interviews, real estate pages, greyhound tips, and even the weekly horoscope.
It was a one -person newsroom in one of Melbourne’s toughest municipalities, the work demanded range, resilience and absolute independence.
During my time there, I uncovered electoral malpractice and fraud within the Richmond Council. The reporting led to sustained pressure public scrutiny and ultimately, the state government sacking the council. Throughout my investigation and reporting. I received death threats – a reminder how high the stakes were, even at a suburban paper.
Those years taught me how to stand firm, write with integrity, and pursue the truth, even when it was uncomfortable or dangerous. It remains one of the defining periods of my career.
The Truth – Police & Court Reporter (1983-1986)
From 1983 to 1986 I worked at The Truth, a twice-weekly paper with a large circulation and a reputation for sensational headlines, personal scandal and social injustice. It was also my introduction to tabloid journalism – fast, sharp, irreverent and built for impact.
Behind the front-page drama. The paper relied on detailed, accurate reporting and that was my role. I covered police and court news across Victoria, including the Magistrates Court, the County Court and the Supreme Court. My work involved long days in courtrooms, analysing evidence, interviewing police and lawyers, and producing clear, factual reports under tight deadlines.
Those years sharpened my ability to listen closely, write quickly, and explain legal and human complexity in plain English. They also taught me the tabloid virtues: clarity, pace, courage, and the instinct to land a line that makes readers stop.
The Sun News-Pictorial – General News to Chief State Political Reporter – (1986-1990)
In 1986, I joined the Sun News-Pictorial, another major tabloid known for its great human-interest stories, strong sports coverage and sharp accessible writing. But behind the headlines, it was also a serious newsroom with a strong focus on politics, local government and business – and that’s where my career accelerated.
I began in general news, covering everything from breaking stories to community issues. I was then promoted to state politics where the pace, pressure and scrutiny were relentless. I eventually became Chief State Political Reporter, covering the major political stories of the day, working closely with editors, and reporting on the decisions, personalities and conflicts shaping Victoria.
Those years taught me how to write fast, think clearly, handle complex political material and deliver stories that mattered to a large diverse readership. It was a newsroom that demanded accuracy, instinct and impact – and it shaped the political and analytical side of my writing for the rest of my career.
The Age – Communications. Industrial Relations, City. Investigations & Business – (1990-2008)
I joined The Age in 1990 and spent 18 years there – you get less for murder. It was the defining newsroom of my career, and the place where I developed the depth, discipline and range that still shape my writing today.
Communications Reporter
I began as the Communications Reporter at a pivotal moment. The Hawke government was preparing to open Australia’s telecommunications market to competition, challenging the dominance of Telecom Australia. I had the box seat. I travelled to the United States, the UK and Hong Kong to interview prospective competitors and study how other countries ran their phone services. It was a front-row view of a major economic and technological shift.
Industrial Relations
I was then appointed Industrial Reporter, overing unions, employers and the shifting dynamics of workplace relations. I built strong relationships with the ACTU and business community, reporting on negotiations, disputes, reforms and the personalities who shaped them.
City Reporter – Local Government and Kennett Reforms.
From there I became City Reporter, covering local government during the Kennett Government’s controversial council mergers. It was a turbulent period, and I developed a reputation for breaking stories early – often to the irritation of the government of the day.
Investigative Reporting – Media Peace Award (1997)
I then moved into investigative reporting, where I covered some of the most difficult and confronting stories of my career. I received the United Nations of Australia Media Peace Award for exposing the abuse of foster children by paedophiles. The stories were harrowing. Not much has changed.
Business Journalism – Profit Reporting, Accounting & Courts
Later in 1997, I was promoted into business journalism, I asked to cover the twice-yearly profit reporting season. I could speak to companies about their profits, losses, leverage, strategies and governance. I also covered the accounting profession and business related court cases, bringing clarity to complex financial material.
Columnist – Just Managing
I wanted to write about management, leadership and organisational behaviour so I created a fortnightly column, Just Managing, which explored how businesses operate and how leaders make decisions.
Management Today – Co-Editor, Australian Institute of Management (1996-2002)
Alongside my work at The Age, I co-edited Management Today, the monthly journal of the Australian Institute of Management from 1996 to 2002. The role involved commissioning articles, working with contributors and ensuring each edition delivered practical, credible insights for Australia’s management community.
It was a publication read by executives, leaders and decision-makers, and the work deepened my understanding of management, leadership, organisational behaviour and the challenges facing Australian businesses. It also strengthened the analytical and long-form writing skills that shaped my business journalism and my own management column at The Age.
The Sun News-Pictorial – General News to Chief State Political Reporter – (1986-1990)
In 1986, I joined the Sun News-Pictorial, another major tabloid known for its great human-interest stories, strong sports coverage and sharp accessible writing. But behind the headlines, it was also a serious newsroom with a strong focus on politics, local government and business – and that’s where my career accelerated.
I began in general news, covering everything from breaking stories to community issues. I was then promoted to state politics where the pace, pressure and scrutiny were relentless. I eventually became Chief State Political Reporter, covering the major political stories of the day, working closely with editors, and reporting on the decisions, personalities and conflicts shaping Victoria.
Those years taught me how to write fast, think clearly, handle complex political material and deliver stories that mattered to a large diverse readership. It was a newsroom that demanded accuracy, instinct and impact – and it shaped the political and analytical side of my writing for the rest of my career.
Copywriting & Business Communication – Founder of GettlerInk (2022-Present)
After completing my PhD, I reinvented myself again – this time by starting my own copywriting business GettlerInk, the first business I’ve ever run. Universities, which tend to hire their own and prefer conformity over independence, weren’t offering opportunities. PR had been suggested to me over the years, but it never interested me. What did interest me was writing – clear, persuasive, disciplined writing – and helping professionals communicate with authority.
So I built a copywriting business from the ground up.
In the early days. I wrote for anyone who needed words. Over time, I sharpened my focus to the sectors where my experience and instincts were strongest:
- Financial Services – accountants, bookkeepers, financial advisers
- Property and related industries – real estate agents, developers, mortgage brokers.
Across these fields, I’ve produced:
The work draws on everything I’ve learned across five decades of journalism, business reporting, research and storytelling. It’s writing that informs, persuades and endures – the through line of my entire career.
Books & Long Form Writing
Across my career I’ve written five books, each shaped by the same instincts that have driven my journalism and research: curiosity, clarity and a desire to understand how people and organisations behave
- An Unpromised Land (Fremantle Arts Centre Press 1993) – an account of the attempt to establish a Jewish colony in Australia during World War II. The book received a National Book Council Award.
- Organisations Behaving Badly (John Wiley &Sons) – an exploration of corporate malfeasance through the tragedies of Sophocles and the psychoanalytic and organisational insights of Wifred Bion. It was shortlisted for Business Book of the Year.
- Ten Ways To Survive The Corporate World (Trafford 2015) – a practical guide to navigating organisational life, drawn from decades of reporting om management, leadership and workplace behaviour.
- Never Workshy (2024) – ghostwritten for John Simmonds, completed shortly before his death, capturing his life, values and legacy for his family.
- Local Voices – a study of Australia’s country newspapers and the communities they serve, based on my PhD research. The manuscript is currently waiting publication
Talking Business – Weekly Podcast
For about a decade, I’ve hosted Talking Business, a weekly podcast that explores economics, markets, technology, leadership and the forces shaping the world of work. It’s a global show with a loyal audience, built on interviews, analysis and clear explanation. The podcast keeps me connected to business leaders, founders, thinkers and innovators – and it keeps my communication sharp
Talking Business May 22 2026
Former RBA board member Warwick McKibbin says Australia's income tax rates already too high. Instead of tinkering with CGT, the government should cut tax & shift burden to consumption — think GST. Welcome to Talking Business, a podcast produced in Melbourne...
Talking Business May 15 2026
The rumours were true, the budget brought big changes for negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount! Welcome to Talking Business, a podcast produced in Melbourne Australia. The podcast is available on the Acast site, my own website, the Apple podcast store...
Talking Business May 8th 2026
The RBA lifts its cash rate to 4.35%, its third hike of 2026, sending a clear message: inflation is once again a bigger concern than growth. Governor Michele Bullock says policy is now “slightly restrictive,” but doesn’t shut the door to more hikes. Welcome to Talking...
Why I Do This Work
After five decades in journalism, research and business communication, one thing has become clear to me: we live in a world that desperately needs better communication – and more empathy. People talk past each other. Organisations struggle to explain themselves. Professionals know what they do, but not how to express it.
My work now is about helping people communicate with clarity, honesty and humanity. Writing that connects. Writing that respects the reader. Writing that strengthens relationships rather than weakens them.
It’s the through-line of everything I’ve done – from newsrooms to boardrooms, from investigations to business reporting, from research to copywriting. Communication is about how we understand each other. It’s how we build trust. And it’s how we move forward.
If You’d Like To Work Together
If you’ve already read this far, you know what I do and why I do it.
If you need help communicating with clarity, empathy and authority – whether it’s copywriting, storytelling, podcasting or strategic communication – I’d be glad to talk.
You can call me on 0411 745 193 or email me at leon@leongettler.com