Ross Coulthart is an award-winning Australian investigative journalist known for hard‑hitting reporting across politics, corruption, national security, and corporate malfeasance—most prominently on 60 Minutes (Nine Network) and now as a senior correspondent at NewsNation. In recent years, he has become a central media figure in the modern UFO/UAP conversation, especially after publishing his bestseller In Plain Sight and conducting high‑profile interviews such as the David Grusch whistleblower sit‑down. Sources: Wikipedia, NewsNation bio, Leigh Bureau profile.
Career Foundations and Style
- Investigative pedigree across Australia’s top outlets, including 60 Minutes and Four Corners, with top awards (Gold Walkley, Logie). Sources: Wikipedia, NewsNation bio.
- Signature approach: source cultivation, document digging, and probing interviews; able to translate complex national‑security topics for mainstream audiences. Profile: Leigh Bureau.
Transition to UAP Reporting
- In Plain Sight positions UAP as a serious national‑security and transparency issue; widely discussed and reviewed. Sources: Amazon (AU paperback, 2021), Amazon (US reprint, 2023), Newcastle Herald coverage.
- 7NEWS Spotlight special “The UFO Phenomenon” (2021) brought UAP testimony to Australian primetime. Source: 7NEWS Spotlight page via Wikipedia citation of the 2021 special: see Wikipedia section “UFOs.”
- Co‑hosts the “Need To Know” podcast with Bryce Zabel. Source: Wikipedia.
Notable UAP Work
- David Grusch interview alleging secret UAP retrieval programs and possession of non‑human craft/biologics aired on NewsNation in 2023; sparked global debate and oversight calls. Source: NewsNation bio; background in Wikipedia.
Ongoing UAP reporting and Q&A features at NewsNation. Examples:
- “Inside the most secure military facility in the US” Q&A: NewsNation
- UAP hotspots (US/Japan): NewsNation
- Former senior intelligence officer near Colorado defense bunker: NewsNation
Books and Key Media
- In Plain Sight (HarperCollins): Amazon 2021 edition, Amazon 2023 reprint.
- Broader authorship (organized crime, WWI history) and awards detailed here: Wikipedia, NewsNation bio.
Influence and Reception
- Mainstreaming UAP: Coverage helped normalize UAP as a policy/safety topic rather than fringe curiosity. Overview: Leigh Bureau, NewsNation bio.
- Critical responses exist; see reviews of In Plain Sight cited on Wikipedia (e.g., Times Literary Supplement and Jason Colavito critiques).
Why Coulthart Matters to the UFO Timeline Project
- Demonstrates how investigative journalism can elevate UAP discourse through evidence‑first reporting, clear sourcing, and accountability framing—aligned with the Timeline Project’s emphasis on documentation and community collaboration. For career/UAP pivot context: Wikipedia; for current role/output: NewsNation bio.