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Tributes paid to journalist Harry Potter

Tributes have been paid to legendary crime reporter Harry Potter who died last night after a long battle with cancer.

Potter was a well respected TV journalist worked for the Ten Network for 32 years and last year became the first recipient of the John Kennedy Lifetime Achievement Award.

His former employer this morning paid tribute to his work, with Ten CEO Hamish McLennan issuing a statement saying: “Harry Potter was a giant of Australian journalism and devoted more than 50 years of his life to the profession. He defined crime reporting for a generation and his legacy remains a major part of the newsroom at Ten.

“Harry was in the front row of Australian police and crime reporting for the past half century and became a household name, bringing Australia’s criminal underworld and all of its colourful characters into the lounge rooms of Ten’s viewers.”

Former colleagues described the reporter as a “legend” of crime reporting.

“Harry was an extraordinary reporter who never rested on his laurels. He was always the first to start and the last to finish and at the same time brought up an a great family with great kids”, said Jason Morrison, a friend of Potter’s who in the 90s worked as chief of staff of Ten’s Sydney newsroom.

“He was fighter who spent ten years with cancer. There are not many people who spend ten years fighting cancer.”

Ten’s executive director of news and current affairs, Peter Meakin, said: “Harry’s unique style, impeccable police contacts and genuine care for victims of crime led to decades of exclusive stories and lasting friendships. He was held in the highest regard not only by his family at Ten, but by the many police, families, journalists and cameramen he has worked with over the years.

“Harry joined Ten Eyewitness News in 1978 and in 2013 became the first recipient of the John Kennedy Lifetime Achievement Award. He will be sorely missed by everyone at TEN but his legacy lives on.”

Ten Sydney newsreader Sandra Sully said: “The simplest way to sum up our regard for Harry Potter is that every year our newsroom honours the best ‘Journalist of the Year’ with the Harry Potter Award.

“Harry set the standard at Ten News for honour, dignity and integrity in journalism. We are all so incredibly sad yet humbled to have known him and worked with him. He was and will remain a towering figure to all of us and we are grieving his loss.”

Potter leaves behind his wife, Katrina Lee, and his three children Tim, Nick, Elisa and Jack.

Nic Christensen 

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