Ashlynne McGhee joins 7am as new host; Ange McCormack to conclude tenure with week-long series on Australia’s housing crisis
Schwartz Media is pleased to announce award-winning journalist Ashlynne McGhee will join Australia’s number one news podcast, 7am, as interim host and executive producer.
With more than 15 years of experience spanning live reporting, radio and investigative journalism, McGhee brings a formidable skill set to lead the agenda-setting daily podcast.
“I’m a huge admirer of 7am, so this is a bit of a pinch-me moment,” says McGhee. “Ruby, Ange and the team do such a great job of dissecting the biggest stories and most complex issues, and I’m really looking forward to carrying on that tradition until the end of June.”
At the ABC, McGhee built a reputation for breaking major, issue-defining stories as finance presenter for News Breakfast and investigative reporter for 7.30. Her work has been recognised with a Quill award, two Walkley nominations and a fellowship at the US-based Investigative Reporters and Editors. McGhee is also president of the Melbourne Press Club.
Editor of 7am Scott Mitchell says: “I can’t wait for our audience to get to know Ashlynne, and we are incredibly excited to welcome a host with Ashlynne’s experience across so many areas of news and current affairs, and her ability to get the answers our listeners want to know.”
Current host Ange McCormack’s departure will conclude with 7am’s latest special series, “The Great Housing Disaster”, which will be published from Monday, April 15. The week-long five-part series will investigate the origins, consequences and political fallout of Australia’s worst housing crisis on record.
The series promises to explain how the housing crisis impacts everyday Australians – from housing affordability and rental rights, to public housing and generational inequality. It will also explore the arguments over the solutions to the crisis, and investigate what’s at stake if we fail to make housing more accessible.
“As someone who has personally experienced the housing crisis unfold and watched it impact my generation, this series helps answer questions I’ve long had,” says McCormack. “It is an urgent analysis into how Australia dug itself into this mess – and how we can genuinely be hopeful about getting out of it.”
Throughout the week, McCormack will interview politicians, economists, activists and academics – including Minister for Housing Julie Collins, Alan Kohler, Jordan van den Berg, Max Chandler-Mather, Carolyn Ienna, Nicole Gurran and more.
Ruby Jones will return from maternity leave as 7am’s host and executive producer in the second half of the year.
7am is available on Apple, Spotify, LiSTNR and all other podcast apps.
Press contact:
Victor Tang
Marketing Lead
[email protected]