Riley started his journalism career in 1979 at '' The Newcastle Herald '' , where he covered topics including the 1989 Newcastle earthquake and the murder of Leigh Leigh . Riley 's extended coverage of Leigh 's murder received criticism , including from the '' Sydney Law Review '' , on the grounds that he was victim blaming Leigh for her own sexual assault and murder . Riley moved to '' The Sydney Morning Herald '' , where he worked in politics . In 1998 , he was appointed New York correspondent for the '' Sydney Morning Herald '' and for Melbourne 's '' The Age ''
1989 Newcastle earthquake
1989 Newcastle earthquake
Mark Riley (journalist)