Seven reshapes its national news desk under new director
Seven has announced a new director of its national news desk as the company completely restructures its news operations.
Hugh Whitfeld is the latest big hire for news boss Anthony De Ceglie, who has installed the high-profile foreign correspondent as director of the 7NEWS new-look National News Desk.
An internal email sent to Seven staffers last Thursday evening explained the changes:
“The 7NEWS National News Desk will be home to a centralised team of journalists whose responsibility as expert editors in their round will be to deliver exclusive content beyond anything seen on television,” the email read.
“The specialist rounds cover everything from Business and Aviation to Property and Asia.”
A press release sent by Seven on Wednesday explains further: “The 7NEWS National News Desk will operate like its own newsroom with an early editorial list collating the biggest ideas from the team but also a list of ideas to react to breaking headlines.
“A liaison will contact each newsroom early to add to the list based on stories happening across the country, to deliver hard-hitting journalism from each round. The editorial list will be first issued to State News Directors and newsroom leaders around 7am, to be re-shaped based on the day’s events with a plan to issue more widely to newsrooms during 9.30am editorial meetings.
“Hugh Whitfeld will manage the editorial content with reporters, camera operators and editors in each state assigned to manage the output. Expect news packages and analysis. There will be crossover of rounds, but this will be the strength of the team.
“For example, Mark Riley may package the latest developments on the AUKUS deal as Political Editor, but then expect Rob Scott to deliver expert analysis off the back. Both will deliver the top headlines online throughout the day.”
Under the new structure, national news desk director and foreign editor will be Hugh Whitfeld, federal politics will be led by 7NEWS political editor Mark Riley and political correspondents Rob Scott, Isabelle Mullen, Ben Downie and Josh Martin.
National chief correspondent is Chris Reason, business editor is Amelia Brace, Alison Sandy is the investigation/FOI editor, health editor is Jen Bechwati, consumer affairs is Georgia Holland, tech editor is Shaun White and aviation editor is Blake Johnson.
Property Editors are Angelique Opie (NSW), Melina Sarris (VIC), and Anna McGraw (QLD), Jasmin Teurlings (SA), and Alice Murray (WA), while defence editor is Rob Scott, based out of Canberra.
James Carmody will take on the Asia editor role, while Wenlei Ma will take on the entertainment editor position for The Nightly.
The moves are the latest by De Ceglie who has drastically reshaped Seven’s news strategy.
Anthony De Ceglie
In recent weeks, he has replaced Spotlight’s executive producer, Mark Llewellyn, with A Current Affair’s Sydney bureau chief and former Ben Fordham Live producer, Gemma Williams. He also moved Sunrise executive producer Sean Power to the role of director of news in Sydney.
Current Sunrise supervising producer Jake Lyle is now executive producer, with Holly Fallon moving to executive producer of Weekend Sunrise.
Mark Mooney was named as the new 7NEWS Adelaide news director, with former news director Chris Salter, appointed director of news in Seven Melbourne.
Seven has also recently appointed Katie Finney to the new role of national television sales director, and Vikki Friscic as head of sales strategy and enablement.
Mumbrella has reached out to Seven for comment.
Keep up to date with the latest in media and marketing
Got a tip?
Nathan Jolly is the Features Editor at Mumbrella. He joined the team in July, 2023.
Linkedin
You just lost many followers after your act re Sharon Ghidella,and you put a lot of junk on your station
User ID not verified.
FFS, just concentrate on the news in a balanced way, local and overseas and then a weather report. No other nonsense not related to news is needed. We can get that on Ch 10.
User ID not verified.
What a shame that channel 7 news has seemed to go the way of channel 9 we have watched 7 news for many years but if they get rid of mark Ferguson we are done and we expect are many thousands more viewers so look out ABC there will be a lot of viewers heading your way ,fancy one man comes along with no idea and wrecks it over night with stupid ideas so very sad no wonder people are using pay tv .
User ID not verified.
You must be joking. Bullsh*t horoscopes and p*ss-poor comedy in 7NEWS makes me sick. Whoever appointed Anthony De Ceglie should be sacked, along with him. Bring back quality in the news – don’t make it an entertainment event like every other commercial channel.
[Edited]
User ID not verified.
Does this work?
User ID not verified.
I love the lede of “Seven reshapes its national news desk under new director”.
Yeah it reads like that the existing news deck’s shape was boring … so they needed to reshape the desk. But then the new director has to make sure he sits on top of the news desk.
But I bet they start a new ‘everyday-viewers ‘ sponsored contest to solve the News decor with the winner being “The Deck-Orator”.
User ID not verified.
Are you able to let me know what my week will be like? Thanks
User ID not verified.
I’ve only ever known of one newspaper man that with no TV experience successfully managed a TV station. Brian Morris, from News Limited to Channel 10.
User ID not verified.
I do not want to see the woke nonsense on my 7pm News.
No horoscopes!!!!
No stupid comedy on Friday night!!!!
Why is it the new broom always feel they have to upend what us working.
Placing journalists in teams highlighting their strengths a good move.
Be careful not to go down America’s path of false information. Media should be giving unbiased reporting.
However, if you do not wish to loose my family and other Christian families with the same mind set, I would reassess your changes.
Thank you.
User ID not verified.
Umm … “The 7NEWS National News Desk will be home to a centralised team of journalists” sounds a llike rationalistion.
We viewers want more local news and coverage.
If news stories have to be submitted by 9.30am (EST) that can be 6.30am in Western Australia. From now on our local news bulletins will be swapped by car crashes in Melbourne, a tragic DV attack in Sydney, and a used car dealer in Queensland not honoring has warranty, plus an exclusive! A Diet plan, guaranteed to lose kilos in days!
The West Australian was a revered publication in Western Australia, for sure it had its faults, but since it has become a Tabloid sidekick to Channel 7 and it is not worth a subscription.
I understand we are only 10% of the population, but we need a truthful, media or there will be nothing.
User ID not verified.
A dull as dishwater ‘ comedian ‘ and horoscopes ?
Surely a news reader with all of Peter Mitchell’s experience can’t be happy with these ridiculous changes.
Look over your shoulder Mitch, they might replace you with Sam Pang.
User ID not verified.
Have your say