***
Telum Talks To: Ross Fitzgerald – Professor, Journalist, Columnist, Narrative Historian, and Author / Co-author
Interview Australia
By Jane Hewitson—
Telum Media spoke with Ross Fitzgerald AM, an Emeritus Professor of History and Politics at Griffith University, a Journalist, Columnist, Narrative Historian, and Author / Co-author/ Editor of 46 books. He shares his journey about writing the soon-to-be launched book, “Chalk and Cheese: A Fabrication”, and his insights on journalism and storytelling.

What was your publishing journey like for your new book, Chalk and Cheese? 
As with my Dr Professor Grafton Everest adventures, my collaboration with Ian McFadyen of ‘Comedy Company’ fame has been a hoot. As we live in different states, it involved us speaking to and emailing each other two or three times each and every day for a year, and meeting face-to-face in Sydney two times a year. Chalk and Cheese: A Fabrication is the 5th book that I have authored or co-authored with Ian McFadyen. In my opinion, it is the best fiction with which I have ever been involved. Indeed, I think it may win some literary awards. Chalk and Cheese is the sixth book that I have published through a nimble, Melbourne-based company called Hybrid Publishing, with whom I have a close, ongoing relationship. Based on the success of my previous books, Louis and Anna at Hybrid are pleased to publish anything that I submit to them.

How does your writing process for the book differ from your usual journalism work?
It’s a matter of laying out an overall structure, which is then filled in with details including – depending on the type of story – twists and turns in the plot, characters’ histories, observations, and sometimes the creation of imaginary worlds, rather than dealing with a single issue as would a journal, newspaper article, or an opinion piece. But as well as being a widely published journalist, I am also a columnist and a narrative historian.

What lessons from journalism have helped you most as a book author? 
My journalism, which has primarily consisted of political and social commentary, and my books, arise from the same foundation, which is being a historian. Before writing fiction, as a Professor of History and Politics at Griffith University in Brisbane, I wrote several important books, including three histories of Queensland, the co-authored Labor in Queensland, and the biographies of ex Queensland ALP premier and federal treasurer E.G. (“Red Ted”) Theodore and of Australian’s only Communist Party member of parliament, Fred Paterson, entitled The People’s Champion. Both biographies, which I co-produced as ABC TV documentaries, were published by the University of Queensland Press. Writing non-fiction is a solid grounding for writing fiction.

Do you think there’s a line between journalism and storytelling, or is it more fluid than people assume? 
It is definitely much more fluid. Writing feature articles in journalism is a form of storytelling, but writing opinion pieces is a rhetorical exercise, putting forward an argument or criticising someone else’s argument. It usually does not involve a narrative element as do my histories, my novels, and other works of fiction.

With your breadth of experience as a journalist, what are your top tips for how a PR should pitch story ideas? 
As I indicated above, as well as being a journalist, I am a historian specialising in political history. My opinion on current affairs is often sought by the media, including radio, TV, newspapers, and journals. Hence, I have become a regular columnist and commentator on political and historical matters. Regarding pitching story ideas, my main advice is to make a direct approach via email or telephone to each prospective outlet and to make your story ideas simple and to the point. Your pitch for a possible story should be no longer than three short paragraphs. Include a three-line CV description, and I think that it would be helpful to attach a recent, simple, full-face-coloured photograph of yourself.
***

Jane  Hewitson
jhewitson@telummedia.com
telummedia.com
July 29, 2025