Latest news with #Walkley-winning
Sky News AU
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
Channel Seven stars Amelia Brace, Bill Hogan and Denham Hitchcock leave to start new roles with Network 10
The Seven Network has lost three well-known reporters to Channel 10 after the trio were reportedly head-hunted to start work on a new investigative program. Former foreign correspondent Amelia Brace, senior Sydney news reporter Bill Hogan and Spotlight's Denham Hitchcock each resigned from Seven last week to head over to the rival network, The Australian's Media Diary has revealed. The publication reports Brace and Hitchcock swiftly departed Seven "within hours of quitting", and both started their new roles at Channel 10 on Monday. Hogan on the other hand will need to work for three more weeks until he heads over to the Paramount Global-owned broadcaster. Brace, a former political reporter in Canberra's Press Gallery, was reportedly offered a $50,000 bump on her $220,000 salary to join Network 10. The Walkley-winning journalist shared the news of her departure in a rather cryptic message to colleagues last Friday. "It feels off to not have an official 'last day' to say goodbye, but it's best for me to just fade away for now," Brace wrote, according to the Media Diary. "Stand up for yourselves, and each other … and think of me every time you have to find a case study." For Hitchcock, the opportunity to host the new program was "too good to pass up", according to the publication. All three journalists were reportedly tapped on the shoulder by Channel 10 boss Martin White to join the broadcaster's new investigative unit, although little is known about the upcoming show. The development comes less than four months after Hitchcock announced his return to Channel Seven's Spotlight program. Hitchcock stepped away from the network in January 2023 to spend more time sailing with his family and focus on freelance work. Upon revealing his return earlier this year, the presenter said it was time for him to "wash some of the salt out" and get back to what he does best. "Back in 2019 the network asked me to start what would eventually become the Spotlight program with one producer and one cameraman - and as the limited shows proved successful - the team quickly grew and it would turn into the networks flagship program," Hitchcock's post read, accompanied by a selfie. "I stepped away for a few years to go sailing with the family - and have returned to find a new EP, a new team, new reporters, a fresh energy, an abundance of stories, and some genuine excitement about the year ahead." At the time, Hitchcock and his family had recently moved back to Sydney after living life at sea on a catamaran. has contacted Channel Seven and Network 10 for comment.
Sydney Morning Herald
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
ABC chair scorched for ‘lapse of judgment' over alleged interference
'I understand the sensitivity which surrounds such matters and have sympathy with the way that misunderstandings can arise from time to time and where people can take offence.' Williams added that he gave Gutman no guarantee of airtime and that he did not intervene, nor seek to override his staff's editorial judgment. 'There was no instruction or suggestion of intervention made. I do not believe that I have acted in any way inconsistent with ABC editorial policies. It is important to keep these matters in proportion and not to amplify it into something it was not.' ABC managing director Hugh Marks, who is less than two months into the job, backed the Media Watch team, led by Linton Besser and executive producer Mario Christodoulou, for chasing the story. 'The matters raised by Media Watch are important. I have been at the ABC a short time, but I am vigilant to ensure the proper delineation of responsibility between the board and management, and will act appropriately to ensure the best interests of the ABC, its people and audiences as we move forward,' Marks said. Williams affirmed that he understood the difference between his role as chair and that of the managing director and senior management. Besser, a Walkley-winning reporter, was appointed host of Media Watch last November, replacing Paul Barry after 12 years in the role. The show's most recent episode on April 14 was viewed by an average audience of 613,000 across metro and regional television, alongside digital streaming on ABC iview. The scrutiny of ABC's chairman represents another challenge for the broadcaster, after Williams' predecessor, Ita Buttrose's role in the sacking of Antoinette Lattouf dominated her unlawful termination proceedings in the Federal Court this year. Since his arrival at the ABC, Williams has taken a significantly more visible approach to being chair than Buttrose, who rarely gave interviews or spoke on matters concerning the functioning of the national broadcaster. He has given a number of public addresses, speeches, interviews and appearances in 13 months, with a common theme being the justification for improved funding for the broadcaster, arguing that strong media is essential in an age of misinformation, declining trust in the media and threats to democracy. Earlier this month, Williams told the Melbourne Press Club the ABC was ready to defend itself in any efficiency reviews brought by a Peter Dutton-led government. As chair, Williams has also been open about the ABC's areas for improvement, telling the Press Club there were areas where the broadcaster had 'lost the plot', while also underperforming in its service of documentaries. Last year, Williams also criticised the ABC's online news output, arguing it over-preferred 'lifestyle stories' instead of hard news.
The Age
29-04-2025
- Politics
- The Age
ABC chair scorched for ‘lapse of judgment' over alleged interference
'I understand the sensitivity which surrounds such matters and have sympathy with the way that misunderstandings can arise from time to time and where people can take offence.' Williams added that he gave Gutman no guarantee of airtime and that he did not intervene, nor seek to override his staff's editorial judgment. 'There was no instruction or suggestion of intervention made. I do not believe that I have acted in any way inconsistent with ABC editorial policies. It is important to keep these matters in proportion and not to amplify it into something it was not.' ABC managing director Hugh Marks, who is less than two months into the job, backed the Media Watch team, led by Linton Besser and executive producer Mario Christodoulou, for chasing the story. 'The matters raised by Media Watch are important. I have been at the ABC a short time, but I am vigilant to ensure the proper delineation of responsibility between the board and management, and will act appropriately to ensure the best interests of the ABC, its people and audiences as we move forward,' Marks said. Williams affirmed that he understood the difference between his role as chair and that of the managing director and senior management. Besser, a Walkley-winning reporter, was appointed host of Media Watch last November, replacing Paul Barry after 12 years in the role. The show's most recent episode on April 14 was viewed by an average audience of 613,000 across metro and regional television, alongside digital streaming on ABC iview. The scrutiny of ABC's chairman represents another challenge for the broadcaster, after Williams' predecessor, Ita Buttrose's role in the sacking of Antoinette Lattouf dominated her unlawful termination proceedings in the Federal Court this year. Since his arrival at the ABC, Williams has taken a significantly more visible approach to being chair than Buttrose, who rarely gave interviews or spoke on matters concerning the functioning of the national broadcaster. He has given a number of public addresses, speeches, interviews and appearances in 13 months, with a common theme being the justification for improved funding for the broadcaster, arguing that strong media is essential in an age of misinformation, declining trust in the media and threats to democracy. Earlier this month, Williams told the Melbourne Press Club the ABC was ready to defend itself in any efficiency reviews brought by a Peter Dutton-led government. As chair, Williams has also been open about the ABC's areas for improvement, telling the Press Club there were areas where the broadcaster had 'lost the plot', while also underperforming in its service of documentaries. Last year, Williams also criticised the ABC's online news output, arguing it over-preferred 'lifestyle stories' instead of hard news.
