Anita Jacoby

Anita Jacoby, is an Australian television producer and journalist.

Life Jacoby was born in Sydney, Australia, the daughter of political refugees displaced through the Second World War. Her father was born in Heinrichswalde, Germany, and her mother, a White Russian, was born in Harbin, Manchuria. Growing up, Jacoby aspired to a career in the creative industries, although she was expelled from Pymble Ladies' College at the beginning of Year 10 “for being a pretty adventurous and difficult 15-year-old determined to push the boundaries”. Before entering the television industry, she had a number of jobs in book publishing and the print industry. Her first job after leaving school was as a marketing trainee at Paul Hamlyn Publishing Company before becoming a trainee book editor working on Australia’s Heritage. She then studied economics at Sydney University before returning to Paul Hamlyn's as a book editor. After Hamlyn's Jacoby joined Australian Consolidated Press as a journalist working on the Australian Women’s Weekly.

Career

Jacoby's first job in television was as a researcher on Makin’ Trax, a children's show hosted by singer, Robin Jolley and produced at the studios of BTV6 Ballarat (1980). She then joined leading children's TV program, Simon Townsend's Wonder World! (Network Ten) as a researcher/writer (1981).

In 1982, Jacoby joined the newsroom at NBN3 Newcastle as a reporter/journalist before forming G & J Productions with producer, Helen Grasswill creating and producing an original TV series for ATN7, Weekend Sydney (1983). She then worked as a reporter/director on Magazine, a current affairs series on SBS (1984). In 1985 she moved to breakfast television as an on-air producer at Good Morning Australia (Network Ten) hosted by Kerri-Anne Kennerley and Gordon Elliott. The following year (1986) Jacoby joined rival breakfast show, today with George Negus and Liz Hayes (Nine Network), rising through the ranks to supervising producer. She was never promoted to executive producer, with a man being promoted ahead of her on each occasion when the position became vacant. at independent production company, Zapruder's Other Films. Zapruder's became one of Australia's leading producers of original programs including: Enough Rope with Andrew Denton,

Community roles Jacoby is an ambassador for The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award – Australia and was chair of the 60th Anniversary Committee (2019).

Australian Academy of Cinema & Television Arts (AACTA) Award, Best Light Entertainment: The Gruen Transfer, 2012 Australian Academy of Cinema & Television Arts (AACTA) Nomination, Best Light Entertainment: Hungry Beast, 2011 TV Tonight Awards – Best Light Entertainment Program: The Gruen Transfer/Gruen Planet, 2011 Australian Film Institute (AFI) Award, Best Light Entertainment: Enough Rope with Andrew Denton, 2008 Australian Film Institute (AFI) Award Nomination, Best Light Entertainment: The Gruen Transfer, 2008 OPSO (Older People Speak Out) Award: Elders Series, 2008 Human Rights Award (Highly Commended): Angels & Demons (Mental Health Documentary), 2008 Australian & NZ Mental Health Service Achievement Award: Angels & Demons, 2008 QLD Mental Health Week Achievement Awards: Angels & Demons, 2008 Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia – Commendation: Angels & Demons, 2008 LIFE Award: Angels & Demons, 2008 WA Mental Health Good Outcomes Award: Angels & Demons, 2008 Australian Film Institute (AFI) Award, Best Light Entertainment: Enough Rope, 2006 OPSO Award, National TV News and Current Affairs: Enough Rope, 2005 Australian Film Institute (AFI) Award, Best Light Entertainment: Enough Rope, 2004 OPSO Award – Electronic Media: Enough Rope, 2004 Australian Film Institute (AFI) Award, Best Light Entertainment: Enough Rope, 2003 OPSO Award: Enough Rope, 2003 Mental Health Matters Award: Enough Rope, 2003 Alzheimer's Association Award: Witness, 1997 Asia-Pacific Broadcast Union Award: 60 Minutes, 1996 Order of Australia Media Award: 60 Minutes, 1995 Australian Ski Award, Best Electronic Media: 60 Minutes, 1995 Logie Award: 60 Minutes – Chelmsford Hospital Documentary, 1991 Gold Distinguished Service Medal, The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award – Australia (2021)