Debbie Kruger
Encyclopedia
Debbie Kruger is an Australian music journalist
and pop-culture writer, she wrote Songwriters Speak in August 2005, which contains interviews with 45 Australian and New Zealand songwriters about their craft. Kruger was the Sydney correspondent for weekly entertainment newspaper, Variety
, for three years with the moniker of Krug. She works in public relations
with her company Kruger PRofiles and in radio broadcasting, she has also worked as Manager of Communications for Australasian Performing Rights Association (APRA).
, New South Wales
, the first child of English-born Lou Kruger and Romanian-born Lisa Kruger née
Berkowitz. She was brought up with younger sister Paula in the Jewish faith
as members of the North Shore Synagogue. She attended primary school in a class group of seven children at Masada College
, then secondary school with 200 students at Killara High School
. She dropped out of her Communications degree course at Mitchell College of Advanced Education (now Charles Sturt University
) in Bathurst
in 1981. She completed tertiary studies with a Bachelor of Arts, followed by Master of Arts in Theatre Studies, at the University of NSW
. Kruger developed an interest in theatre
and decided to undertake a career in dramaturgy
.
Kruger's first job was with the Australian Writers' Guild
in 1985 as a membership officer, she became a freelance journalist
in 1986, writing on pop-culture, including Music, Film & Television, Arts & Theatre, Travel, and Lifestyle. Kruger was a staff writer for the weekly entertainment newspaper, Variety
, becoming the Sydney correspondent during December 1986 – February 1990, and then based in London from March 1990, but she left Variety at the end of the year. While writing for Variety her reviews used Krug as her moniker.
Moving back to Sydney in mid-1992, Kruger established a national public relations
business, Kruger PRofiles, whose clients included the Brisbane Biennial International Music Festival and the Brisbane International Film Festival
(BIFF). Kruger based herself in Byron Bay
from 1993 and provided a weekly radio show on community radio station Bay FM 99.9
called Debbie Does Breakfast. She spent a year in Los Angeles in 1998–1999 before moving back to Byron Bay in mid-1999 as PR Manager for Sunspirit Aromatherapy.
Kruger returned to Sydney and became Manager of Communications and Public Affairs with the Australasian Performing Right Association
(APRA) during 2000–2003. She orchestrated the publicity for APRA's 75th anniversary celebrations on 28 May 2001 including the showcasing of APRA's Ten best Australian songs
at the APRA Awards
, 20 songs from the Top 30 had been announced by Kruger four weeks earlier. While involved with this project, Kruger met and interviewed many of Australia's finest songwriters and decided to write a book; she left APRA in 2003, to concentrate on her writing. On 1 August 2005, Kruger published, Songwriters speak : conversations about creating music, which contains interviews with 45 Australian and New Zealand songwriters about their craft. As of March 2009, Kruger was living in Byron Bay, broadcasting Debbie Does Breakfast on Bay FM 99.9, and running Kruger PRofiles.
Music journalism
Music journalism is criticism and reportage about music. It began in the eighteenth century as comment on what is now thought of as 'classical music'. This aspect of music journalism, today often referred to as music criticism , comprises the study, discussion, evaluation, and interpretation of...
and pop-culture writer, she wrote Songwriters Speak in August 2005, which contains interviews with 45 Australian and New Zealand songwriters about their craft. Kruger was the Sydney correspondent for weekly entertainment newspaper, Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
, for three years with the moniker of Krug. She works in public relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
with her company Kruger PRofiles and in radio broadcasting, she has also worked as Manager of Communications for Australasian Performing Rights Association (APRA).
Biography
Debbie Kruger was born in 1962 in SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, the first child of English-born Lou Kruger and Romanian-born Lisa Kruger née
NEE
NEE is a political protest group whose goal was to provide an alternative for voters who are unhappy with all political parties at hand in Belgium, where voting is compulsory.The NEE party was founded in 2005 in Antwerp...
Berkowitz. She was brought up with younger sister Paula in the Jewish faith
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
as members of the North Shore Synagogue. She attended primary school in a class group of seven children at Masada College
Masada College
Masada College runs from kindergarten to year 12. While Masada accepts students of any faith or background, the student body is predominantly Jewish. Many are from South Africa and as a result, the school is very influenced by South Africans. Although, the school holds a huge Jewish Belief and...
, then secondary school with 200 students at Killara High School
Killara High School
Killara High School is a co-educational public secondary school, located on Koola Avenue in East Killara, Sydney. Established in 1970, Killara High School is one of the highest performing comprehensive non-selective public schools in the state...
. She dropped out of her Communications degree course at Mitchell College of Advanced Education (now Charles Sturt University
Charles Sturt University
Charles Sturt University is an Australian multi-campus university located in New South Wales, Victoria, and the Australian Capital Territory. It has campuses at Bathurst, Canberra, Albury-Wodonga, Dubbo, Goulburn, Orange, Wagga Wagga and Burlington, Ontario...
) in Bathurst
Bathurst, New South Wales
-CBD and suburbs:Bathurst's CBD is located on William, George, Howick, Russell, and Durham Streets. The CBD is approximately 25 hectares and surrounds two city blocks. Within this block layout is banking, government services, shopping centres, retail shops, a park* and monuments...
in 1981. She completed tertiary studies with a Bachelor of Arts, followed by Master of Arts in Theatre Studies, at the University of NSW
University of New South Wales
The University of New South Wales , is a research-focused university based in Kensington, a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
. Kruger developed an interest in theatre
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
and decided to undertake a career in dramaturgy
Dramaturgy
Dramaturgy is the art of dramatic composition and the representation of the main elements of drama on the stage. Dramaturgy is a distinct practice separate from play writing and directing, although a single individual may perform any combination of the three. Some dramatists combine writing and...
.
Kruger's first job was with the Australian Writers' Guild
Australian Writers' Guild
The Australian Writers' Guild is the professional association for all performance writers, that is, writers for film, television, radio, theatre, video and new media. The AWG was established in 1962 and is recognised throughout the industry in Australia as being the voice of performance writers...
in 1985 as a membership officer, she became a freelance journalist
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
in 1986, writing on pop-culture, including Music, Film & Television, Arts & Theatre, Travel, and Lifestyle. Kruger was a staff writer for the weekly entertainment newspaper, Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
, becoming the Sydney correspondent during December 1986 – February 1990, and then based in London from March 1990, but she left Variety at the end of the year. While writing for Variety her reviews used Krug as her moniker.
Moving back to Sydney in mid-1992, Kruger established a national public relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
business, Kruger PRofiles, whose clients included the Brisbane Biennial International Music Festival and the Brisbane International Film Festival
Brisbane International Film Festival
Brisbane International Film Festival held in Brisbane provides a focus for film culture in Queensland, Australia. The festival has taken place since 1992 and focuses on films from the Asia-Pacific region. The event offers films including features, documentaries, shorts, experimental, silent films...
(BIFF). Kruger based herself in Byron Bay
Byron Bay, New South Wales
Byron Bay is a beachside town located in the far-northeastern corner of the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located north of Sydney and south of Brisbane. Cape Byron, a headland adjacent to the town, is the easternmost point of mainland Australia. At the 2006 Census, the town had a...
from 1993 and provided a weekly radio show on community radio station Bay FM 99.9
Bay FM (Byron Bay)
Bay FM is a community radio station serving the Byron Shire and beyond from Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia.Totally volunteer run, Bay FM aims to provide independent community-responsive radio informing and entertaining locally & globally.Locally the Radio Station's frequency is...
called Debbie Does Breakfast. She spent a year in Los Angeles in 1998–1999 before moving back to Byron Bay in mid-1999 as PR Manager for Sunspirit Aromatherapy.
Kruger returned to Sydney and became Manager of Communications and Public Affairs with the Australasian Performing Right Association
Australasian Performing Right Association
The Australasian Performing Right Association is a copyright collective representing New Zealand and Australian composers, lyricists and music publishers. The association's head offices located in Sydney Australia, and it has branch offices in Auckland, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth...
(APRA) during 2000–2003. She orchestrated the publicity for APRA's 75th anniversary celebrations on 28 May 2001 including the showcasing of APRA's Ten best Australian songs
APRA Top 30 Australian songs
APRA's Top 30 Australian songs between 1926 and 2001 was a list created by the Australasian Performing Right Association to celebrate its 75th anniversary...
at the APRA Awards
APRA Awards
The APRA Music Awards are several award ceremonies run in Australia and New Zealand by Australasian Performing Right Association to recognise songwriting skills, sales and airplay performance by its members annually....
, 20 songs from the Top 30 had been announced by Kruger four weeks earlier. While involved with this project, Kruger met and interviewed many of Australia's finest songwriters and decided to write a book; she left APRA in 2003, to concentrate on her writing. On 1 August 2005, Kruger published, Songwriters speak : conversations about creating music, which contains interviews with 45 Australian and New Zealand songwriters about their craft. As of March 2009, Kruger was living in Byron Bay, broadcasting Debbie Does Breakfast on Bay FM 99.9, and running Kruger PRofiles.