‘Think of me every time you have to find a f******* case study’: Why this journalist’s exit is making headlines
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Big moves are underway in Australia’s competitive media landscape, and the shake-up is already turning heads.
What started as quiet newsroom whispers has now developed into a bold power play by one of the country’s major networks.
The latest exits from a top broadcaster suggest something significant is brewing behind the scenes.
A trio of well-known reporters from Channel Seven walked away from the network last week, with all three expected to resurface at Network Ten.
Amelia Brace, Denham Hitchcock and Bill Hogan submitted their resignations and, in some cases, left the Seven newsroom within hours.
According to reports, the three journalists are joining a new long-form current affairs program being developed under Ten’s news chief Martin White.
Brace and Hitchcock were expected to begin their roles at Ten on 2 June morning, while Hogan was due to join them in three weeks.
Reports suggested Ten offered Brace a $50,000 pay bump on her previous $220,000-a-year salary.
Brace, who formerly served as Seven’s foreign correspondent, acknowledged her departure in a farewell note to colleagues.
‘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,’ she wrote.
‘Stand up for yourselves, and each other … and think of me every time you have to find a f****** case study.’
Hitchcock’s exit marked a surprising turnaround, having only returned to Seven three months earlier after taking time off to sail with his young family.
In a post on social media announcing his comeback, he wrote: ‘I’m back. It’s time to wash some of the salt out - and get back to what I do 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 network’s flagship program.’
‘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.’
He ended his message by encouraging followers to send him ideas: ‘But please - researched ideas - not just wild theories … Keep an eye on @7newsspotlight it’s going to be quite the year.’
Hitchcock’s most recent appearance on screen came with the 2023 documentary Who Killed Marea?, a deep dive into the unsolved 2003 killing of Marea Yann in rural Victoria.
Before rejoining Seven, he led an investigation into the case with Sky News.
Hitchcock and his wife Mari had also recently welcomed their second child in December.
Behind the scenes, media insiders had speculated that Ten was building a rival to 60 Minutes, Spotlight, and Four Corners.
Last month,it was reported that an ‘investigations unit’ was forming at Ten, with reporter Dan Sutton tipped to become executive producer of the new program.
Network Ten confirmed the development. ‘Following the continued growth and success of our news brand, 10 News, we are investing in a 10 News investigative unit that will work on long-form investigative stories as part of our news offering across all our platforms,’ a spokesperson said.
In a previous story, another high-profile departure made headlines in the television industry.
A well-known breakfast presenter stepped away from a top-rated Melbourne program, leaving fans and colleagues stunned.
Read on to see how this unexpected exit added to the growing wave of media shake-ups.
With big names jumping networks and a new program in the works, could Ten's latest move shake up the current affairs scene? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
What started as quiet newsroom whispers has now developed into a bold power play by one of the country’s major networks.
The latest exits from a top broadcaster suggest something significant is brewing behind the scenes.
A trio of well-known reporters from Channel Seven walked away from the network last week, with all three expected to resurface at Network Ten.
Amelia Brace, Denham Hitchcock and Bill Hogan submitted their resignations and, in some cases, left the Seven newsroom within hours.
According to reports, the three journalists are joining a new long-form current affairs program being developed under Ten’s news chief Martin White.
Media shake-up as top reporters quit. Image source: Instagram/ameliabrace7
Brace and Hitchcock were expected to begin their roles at Ten on 2 June morning, while Hogan was due to join them in three weeks.
Reports suggested Ten offered Brace a $50,000 pay bump on her previous $220,000-a-year salary.
Brace, who formerly served as Seven’s foreign correspondent, acknowledged her departure in a farewell note to colleagues.
‘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,’ she wrote.
‘Stand up for yourselves, and each other … and think of me every time you have to find a f****** case study.’
Hitchcock’s exit marked a surprising turnaround, having only returned to Seven three months earlier after taking time off to sail with his young family.
In a post on social media announcing his comeback, he wrote: ‘I’m back. It’s time to wash some of the salt out - and get back to what I do 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 network’s flagship program.’
‘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.’
He ended his message by encouraging followers to send him ideas: ‘But please - researched ideas - not just wild theories … Keep an eye on @7newsspotlight it’s going to be quite the year.’
Hitchcock’s most recent appearance on screen came with the 2023 documentary Who Killed Marea?, a deep dive into the unsolved 2003 killing of Marea Yann in rural Victoria.
Before rejoining Seven, he led an investigation into the case with Sky News.
Hitchcock and his wife Mari had also recently welcomed their second child in December.
Behind the scenes, media insiders had speculated that Ten was building a rival to 60 Minutes, Spotlight, and Four Corners.
Last month,it was reported that an ‘investigations unit’ was forming at Ten, with reporter Dan Sutton tipped to become executive producer of the new program.
Network Ten confirmed the development. ‘Following the continued growth and success of our news brand, 10 News, we are investing in a 10 News investigative unit that will work on long-form investigative stories as part of our news offering across all our platforms,’ a spokesperson said.
In a previous story, another high-profile departure made headlines in the television industry.
A well-known breakfast presenter stepped away from a top-rated Melbourne program, leaving fans and colleagues stunned.
Read on to see how this unexpected exit added to the growing wave of media shake-ups.
With big names jumping networks and a new program in the works, could Ten's latest move shake up the current affairs scene? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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