Seven News

Seven News health reporter Karen O’Sullivan has been awarded first prize in the broadcast category for the 2011 Luminous Awards.

Karen was commended for her report, A Second Chance, which highlighted the importance of donating lifesaving resources such as bone marrow and platelets through the story of a young girl with leukemia. Her follow-up to this story was also highly commended.

The Luminous Award Australia recognises outstanding journalism in the field of oncology, honouring journalists who provide responsible, accurate and timely information on advances in cancer prevention, research, treatment and patient support. 

Karen will accept her award at the Clinical Oncological Annual Scientific Meeting in Perth next month.

Seven Melbourne’s News Director, Steve Carey, said he was delighted Karen was again recognised for her efforts.

“She has a flair for health stories, which she presents with compassion and detail. It’s always great to see a reward for solid journalism and effort.”

The Victorian Ombudsman has recommended Victoria Police’s Freedom of Information policies be reviewed, and additional training be provided to all staff.

The Ombudsman, George Brouwer, has also made the unprecedented move of recommending Victoria Police apologise to Seven News for a series of errors which led to the delayed release of Freedom of Information documents during the 2010 state election.

Acting Chief Commissioner Ken Lay has accepted the recommendations.

In his report released today, Mr Brouwer criticized Victoria Police for its handling of a Freedom of Information request by Channel Seven’s Freedom of Information editor Michael McKinnon.

In May 2010 Mr McKinnon, together with reporter Louise Milligan, sought access to the evaluation of the Safe Streets Taskforce.

Victoria Police refused to release access to the documents before the 2010 state election, releasing partial information immediately afterwards, before all documents were released in January 2011.

Mr Brouwer says errors were made. “My investigation… identified poor practices and a less than open Freedom of Information attitude at Victoria Police.”

Channel Seven Director of News Steve Carey said the move was welcome. “Seven News is glad that the veil of secrecy has been lifted so that all Victorians know the truth.”

BILLIONS of taxpayer dollars have been wasted on indigenous programs that have “clearly failed”, a Seven News investigation has found.

A major report, prepared for Federal Cabinet and obtained by Seven News under Freedom of Information laws, reveals that governments of all political persuasions have failed to improve basic standards in Indigenous education, health and housing – with no hope of improvement without massive reform.

In an exclusive report by Seven’s Political Editor Mark Riley, the Commonwealth’s annual spending of $3.5 billion has yielded “dismally poor returns”, with progress  “mixed at best”.

The explosive document calls for 25 programs to be shut down straight away. Excessive red tape, inefficient spending, flawed government logic and false assumptions all contribute to the failings.

It also exposes a consistent failure to evaluate whether policies actually work, and contains 115 recommendations to improve the government’s approach.

“Past approaches to remedying Indigenous disadvantage have clearly failed, and new approaches are needed for the future,” the document reads.

The scathing assessment is contained in a landmark report – Strategic Review of Indigenous Expenditure 2010 – which was commissioned by the so-called ‘kitchen cabinet’ of then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Lindsay Tanner and Wayne Swan.

For a year, the Labor government fought to stop its release to Seven’s FOI Editor Michael McKinnon, claiming the strategic review and two other reports were “Cabinet in confidence”.

In a landmark ruling in July, the Administrative Appeals Tribunal found that while Cabinet deliberations should stay secret, reports prepared to inform Cabinet could and should be released.

The exclusive Seven News report based on these documents aired nationwide on Sunday night.

Seven News has been honoured with a top US journalism award for their story of a rescue in the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake.

Journalist Mike Amor and cameraman Huw Mathieson have won Edward R. Murrow Awards for Excellence in Breaking News Coverage after they aided in the rescue of a baby girl from the rubble.

A Nine news crew were also on hand to aid in the rescue that day but failed to get footage of the actual rescue as cameraman Richard Moran was helping at the time.

Seven News was the only Australian network to be honoured from the 62 news organisations.

Peter Meakin, Seven’s Director of News and Public Affairs, said of the win: “This is a great honour, richly deserved. Mike and Huw’s story was a wonderful combination of professionalism and humanity. We are incredibly proud of them.”

Source: TV Tonight

Commuters crawling back home over the West Gate Bridge might not beat the traffic but they’ll be better informed than ever before.

Channel Seven Melbourne is pleased to announce that Geelong’s 93.3 BayFM radio station will simulcast our 6pm news bulletin five nights a week, starting on Monday May 16.

From Monday to Friday BayFM listeners can enjoy Melbourne’s leading news service – led by Peter Mitchell, Sandy Roberts, David Brown and all the team including journalist Rebecca Maddern, a Bay FM regular and the Number One female ticket holder at the Geelong Football Club.

The director of Seven News Melbourne, Steve Carey, said:

“We’re delighted that Seven News will now be heard by the BayFM’s large and loyal audience.

“Seven News has carved out a reputation as Melbourne’s premier news service and it makes sense to partner with Geelong’s premier FM station to deliver all the day’s breaking news and our exclusive reports to commuters as they head home to Geelong, Corio, Werribee and throughout the west.”

The general manager of BayFM, Dean Anglin, said:

“Geelong’s 93.3 Bay FM is very excited to be partnering with Channel 7 to provide a live simulcast of Seven News to commuters from Geelong and Melbourne’s West. We are positive that this new feature of our station will cement BayFM as Geelong’s news leader, covering both local and national news.”

Grant Denyer has welcomed his first child into the world over the weekend, with his wife Cheryl giving birth to a baby girl.

The Channel 7 presenter’s baby was born on the early hours of Saturday morning.

“We’ve finally heard from Camp Denyer. We’re pleased to confirm Chezzi has had a baby girl. Born 3.17am Saturday. At 3.5kg, or 7 lb 11 oz, bub is doing great and mum is recovering well,” a Seven spokesperson said yesterday.

“Grant says he’s the happiest man in the world and has changed every single nappy so far. He is keen to thank his extended Sunrise family for all the messages of support.”

It is believed Denyer has signed a deal with New Idea for the first snaps of the baby.

Source: News.com.au

News surfaced around 12.30pm eastern that the world’s most wanted man – Osama Bin Laden – has been killed in a mansion outside of Islamabad in Pakistan.

Confirmation of the news was addressed by US president Obama, 11.30pm US eastern time, 1.30pm AEST. A crowd gathering at the White House, cheering, contiued to grow.

Australian TV networks went live to international coverage of the news. Nine are using a feed from US ABC, Ten and Seven CNN and ABC1 & 24 are showing Al Jazeera. SBS ONE and Sky News are also using the CNN coverage.

Pay TV news channels Fox News and BBC World News of course have blanket coverage as well. Strangely, Even Sky News business has the same feed on air as Sky News main channel.  

After Obama’s speech, Seven and Nine kept going with their own coverage, Ten used CBS news, SBS reamined on CNN while ABC1 & 24 had their own correspondent in Washington.

At 2pm, Nine returned to normal programming, Ten played Oprah. CNN continued on Seven and SBS until 2.30pm, when they returned to regular programming.

ABC1 & 24 were still covering, but using their own news brand with various live crosses to Aljazeera English coverage.

All times based on observations in Sydney market.

On Monday night Seven News airs an exclusive investigation into how the underworld drug lord Tony Mokbel carried out his daring escape to Greece.

Seven News reporter Norm Beaman, who exclusively revealed that Mokbel had been arrested in Athens on June 5 2007, has returned to Greece accompanied by the Australian Federal Police officer who spearheaded the police operation.

For the first time Australians will see the luxury yacht in which ‘Fat Tony’ sailed from Western Australia to the Mediterranean – and the secret compartment where he was stowed away during the journey.

The AFP officer also recounts the painstaking 15-month operation that led to the arrest and more recent jailing of a drug baron once touted as ‘Australia’s most wanted man’.

4:00pm – Friday, April 29 on Seven

Seven News delivers the ultimate Royal Wedding coverage.

From 4pm, CHRIS BATH and MATT WHITE will anchor Seven’s live presentation from Buckingham Palace. Backed by affiliate ITN’s coverage, Seven will bring viewers a front row seat to the wedding day, from the arrival of wedding guests to the ceremony and vows between Prince William and Kate.

Cameras will then follow the newlyweds as they head back to Buckingham Palace for their first official outing as husband and wife.

Seven News reporters CHRIS REASON, ANGELA COX and ADRIAN BROWN will be on the ground – outside Westminster Abbey, at various street parties around London and in Kate’s hometown of Bucklebury.

Seven’s Royal Wedding coverage breaks for local news at 6pm, and returns again at 6.30pm.

For the month of May Channel Seven Melbourne welcomes Sara Groen to the Seven News team.

Sara will present the weekday weather for Melbourne’s 6pm news bulletin, while David Brown takes his annual break.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to be back in the Seven newsroom. After presenting weather and news for the past four years, I’m thrilled to be reporting weather in my new home town.”

Melbourne’s News Director Steve Carey welcomes Sara to the team.

“Melbourne’s ever changing weather patterns continue to keep Melburnians on their toes and Sara’s extensive meteorological knowledge will keep us informed as we head into Winter.”

Sara joins the team from May 2.