Veteran journalist Tom Krause remembered as 'force of nature' by industry peers

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Media industry figures from around the country have heaped praise on veteran journalist Tom Krause, who passed away on Tuesday.

He enjoyed a respected career spanning five decades in journalism, including time with the United Press International in New York, News Corp’s The Australian, the Seven Network, Sky News Australia, Ten’s Meet the Press, SBS’s The Observer Effect and Nine’s Sunday program where he was supervising producer and managing editor.

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Journalist Tom Krause who passed away on Tuesday.

Nine's former political editor Laurie Oakes described Mr Krause as "force of nature" and a "genuine mentor".

"He was funny, he was passionate, he could be angry but he was actually the loveliest man you’d ever met," Oakes said on ABC's Radio National this morning.

“Tom, for 20 years, was the backbone of the Sunday program on Nine, which is, I think, still the best current affairs program ever produced in this country.

"He was an inspiration to everybody."

Krause was a huge fan and foundation member of the Sydney Swans, with the club paying tribute to him on social media on Wednesday.

Plaudits poured in from journalists around the country, extolling Krause for his tireless behind the scenes work at various newsrooms.

"He helped me so much as a correspondent," said Channel Seven's Michael Usher.

"A gift to many journalists, a super producer, a master of our craft. Sorely missed."

Nine's finance editor Ross Greenwood said that Mr Krause was "head and shoulders" among people head worked with.

"His passing reminds us that journalism is a craft, and he was a master with words, ideas & pictures," he said.

Channel Ten's Angela Bishop said: "we have lost a legend of the biz and a true gentleman today."

Finance journalist Michael Pascoe praised Mr Krause's work, but said that more importantly, he was "a person who always made your day better when you met him."

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Journalist Tom Krause reporting in 1984.Paul Wright

Nine National Director of News and Current Affairs Darren Wick said Mr Krause was one of the network's true legends.

"Tom will forever be admired as one of the great journalists and truly wonderful characters in the history of Channel Nine," he said.

"He was extremely intelligent and possessed an incredible ability and instinct to consistently produce the most compelling current affairs programming.

“But above all else, he was an outstanding teacher and mentor to so many of us at Nine and everywhere else he worked. He inspired us with his relentless work ethic, love of a great story and wicked sense of humour."