60 Minutes’ Michael Usher joins Seven’s news division
Nine’s 60 Minutes senior reporter Michael Usher has defected to Channel Seven, joining the network’s news and public affairs division.
Usher has been with Nine since 1993, joining the 60 Minutes team in March 2009.
He will join Seven’s upcoming news specials series Seven News Investigates.
Seven Network director of news and public affairs, Craig McPherson, said in a statement:” We couldn’t be more pleased to have Michael joining Australia’s number one news team. Widely regarded as one of the country’s foremost investigative journalists, his passion and experience will further strengthen our dedicated team.
“Michael will be instrumental in future news programming, including presenting the Seven News Investigates series, currently in production.”
Usher’s departure follows on from 60 Minutes’ botched kidnapping attempt in Lebanon involving 60 Minutes reporter Tara Brown and her crew.
Usher was the face of the 60 Minutes’ apology to the public on behalf of the team: “Two months ago we set out on a story in Lebanon which ended up with our 60 Minutes crew and others being jailed in Beirut.
“Ever since we’ve been asking ourselves how things could have gone so wrong and tonight we face up to the errors we made – we sincerely apologise for our serious mistakes.”