Welcome to Quick Q – Monday Media’s weekly Q&A series dedicated to finding out more about the personalities that matter most in the media landscape.
Every week, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age asks key figures across corporate media, business, sport, federal politics, radio, television and culture to answer questions about their lives, careers, hobbies and news habits.
This week’s conversation is with the NRL’s head of women’s elite football, Fiona Cerboneschi.
Fiona Cerboneschi, head of women’s elite football at the NRL.
How did you get your big break?
That old saying, “it’s who you know”. I left News Corp after about 11 years there in mags, papers, sport and rugby league and Tiff Slater – who was running women’s elite football at the NRL then – called me up and asked if I wanted to join her team. I took the leap, and here I am!
What are daily news media habits?
I’m all about digital nowadays. I read through the daily league headlines on email each morning and have Sydney’s dailies as quick links on my homepage. Lots of refreshing through the day and checking apps when out and about. Still get the papers delivered on the weekends though.
Which living person do you most admire?
Any woman who’s had the strength to stay true to herself and call out the patriarchy and its detrimental impact on all of society – the likes of Jameela Jamil, Clementine Ford, Geena Davis, Michelle Obama, Beyonce, RBG (Ruth Bader Ginsburg), AOC (Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez), Julia Gillard – all powerful, strong women in what they do and unafraid to speak up. We can all learn from them.
Your guilty streaming pleasure? Too many to name! We shamelessly have most of the streaming services set up. I’m late to the party but have just finished the American Office for the first time, and am also enjoying Ghosts – lighthearted and silly which can be just what you want at the end of a long day. Oh, I’m also a Bravo buff – Real Housewives, Below Deck – LOVE it.
Which phrase do you overuse?
“Right?” Feels like I’m constantly in a state of surprise about current events these days.
What did you want to do when you grew up?
Sports journalism. Tick, did it. I did a sports media degree with a minor in sports administration so working in sport was what I dreamt about and it’s now the next phase of my career too.
What was your first job?
As a teenager – Video Ezy. It was great job – free hire and you’d get to pick something to play on the screens in store during your shift. Straight out of uni I was at the Macleay Argus newspaper in Kempsey.
Facebook or Instagram? Instagram all the way. Facebook I only use for events and messenger.
Recommend a podcast…
I listen to many podcasts – my faves are Smartless, Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, The Dollop, iWeigh, Revisionist History, 30 for 30, How Did This Get Made. I’ve just started The Sunshine Place which is produced by Robert Downey Jr and Susan Downey about a rehab facility in the 1960s that turned into a violent cult.
What’s one vice you wish you could give up?
Scrolling at bedtime. So pointless and so bad for the brain and sleep.
The song that’s always on high rotation?
Depends who has hold of my Spotify. No specific song, really. I’m playing a lot of David Gray lately because he’s so chill and beautiful. My husband cracks out the 70s rock and if my kids get hold of it it’ll be a lot of Minecraft parody songs *eyeroll emoji*.
What are you reading?
Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman. I don’t get to read as much as I’d like to (maybe if I stopped scrolling at bedtime though…) and I have a heap of books lined up to get through – that’s on the to-do list for post-season!
Favourite movie of the past decade? I actually loved the Avengers series and regret not being able to see them at the cinema. They were movies my whole family could sit and watch together and we’ve watched them many, many times. They’re great to fill a rainy weekend stuck inside (or lockdown).
Top of your sporting bucket list?
I’d love to go to an Olympics. I didn’t get to Sydney because I was doing my HSC, and while I’ve got a second chance with Brisbane, I’d love to attend one overseas. Getting to an overseas F1 would be pretty cool too – like nearly everyone else, Drive to Survive has piqued my interest in Formula One.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
By adulthood, you’ll count your good friends on one hand. My parents always told me that growing up when I had issues with people at school. But it’s really helped me later in life to be able to let go of friendships that aren’t worth the effort and focus on the people that matter.
What are the three things you couldn’t live without?
My family, time by myself to recharge (because family can be exhausting!), and good red wine!
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