Paul Scott (1961-2026)
Academic, columnist, and surfer
The Journalism Education and Research Association of Australia mourns the passing of Paul Scott, a former University of Newcastle media academic, Newcastle Herald columnist, and a key figure in Surfest.
Paul died peacefully by voluntary assisted dying on 30 January 2026 after a period of terminal brain cancer, leaving his partner and two daughters.
Paul was a journalist for Fairfax and produced award-winning work for the ABC and Inside Sport. He also taught at the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education in Northern Territory from 1987 to 1995, before moving to University of Newcastle, where he worked as a media academic for 25 years. In that time, he mentored numerous upcoming journalists and media professionals.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Ross Kerridge described Paul as “a larger than life Novocastrian”.
Dr Kerridge noted that Warren “Smithy” Smith from the Surfest team described meeting many of Paul’s former media students, who talked about him as “not just a great University Lecturer, but also a great influence on them professionally, personally and as a mentor”.
With his passion for surfing, Paul was also a voluntary media and communications director for Surfest for 19 years.
Former Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes described it as a privilege to work with Paul on Surfest and the Newcastle Ocean Baths.
“Paul had a rare gift for telling the truth with humour and heart — sharp, perceptive, and never afraid to say what others were thinking. Beneath that was a deeply thoughtful and compassionate man….
“When Paul spoke about his brain cancer, he did so with courage and extraordinary grace. He spoke about dignity, about love for his daughters, and about the importance of choice at the end of life. In doing so, he helped many of us reflect more honestly on what really matters.”
His local MP, Kate Washington, affectionately recalled how Scott was “fondly known as the ‘grumpiest man in Newcastle’. His contribution to the Hunter, its character and heart, was enormous”.
