After several weeks of experimenting with different newsreaders, Seven has confirmed a shakeup for 7News Sydney.
Mark Ferguson and Angela Cox will co-anchor Seven’s flagship 6pm bulletin from Sunday to Thursday.
Seven Network director of news and current affairs and Seven West Media editor-in-chief Anthony De Ceglie has made the change after also testing Angie Asimus and Michael Usher in different combinations in the timeslot.
It has been speculated that Asimus will join Usher to present the Friday and Saturday Sydney 6pm bulletins.
Could Melbourne be the next market to feel the winds of change across the newsdesk? Fiona Byrne points out in the Herald Sun that recently signed newsreader Karina Carvalho has been on the Melbourne weekend newsdesk with Mike Amor. Could she end up moving to weeknights to join Peter Mitchell?
In a statement about the Sydney change, Seven pointed out Ferguson and Cox share almost 70 years of experience in journalism and news broadcasting. Both started their careers in Tamworth in regional NSW. They then spent many years overseas as foreign correspondents before returning to Sydney.
Mark Ferguson said: “I’m really looking forward to it. Ange will add so much extra to the bulletin each night; more experience, more energy and it will allow us to be much more versatile when big stories break.
“In some ways, it’s a fresh start for me, I’ve never really co-presented before so I’m hoping Ange can teach this older dog some new tricks. She is a talented journalist, a great presenter and an even greater person. Very honest and very positive with real drive and energy.
“We have a fantastic team in the Sydney newsroom focused on covering what matters most to Sydney each and every night. This move will only help.”
See also: Diary of a TV newsreader: Seven’s Mark Ferguson celebrates a media milestone
Angela Cox said: “I am thrilled to be sitting alongside Mark Ferguson as we embark on an exciting new era for Seven’s 6.00pm Sydney news.
“Mark’s warmth, integrity and authority behind the news desk has rightfully earned him a loyal following. He’s also a great bloke, always professional, very funny and a great husband and family man.
“The news landscape has changed so much. The way we consume news is radically different now than even 10 years ago and 7News is evolving too. Exciting times ahead.”
Anthony De Ceglie, said: “This is a new and fresh approach for Seven’s flagship Sydney 6pm news.
“Mark Ferguson is an institution and deservedly one of the most trusted news voices in Australia.
“This new co-anchor approach brings a new sense of dynamism, innovation and flexibility to the hour-long program and I am incredibly excited to see Mark and Angela Cox work together.”
7News Sydney: Fergo and Ange
Fergo has helmed 7News Sydney for the past decade and earlier this year marked 40 years in journalism and broadcasting.
Cox is an award-winning journalist and foreign correspondent with Seven for the past two decades, seven of those years in the network’s US bureau. Since December 2020, she has co-anchored 7News Sydney’s weekend bulletins alongside Michael Usher. She will continue to anchor live news coverage and special reports for the network.
The pair will present their first bulletin together on Sunday, 8 September, with Ferguson on assignment all this week filming a special series of reports for 7News.
See also: Watching Sunrise as popular as ever: Seven breakfast show wins 21st consecutive ratings year