Faces of the CRL - Ewart Barnsley
This month we spoke to Ewart Barnsley, who has built an extraordinary career as a renowned interviewer and storyteller. Rarely is he the interviewee himself, but as the project plans to farewell Barnsley next month we asked him to reflect on his time as Media Manager, as well as some of his career highlights and lowlights, and his plans for the future.
Favourite moment during your time on the project?
Endless favourite moments to celebrate – all those milestones for a start and working alongside some great and dedicated people to help transform the project’s image and inform Aucklanders about how great it will be for them.
Tell us more about some of the roles you’ve worked in the past.
Receptionist, barman but journalism took me around the world – NZ, UK, OZ and the Pacific with two Gulf Wars, one coup (Fiji), 1981 Springbok tour, Robin Williams, Jon Bon Jovi and John Lennon’s auntie, plus some death threats along the way.
What have been one of the best and most challenging moments of your career?
All those fabulous places and all those fabulously diverse people (including the nasty ones, too!), even a newspaper cartoon about me (best), but whoever imagined Pitcairn Island was romantic – challenges aplenty there for three very long, numbing months!!
Any advice for people just starting out in the media industry or as a journalist?
Never stop being nosy, never take “no” for an answer, never stop watching your back!
What do you plan on doing now that you’re leaving CRL?
Bridge, painting the fence, grandkids, to finish watching Game of Thrones and to never pick up a fishing rod or a golf club!
What are you most excited for when the CRL is complete?
Waiting for all those naysayers from the media, politics and lobby groups to finally admit they got it wrong. Might be a long wait, methinks?!
Desert Island Discs - Top 3 songs, a book and a luxury.
Top 3 songs (at the moment):
Dawn Chorus – collection of NZ birds
Hollywood Nights – Bob Seeger
Red Dirt Girl – Emmylou Harris
Book: Omnibus of all Maigret stories with map of Paris plus Madame Maigret’s Cookbook
Luxury: endless supply of Pineapple Lumps, Jaffas, Buzz Bars and Hokey Pokey ice cream