SA Newspapers : Journalists : D

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NOTE: THIS LIST IS A WORK IN PROGRESS. If you would like to submit details of a South Australian journalist, please email us.

D

Dale, John. Editor of the Port Lincoln Times 1988.

Dalwood, Tom Caleb (died 1909). Artist. Nephew of the Frearson brothers of the Pictorial Australian. Re-started Adelaide Punch in 1878.

Daniels, Peter. Editor of the Whyalla News (2014) and previously working with Rural Press in country NSW.

Danks, Walter Thomas. Journalist at either the Register or the Advertiser 1882.

D'Arenberg, Eva (nee Williams) (1872-1932). Writer of social notes for the South Australian Register in the 1890s.

D'Arenberg, John George A. (1850-1898). Lawyer, journalist. Trained as a lawyer, then journalist at the New York Herald. Arrived in Adelaide 1890 and became a leader writer at the Advertiser. Later at the Melbourne Argus prior to his death

Davey, William Jenkin. Editor of the Burra Record 1906.

Davidge, JL. Journalist at the Advertiser, left for Sydney 1926.

Davidson, Harriet Miller (1839-1883). Novelist and poet. Arrived in South Australia 1870. Contributed literary material to the Observer.

Davidson, James Edward (died 1930). Founder of the News. Journalist in Perth and Melbourne. First worked at the West Australian as a journalist. Then a reporter at the Melbourne Argus for nine years. Then at the Weekly Times. Purchased the Barrier Miner (Broken Hill) in 1920, also the Port Pirie Recorder in 1919. In 1923 purchased two existing evening newspapers in Adelaide, the Journal and the Express, and founded the new title, the News. He also took over the Mail. He also began a newspaper in Hobart, and owned controlling interest in the Perth Daily News. Died in London while attending the Empire Press Conference.(Chronicle, 5 June 1930, p. 18.)

Davies, Benjamin (died 1889). Journalist. Worked first on the reporting staff at the Southern Argus, and from about 1873 at the Advertiser as a parliamentary reporter and humorous writer. In charge of the Advertiser's Port Adelaide office from June 1877 until a short time before his early death. (Southern Argus, 26 September 1889, p. 3.)

Davies, Jack Merddyn Scott (died 1950). Radio playwright and journalist. Compiled 'Passing by Mr Pim' column in the News from 1947 until his early death. Also worked for newspapers in Melbourne, Sydney and London, and as Hollywood correspondent. (News, 4 October 1950, p. 29.)

Davis, Abraham Hopkins (died 1866). Merchant, horticulturalist, newspaper owner. Launched the newspaper Thursday Review (1860-1861) when aged in his sixties, largely to promote his opposition to universal suffrage. The Thursday Review was widely criticised by other newspapers for its esoteric and elitist ideas about voting rights. At one time he wrote under the pen-name 'Vigil.' (Advertiser, 5 June 1866, p. 2.)

Davis, AH. Journalist at the Register 1878.

Davis, Frank W. Established a newspaper on the Victorian goldfields in the 1850s, then became sub-editor of the Ballarat Courier. He was sporting editor and dramatic critic at the Advertiser for a long period from about 1880, writing as 'Mentor'.

Davy, Edward. Doctor. Contributor tot he Melbourne Argus 1843 to 1845. Co-editor of the short-lived Adelaide Examiner.

Day, Chris. Deputy editor at Messenger in the 2000s.

Day, John Medway (1838-1905). Baptist clergyman and editor. Arrived in South Australia 1866. Member of the literary staff of the Register from 1875 to 1892. From 1884 was editor, then became editor of the Voice in 1892. Later editor of the Worker (Sydney), then of the Hobart Mail. (Advertiser, 10 July 1905, p. 4.)

Day, Mark. Adelaide born and trained, in 2013 working at the Australian.

De Inno, Peter. Police reporter at the Advertiser. Later worked in London and South Africa.

Deacon, F. Reporter at the Advertiser by 1870. (Chronicle, 5 March 1870, pp. 9-10.)

Deamer, Sydney H. Editor of the Register News Pictorial 1929. Then worked at Melbourne Herald. In 1939 was editor of the ABC radio weekly journal, then at Daily Telegraph (Sydney) and from 1944 at the Sydney Morning Herald.

Dean, William (died 1896). Stock agent and auctioneer. Wrote market reports for the press.

Debelle, Jean. Journalist at the Advertiser 1970s. Joined the Red Cross during the Vietnam War.

Debelle, Penny. Freelance journalist for the Advertiser in the 2000s.

Decke, P.E. Robert (died 1925). Junior reporter at the Register from 1891. Later at Sydney Morning Herald and Daily Telegraph (Sydney). (Register, 2 April 1925, p. 13.)

Dehane, George (c.1808-1864). Printer and newspaper publisher. One of Adelaide's earliest printers, established in 1838. Dehane was a printer for the South Australian Register. He also printed and published the short-lived Port Lincoln Herald in 1839, in partnership with Robert Thomas of the Register. When Thomas pulled out, Dehane attempted to continue on his own for a time, then returned to Adelaide and began a newspaper titled Adelaide Advertiser - for which no copies have survived. (This may actually have been the Adelaide Independent Adelaide's first illustrated newspaper,  owned and edited by Nathaniel Hailes in 1841. When this ceased, Dehane printed the Adelaide Examiner for Charles Platts, which was absorbed in the establishment of the long-running Adelaide Observer in 1843, also printed by Dehane. His numerous other newspaper printings included: Australiana (1845), Adelaide Commercial Advertiser (1850), ...

Deighton, Matt. Journalist and editor. Sports editor at the Sunday Mail. Editor-in-chief of Messenger Press, then assistant editor of the Daily Telegraph (Sydney). Then became editor of the Mercury (Hobart). Since 2017 editor of the Advertiser.

DeLissa, (Baron) B.C. Journalist at the Advertiser from 1868 to 1874, then a sugar plantation owner in Queensland. Became sugar planter in Borneo by 1886, and was made a Rajah in Northern Borneo in 1893.

Demetrius, Mark. Freelance journalist specialising in film criticism and rock journalism. Based in Adelaide since c. 2013, contributor to Aspire South Australia.

Dennis, Clarence James (1876-1938). Journalist, poet. Born at Auburn, and grew up at Laura in the mid-north of South Australia. First poems published in the Laura Standard, followed by work in the Register and Evening Journal. From 1903 his poems began appearing in the Bulletin. In 1897 he joined the staff of the Critic newspaper, but left the following year. He returned in 1901 and was editor from 1904. In 1906 with Archie Martin, he established the Gadfly. He left South Australia in 1907 and joined the Melbourne Herald. His poems in the Sydney Bulletin attracted the attention of the firm Angus and Robertson and saw the publication of the Songs of a Sentimental Bloke in 1915, still his most notable and popular work, making him known to thousands of readers. (Laura Standard, 22 July 1938, p. 1.)

Denny, William Joseph (c.1873-1946). Lawyer, politician. Owner/editor of the Southern Cross until 1902. (Advertiser, 3 May 1946, p. 8.)

Derrington, Edwin Henry (1830-1899). Journalist, newspaper proprietor. Worked for the Melbourne Argus as a literary and parliamentary reporter, as well as contributing written and artistic work to Melbourne Punch. Came to Adelaide in 1855. Worked for the Register, left in the 1860s to work for the telegraphic department, eventually moving to Mount Gambier. Through 'speculation' he made a small fortune and purchased the Mount Gambier Standard in 1869, and was elected to Parliament. In 1872 moved to Moonta and established and edited the Yorkes Peninsula Advertiser. In October 1878 also took over the Port Adelaide News. In 1882 purchased Adelaide Punch. Forced to sell the Yorkes Peninsula Advertiser and Punch due to financial difficulties, but continued to run the Port Adelaide News. Interested in geology and mining, worked for the South Australian Geological Department, and contributed to A Record of the Mines of South Australia. In the late 1880s was city correspondent for the Border Watch, in 1890 was Hansard reporter for the Register. (Register, 16 October 1899, p. 6.)

Dewhirst, Edward (1815-1904). Minister, journalist, teacher, school inspector. Journalist at the Register and Farm and Garden for two years until 1860.

Diamond, Arthur Sydney (1888-1953). Journalist and Chief Clerk, Adelaide City Council. Employed on literary staff at the Advertiser 1907-1911. Compiler of the Adelaide City Council Yearbook from 1911.

Dickens, John. Mining reporter at Bell's Life in Adelaide, 1861.

Dickenson, Edith Charlotte Musgrave (nee Bonham) (1851-1903). Travel writer and Boer War correspondent. Wrote a series about her travels in India and Burma for the Advertiser in 1899. In February 1900 she travelled to South Africa to write about the South African (Boer) War from  a woman's perspective, and was instrumental in making public the suffering of civilians, especially women and children in concentration camps.She died in Cape Town

Dickinson, Edward Alexander. Editor of Direct Action 1928.

Dobbs, Frank Ritchie (died 1964). Journalist at the Port Pirie Recorder until 1934, then at the Advertiser for over 20 years.

Doherty, John. Journalist at Advertiser, police roundsman, chief-of-staff, features editor. Joined the ABC and played major role in establishing its Asian news service.

Dohnt, Kenneth Victor (died 1971). Owner/editor. Took over the Penola Pennant in 1950, which he ran until his death in 1971.

Dolling, Alison (1917-2006). Teacher and journalist. Alison Dolling edited the women's pages of the Chronicle from December 1966 until the newspaper closed in 1975, writing as 'Mary Broughton'. From 1970 she was also compiler of the children's pages of the Chronicle as 'Aunt Dorothy'.

Dolling, Dorothy (1897-1967). Prominent early member of the Country Women's Association and women's pages writer. From April 1937 until December 1966 Mrs Dolling was editor of the women's pages of the Chronicle. , writing as 'Eleanor Barbour'. She had previously written for a short time for the Advertiser (the Chronicle's parent newspaper) as 'Marian March.' She was particularly interested in history and encouraged readers of her pages to forward articles about South Australian history. This was continued under her relative Alison Dolling, who took over the column in December 1966, and wrote as 'Mary Broughton.'

Dollman, Henry Herbert (1852-1934). Journalist, postal clerk. Joined the Advertiser in late 1860s, left in 1872. (Chronicle, 15 March 1934, p. 15.)

Dollman, Walter (died 1916). Spent 47 years at the Advertiser, while his son spent 20 years on the staff.

Dollman, Walter (1873-1945). Journalist. Joined commercial department at the Advertiser in 1895. Served in the First World War and then farmed at Renmark and did journalistic work for the Murray Pioneer before returning to the Advertiser and joining the editorial staff. Became editor of the Chronicle for some years. (Chronicle 30 August 1945, p. 26.)

Donald, Bill. Gadfly.

Dow, Aisha. Journalist at the Port Augusta Transcontinental 2010.

Dow, TK. American correspondent for the Advertiser in 1899. (Critic, 11 February 1899, p. 13.)

Downer, Sidney Frederick. Journalist at the Advertiser 1934.

Drakard, Alf. A nineteenth century editor of the Gawler Bunyip. Later proprietor of the St Kilda Chronicle, Melbourne.

Droege, Gustav. Editor of Die Deutsche Post, Tanunda, until February 1850. Then editor of the Adelaide-based Suedaustralische Zeitung, which he established in partnership with Dr Carl Muecke and Otto Schomburgk. This merged with the Adelaide Deutsche Zeitung in mid 1851, but from October 1851 re-appeared under its own title, published by Droege.

Drummond, Charles (died 1913). Teacher. Reporter at the Labour Advocate.

Drysdale, David (1845-1921). Born in Edinburgh, Scotland and settled with his parents in Castlemaine in 1859. In 1877 David moved to Port Augusta and with brothers James and William became involved in newspaper work. Owner/editor of the Port Augusta Dispatch and later the West Coast Recorder. (Port Augusta Dispatch, 30 December 1882, p. 2; Register, 9 November 1915, p. 4)

Dumas, Charles Morris Russell (1851-1935). Opened a printing business at Mount Barker in 1872, established the Mount Barker Courier in 1880, which by the end of the century was the largest country newspaper in South Australia. Entered Parliament 1898. Editor of the Courier for 50 years. Father of Sir Lloyd Dumas. (Critic, 12 March 1898, p. 8)

Dumas, Frederick Lloyd (1891-1973). Journalist, editor. Son of Charles Dumas, owner of the Mount Barker Courier. Following experience in his father's newspaper office, he began work as a cadet at the Advertiser in 1907 concentrating on sports reporting. Became a sports and parliamentary reporter. In 1915 went to work at the Melbourne Argus where he became Federal political editor, and in 1921 chief of staff. Then editor of the Melbourne Sun News Pictorial in 1924. About 1927 went to London as manager and editor of the Australian Newspapers Cable Service. In 1929 appointed managing editor of the Advertiser, following its acquisition by Keith Murdoch and his Melbourne Herald group, and later became chairman of the Advertiser. He was knighted in 1946, and retired in 1967. One of the founders of the state branch of the Australian Journalists' Association. (Dumas, Lloyd, The Story of a Full Life, 1969; Victor Harbour Times, 21 June 1929, p. 1.)

Duncan, Julie. Journalist. Cadet counsellor at the Advertiser and wife of Attorney-General Peter Duncan.

Duncan, Leslie Samuel (died 1952). Owner and editor of the Border Chronicle from 1908 to 1913 which he sold due to ill health. Managing editor of the Barossa News from 1916 to 1917.

Dungey, Andrew (born 1846). Political theorist, stationer, editor. Between 1888 and 1890, Andrew Dungey wrote a weekly column for the Port Pirie Advocate about land nationalisation and the theories of Henry George, as well as other social issues. He stood for Parliament in 1890. In 1891 he launched a free newspaper, Roughshod, as a vehicle for his views about land nationalisation. In 1895 he was a contributor to the (Labor) Weekly Herald. (Aldine History, vol. 2, p. 637.)

Dunhill, Frank P. Journalist at the Murray Pioneer from 1946.

Dunn, Berkley. Editor of the Port Pirie Standard from 1893 to 1895.

Dunning, Edgar Thomas (1911-). Journalist at the Border Watch 1929. Brother of HG Dunning.

Dunning, Harold Geoffrey (1906-). Journalist at the Border Watch from 1923 until 1932. Brother of ET Dunning.

Durieu, F.W. Worked on the newspapers published by Ebenezer Ward in the 1870s. Published a suburban newspaper in Norwood in the 1880s of which no copies have survived.

Du Rieu, Harry. Owner/editor of the County Light Times although the newspaper never contained an editorial while under his ownership.

Dwyer, Gordon H. Proprietor of the Unley City Star.

Dyer, James Douglas (died 1941). Journalist at the Advertiser, then manager of the River Murray Advocate until 1916 when he became a teacher.

Dyke, WK. Journalist and sub-editor at the Port Pirie Recorder 1930s.