Leading Herald Sun sports journalist Sam Landsberger has died aged 35 after a traffic accident in Richmond on Tuesday morning.
Landsberger was a highly accomplished and much-loved member of the Herald Sun and Code Sports teams, where his appetite for hard work, ability to find a story and bright personality saw him quickly make his mark after joining the paper in March 2010.
Educated at Melbourne High School between 2003-2006, Landsberger attended Monash University from 2007-10 where he completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism.
Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson recalled a man who was loved by his colleagues.
Sam Landsberger has been remembered for his ability to find a story and his bright personality. Picture: Michael Klein
“Sam Landsberger had an enormous future in journalism and took giant strides early on,” Robinson said.
“He loved the game and understood it, and he respected his craft. He was such a valuable member of Melbourne’s sports journalism world, someone who could cover all aspects of footy. And people trusted him.”
Robinson believed Landsberger had the capabilities to become the paper’s next chief footy writer.
“Sam was a genuinely nice bloke, who was caring and inquisitive about people,’’ he said.
Herald Sun editor Sam Weir said: “This tragedy is a devastating loss for Sam’s family, friends and colleagues at the Herald Sun and the sporting codes he covered with such passion.
“He was an energetic and talented football and cricket journalist, who lit up the newsroom. Sam excelled in everything he did, from breaking the big stories to expert analysis on Fox Footy. He was well-loved and well-respected and had an incredible career ahead of him. Our thoughts go out to his family. Sam will be deeply missed.”
Landsberger was a much-loved and respected member of the Herald Sun.
This year Landsberger has been part of the popular Fox Footy Midweek Tackle, hosted by his friend and colleague Jay Clark.
“I loved working with Sam and adored him as a person,” Clark said.
“I remember the day he walked into the Herald Sun office and how effortlessly and beautifully he covered the game from the start.”
“He was a superb writer, a joy to read, a fearless journo and a ball of energy on the television with Fox Footy. He was the star of our Midweek Tackle and an incredible friend, who always made you smile. I’ll miss him so much and our phone conversations that always went too long.”
Glenn McFarlane, who worked with Landsberger for the past 14 years, remembered his mate with these words: “Sam was one of the brightest young stars in Australian sports journalism. He shone through with his exceptional work ethic, his prodigious talent and his eagerness to chase the yarn without fear but always with compassion. He cared deeply about his craft and we cared deeply about him.”
Jon Ralph echoed McFarlane’s words: “Sammy was an incredible journalist. He had all the best traits of an old-fashioned journo with rock solid sources — who he protected at all costs — massive work rate and stubborn as all hell when he had a sniff of a story. And he did it with a modern sensibility, his fingers flashing as he relentlessly texted his sources for the latest nugget he could weave into columns packed with newsy morsels.”
Colleague Michael Warner described Landsberger as a rising star of the football media.
“He had a nose for news, a passion for the game and called ‘bullshit’ when he saw it,” he said.
“His enthusiasm for a yarn – at any hour of the day – was infectious.
“He could deliver quality copy under deadline pressure and earned the respect of readers, players and administrators with his honesty and integrity.”
Landsberger with Herald Sun footy colleagues Michael Warner and Glen McFarlane.
Herald Sun weekend editor Nick Papps said “Sam was a genuine news breaker who relentlessly pursued the truth. He was fair, balanced and cared deeply. He had a great heart and a passion that was infectious. We are all so grateful to have known him and worked with him.”
Landsberger’s rise to prominence was extremely quick, with Landsberger winning the prestigious Australian Football Media Association award in 2013, which was named in honour of the late Clinton Grybas for the most outstanding young media performer of the year.
Landsberger won multiple journalism awards.
He was presented with the award by veteran AFL journalist Mike Sheahan, who described Landsberger’s work in the following words: “Sam’s versatility as a young sports journalist was demonstrated in his ability to not only break news but to capture the significance of unfolding breaking stories.
“His work on the AFL draft was highlighted by his daily short feature stories Pick Me in the lead-up to the 2012 national draft, including an exclusive interview with the VFL’s Wade Lees, who Sam revealed had been banned for 18 months for importing performance enhancing drugs.”
The same year Landsberger was named the Walkley Young Journalist of the Year, and was equally as proficient and successful in the world of cricket, winning three straight Twenty20 annual media awards when the competition was at its zenith. He also crossed easily into the world of digital media, as highlighted by his prized Quill award.
Michael Miller, Executive Chairman of News Corp Australasia said: “It is with deep sadness to hear of the sudden death of our talented colleague, Sam Landsberger.
“This loss is profoundly felt across our entire organisation, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.
“Sam was not only a talented, sports-loving professional, but also a cherished friend to many, especially his colleagues at the Herald Sun and Fox Sports.
“He started his career in the communities at Leader, and spent his professional life with The Herald & Weekly Times and News Corp Australia.
“Sam was an incredibly diligent reporter, always in the office with his phone to his ear talking to his valued football contacts. His passion for chasing the big story set him apart from so many.
“That passion and an unwavering commitment to excellence led to him being Young Journalist of the Year at the News Awards in 2013, and he was also a finalist for the Sports Journalist of the Year in 2023.
“Sam will be greatly missed.”
NewsWire sports reporter Ed Bourke paid tribute to Landsberger as a mentor in the newsroom.
“Sam was incredibly generous to me from the moment I moved into sport. He made me feel so welcome and supported, and his energy was just infectious through our newsroom. I will desperately miss the times he pulled up next to my desk to chat footy and cricket, while his phone endlessly buzzed away in his pocket. It’s devastating to lose him.”
A passionate Western Bulldogs supporter, Landsberger was the son of Dr Jake Landsberger who was the long-time doctor for the Western Bulldogs.
AFL Chief Executive Officer Andrew Dillon said the football industry was deeply shocked and distressed by Landsberger’s death.
Mr Dillon said the thoughts of all those in football were with the Landsberger family and friends, all NewsCorp and Herald Sun staff and in particular the sports department where Sam worked for the past 14 years.
He said the AFL’s thoughts were also with the Western Bulldogs where the Landsberger family had a long association through Dr Jake Landsberger, serving as the club’s medical officer for more than two decades.
“Sam has been taken from his family and friends in a terrible tragedy today and all our love and care go out to them in this time of greatest need,” Mr Dillon said.
“Across more than a decade, Sam has been building his impressive journalistic career and was respected for both his tenacity for chasing a story and his incredible passion for the game. We know his death has had a devastating impact on those who worked with Sam at News and Foxtel and his many friends across the football and media industries.
“We send our sincere condolences to Sam’s family and to his work colleagues but also our thoughts are with all those across the football industry and the football media for whom Sam was both colleague and friend.”
The AFL formally acknowledged Sam’s passing at Tuesday night’s launch of the AFLW season in Melbourne.
Police confirmed the accident occurred at the intersection of Bridge Rd and Church St “about 10.20am with the victim taken to The Alfred hospital”.
Their investigation into the incident is ongoing.
