9News Melbourne is entering a new era in 2024, with the introduction of an all-new presenting line-up.
Alicia Loxley and Tom Steinfort – both hailing from Melbourne will be taking the reins as joint hosts of the Monday to Friday editions of 9News Melbourne.
Loxley, who has been the weekend presenter for 9News Melbourne for the past 12 years, will now jump over to weekdays, co-anchoring with Steinfort, who previously worked on 60 Minutes as a reporter.
Director of 9News Melbourne, Hugh Nailon told Mediaweek the new lineup came as a result of the news world continuing to evolve, and with it, 9News Melbourne was now evolving and modernising with what their audience expectations are.
“After 60 years of 9News, to embark on a doubleheader, it is a bold move,” he said.
“However, we think it’s the right move for what our audience requires and what the future of news looks like. A doubleheader gives us enormous flexibility on breaking news stories, adding a new dimension to the way that we report stories to the Melbourne audience.”
Nailon commented that the new lineup of Alicia and Tom allows the traditional news presenting model to evolve on the program, thanks to their experience as working journalists.
“In a way to modernise our news, we are moving away from just the presenting and now there will be presenters and journalists mixed into one, as viewers will see with our new lineup. Their journalistic nature will bring their extraordinary insight into the way that we deliver news for our audience.”
50-year TV news veteran Peter Hitchener also joins the new lineup and will now anchor the weekend edition of 9News Melbourne.
The face of Melbourne’s weeknight news broadcast since 1998, Nailon said that ‘Hitch’ still has an enormous passion for delivering the news.
“We felt that the best way that we can allow him to continue to do that, and the best way to keep our audience connected with the person they’ve grown up with for decades, was to see if he will be interested in doing the weekend news. I think it’s a fantastic opportunity for his incredible career to continue.
“It’s not the end of an era, it’s a continuation of an era. He’ll remain an integral part of our newsroom as we take on 2024.”