Veteran Channel 9 newsreader Peter Hitchener has introduced he’s stepping down from his job after 25 years.
Hitchener, 77, certainly one of Australian TV’s longest-serving broadcasters, has anchored 9 Melbourne’s weeknight bulletin since 1998. He’ll transfer to internet hosting the weekend information for the community from 2024.
9 Community unveiled journalists Tom Steinfort and Alicia Loxley as his substitute co-hosts, which marks the 6pm bulletin’s fourth internet hosting shake-up in its historical past.
“We’re delighted that Hitch will proceed to be a priceless and far cherished a part of the 9News Melbourne household,” 9’s Melbourne information director Hugh Nailon stated.
“He has an unwavering ardour for delivering information to Melbourne and we stay up for the wealth of expertise he’ll proceed to deliver to our weekend broadcasts.”
Hitchener, who began his profession in 1965 at Brisbane radio station 4BH, just lately celebrated 50 years employment with Channel 9, having beforehand been their weekend newsreader from 1979 to 1998.
Previous to that, he was with the ABC for six years.
The chief reporter, who was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2017, made international headlines in 2009 in a clip that has had viral moments on social media through the years. It reveals him sustaining steely composure as a seagull bombarded the projection whereas he was presenting.
Extra just lately, Hitchener anxious viewers in March 2021 when he fell unwell in the midst of presenting the information and was pressured to go away mid-show.
It was later revealed he had been affected by a migraine.
A number of months later, in December, he scaled again his duties by dropping the Friday bulletin.
In the meantime, Loxley, 42, was an apparent option to step in for the job, having taken over from Hitchener on Fridays on the time.
The Melbourne journalist has been weekend presenter for 9News Melbourne for the previous 12 years.
Present 60 Minutes presenter Steinfort will transfer from Sydney again to his residence metropolis of Melbourne to take up the position, having been with the 9 Community since 2007.
Steinfort, 39, has loved a profitable profession with 9, the place he’s labored as a European Correspondent and a fill-in co-host on At present.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Alicia and Tom to the forefront of our information workforce,” Nailon added.
“In what might be simply the fourth internet hosting line-up for the bulletin, this actually does signify the onset of a brand new age.
“Alicia and Tom will deliver a recent dynamism to Melbourne viewers as they observe within the footsteps of Sir Eric Pearce, Brian Naylor and Peter Hitchener.”
The brand new line-up will air in January.
