Ros Reines: 'The Social Diary' - INTERVIEW

Ros Reines is renowned as the gossip columnist for Australia's 'The Sunday Telegraph' newspaper, and she has just had her second book published. Titled 'The Social Diary', here she gives Josie's Juice the story on her 'dressing down' by James Packer, her sharp intuition which tells her when someone is lying, and how much of the book is based on reality. Here is Ros Reines:

Photo of Ros Reines: Mark Morffew

Josie's Juice: Why do we like gossip so much as a society?

Ros: Spreading gossip is something that has been going on in society since the earliest civilisation - it's an intrinsic part of human nature to discuss what others are doing and saying. It's how we learn more about who we are as people and then feel better or worse about ourselves.  

JJ: 
I am sure you are asked this often, but… how much of your own life and own friends (and perhaps even ex-friends!) do you draw from for the book (or directly refer to, while changing names!)?

Ros: A lot of the events in The Social Diary actually happened and they have been embellished for the novel. Don't blame me but as a novelist I feel it easier to write about the world that I know and finally after all these years of being involved in it, there are certain things that I want and messages that I wish to communicate. Finally a lot of things that happen in my world are so strange and downright berserk that you couldn't make them up.




JJ: I understand you are working on part three of this book. What will that entail? Which era?

Ros: The sequel  is set in the current time and then Savannah is going back to her earliest days in journalism when she wrote about reggae and travelled to Jamaica, while based in London. It was a magical time, which I hope to bring to life again.


JJ: Are you secretly researching this now at your current social events? Do people 'run away' from you at events, or perhaps even overcompensate and make small talk with you?

Ros: Well, I do live it every day and I am fascinated with the way the scene has evolved with the new media and bloggers etc. Not many people run away from me  but increasingly people wish to connect with me because I have won respect in my industry. This might sound like a contradiction in terms but it is true.  It's interesting to note that I have never been sued - although someone is threatening that at the moment...but not as a result of the publication of The Social Diary. 




JJ: Do you feel you now have a finely tuned, innate sixth sense when people are lying, fabricating a story, or actually being honest with you? What do you look for (body language, eye contact, etc) in order for you to just know in your gut a story is real?

Ros: Yes I know when someone is lying or I can immediately sense the motivation behind someone giving me a story. I've been a journalist since `79 so my intuition is pretty sharp but I have also been working on myself to always be present. I exercise, keep a clear mind, eat well and as a result I have learnt to trust my instincts. I also look at other peoples' body language.




JJ: The media industry knows 'The Social Diary' as a go-to site for contacts and news.  Have there been people mistaking one for the other (the book for the site?)

Ros: Not really - The Social Diary is quite clearly a novel.


JJ: Tell me about an anecdote where someone you have spoken about in a piece has confronted you at an event. How do you handle that?

Ros: My dressing down by James Packer has been well documented. Once an eighties entrepreneur threatened to deck me at an event held at the Art Gallery Of New South Wales but didn't. On another occasion the same man offered to do my housework for an unspecified term if I didn't mention that he was dating a famous mistress. On another occasion a powerful man with some interesting connections and a very short temper insisted that I meet him for 'coffee' but one of my lawyer mates told him in no uncertain terms that this would not happen.


JJ: How do you describe yourself to your elderly relative, your son, or a new friend when describing your job?

Ros:These days I just say that I am a newspaper columnist and an author. I'm not pretending to be something that I am not because I have the luxury of writing about anything that I feel strongly about. Often this includes gossip. I'm proud of my reputation and my work. 

Ros Reines is the author of THE SOCIAL DIARY, published by Allen & Unwin, RRP $29.99, on sale now.

Anthony Del Col: Final Interview

In the wake of the passing of Anthony Del Col, I'd like to show his last published interview.

I worked alongside Anthony on the Ultimate Wedding Planning Party, the bridal event created by my friend and brill PR, Kim Veverka.

I truly enjoyed assisting in the process of getting some great stories published for the event.

One of the vehicles for press was the local newspapers. It made sense: ask the paper to profile some inspiring local talent in their area. People connect with this more, and are more inspired to know about the event, by knowing the back story of the local people involved.

Anthony Del Col... what can I say? He was the natural choice to pitch, year in, year out.

He gave good quote, always. He knew his craft inside out and so he was at ease in an interview situation.

He'd been profiled a few times by the local paper in his 'hood (Inner West Courier), but I really wanted him profiled again in the IWC. The journo at the local - Shireen Khalil - agreed, and a photo shoot and interview time was arranged.

As usual, Anthony was ready, willing, and had an abundance of enthusiasm.

I don't live in the area, so when I got the PDF of the article, I kinda flipped. As did Anthony. It was just perfect... a lovely piece, and one of the most beautiful photos I'd ever seen of Anthony.

Here it is:

Today, that same precious photo was used for an obituary piece in The Sunday Telegraph:

Anthony, you were always gracious with any opportunities that came your way. I feel kinda privileged to have assisted with this final one. RIP, angel.

Wendi Deng: The Pie. The Slap. The Divorce.

Remember Wendi Deng?

You know, the loyal wife (and former volleyball player!) of Rupert Murdodch who went the big slap on a heckler who attempted to throw a cream pie on Murdoch as he testified before a British parliamentary committee following the UK phone hacking scandal (I have always wondered if these are actual cream or shaving cream...) Watch:



The Age newspaper has reported the billionaire mogul News Corp boss and the former executive at his giant Asian media company Star TV are over, after he filed for divorce in the New York Supreme Court.

The filing stated the "relationship between husband and wife has broken down irretrievably".

Murdoch is 82 and Ms Deng is 44 and were married 14 years ago - they have two daughters, 11-year-old Grace, and nine-year-old Chloe.

Murdoch requested that custody of the couple’s daughters be shared between him and Deng, a Chinese-born graduate of Yale University 38 years his junior.

A pre-nuptial agreement signed before their 1999 wedding will ensure Ms Deng’s claim to a share of his $US11 billion wealth.

Interestingly, a former nanny to the couple, who was previously described by a spokesman for the Murdochs as a ‘‘disgruntled former employee’’, said in 2012 that Ms Deng ‘‘curses Rupert all the time. A lot of f-words. She’s always yelling, crying’’. She added: ‘‘Everyone who works for her hates her and is scared of her.’’

The article also claims Deng embarrassed Murdoch early in their marriage by telling an associate in Hong Kong that ‘‘Rupert takes Viagra, but he doesn’t really need it’’.

Murdoch's second wife Anna, who had daughter Elisabeth and sons Lachlan and James with Murdoch, reportedly pocketed $US1.7 billion in the divorce, including $US110 million in cash.

For more, click here.

Wish magazine: Australia’s best dressed, 2012

Nice, Charlie Pickering.

This is just one of the beautiful portraits in this month’s edition of The Australian’s WISH magazine, which features a list of the best dressed Australians, showcasing an eclectic mix from comedians and newsreaders, to a wine maker and a restaurateur.

David Meagher, editor of WISH, said that while this year’s list may cause some debate, there was no denying that this year’s selection was a sartorially elegant bunch.

“The carefully considered list was chosen for each individual’s interesting and distinctive personal style. Some familiar faces include the suavely debonair host of The Project, Charlie Pickering, and the ABC’s sharply dressed Lateline co-presenter, Emma Alberici.

“Each person on the list knows the look that they are trying to create. They understand when to dress up, when to dress down, and appreciate the value of good accessories, knowing that they can make them look and feel good.”

The complete list of The Australian’s WISH magazine best dressed includes: Charlie Pickering, host of The Project, Liam McKessar, blogger, Steve Pavlovic, music promoter, Bradley Cocks, travel entrepreneur, and Lincoln Pilcher, restaurateur and photographer.

And the women: Vanessa Holden, creative director, Emma Alberici, journalist, Lisa McGuigan, winemaker, Sarah Cottier, art gallery owner, and Yasmin Sewell, fashion consultant.

See all the pics here, plus a behind the scenes vid, below.

Grab your copy today!

Watch the stylish behind the scenes video here:

Cindy Crawford Sunday Telegraph UK magazine, Spring 2012 edition

Cindy Crawford - the supermodel of the 1990s - shows she still definitely has what it takes when it comes to modeling.


The 46 year old features in a fashion spread and cover for the UK's Sunday Telegraph magazine.


Styled impeccably by Daniela Agnelli and shot by Alix Malka, it's to herald in Spring 2012.


Cindy: wow. I don't think I've ever seen control panties rocked quite like you have...

For more, see: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/