Nene

by Peter FitzSimons

It's 1987. Big hair and shoulderpads rule. Flamboyant deputy editor Nene King storms out of NEW IDEA to become editor of Kerry Packer's WOMAN'S DAY, determined to overthrow NEW IDEA and her former boss Dulcie Boling's supremacy. What followed was the rise of celebrity and gossip-fuelled journalism, a world where Nene reigned supreme. Even the once untouchable Royals - Charles and Diana, Fergie and Andrew - became fodder for the magazines' ratings war. Famous for her friendship with the Packer family, infamous for her publication of Fergie's toe-sucking picture, Nene's own life has not been free from tragedy. Her beloved husband, Patrick, went missing while diving with friends off Bondi. His body was never recovered. When the shock of the tragedy saw Nene end up in Narcotics Anonymous, she realised it was time for change. Retiring from the world of magazines, gradually Nene took back her life ... Now, in 2013, as Paper Giants: Magazine Wars airs on the ABC, Nene brings readers right up to date with the continuing ups and downs of her rollercoaster life, when, deceived by people she trusted, Nene lost her home and all her savings. As Nene has said, 'it's a personal journey, it's all I can do, the triumphs and the tragedies. And I'm sure you learn more from my mistakes than from my achievements.'

Genres: Biography

568 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Peter FitzSimons is one of Australia’s most prominent and successful media and publishing identities. His busy professional life involves co-hosting the breakfast program on Sydney's Radio 2UE, writing weekly columns for the Sydney Morning Herald and Sun Herald newspapers, appearing on Foxtel's Back Page television show and, when time permits, authoring best-selling books. A correspondent for London's Daily Telegraph as well, he is also in high demand as a guest speaker and presenter

Reviews

[Jenny Kirkby · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very insightful account of Nene King and a portion of the history of gossip magazines in Australia. The author cleverly presents Nene without asking the reader to like or hate her, but observing that she has been both loved and hated during the events of her life. I'm relieved I was never really into those magazines - what a horrid industry! Nene went on a complete power trip, only showing compassion (on occasion) to the people close to her. Woe betide you if you weren't and you had a story that would sell - even if most of it was made up by the magazine. While I found myself wishing Nene had been more on the receiving end of her own industry, through the skill of the author, I still found myself sorry that she suffered the trauma that she did and that in the end life unravelled for her.

[Rania T · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Australian four part drama "Paper Giants" at one point concentrated on the so-called women's 'magazine wars' in the late 80's and early 90's. At the centre of this whirlwind was Nene King, who was a master of knowing what Aussie women wanted in their magazines and knew how to get them flying off the shelves. Peter FitzSimons gives a balanced portrayal of Queen Nene from her early days as a feisty Melbourne Private School Girl (she attended MLC which was founded by the same man who established a magazine she later worked on) to her rise and rise as Magazine mistress to her eventual bowing out of the 'media rat race' and personal tragedies that are all the part and parcel of life.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. Well written as I have come to expect from Peter Fitzsimons