Discussion of coverage of the 2025 federal election to be held on or before 17 May 2025.
Seven’s promo as posted in the content and appearance thread
7NEWS unveils the Election Needle
Australia’s #1 news service to deliver unrivalled coverage in the lead up to the 2025 Federal Election
The Seven Network’s 7NEWS – Australia’s #1 news service – is setting the pace for election coverage with the launch today of the 7NEWS Election Needle, designed to give Australians a clear and immediate summary on the pulse of the upcoming Federal Election.
With every big moment in the lead up to and during the campaign – every swing, every gaffe, every shift in public mood and every poll accounted for – the 7NEWS Election Needle will provide Australians with the most up-to-date prediction on who will win. And on election night, the Needle will move in real-time to call victory between Anthony Albanese’s Labor Party and Peter Dutton’s Coalition as soon as possible.
The Needle will sway based on expert analysis and data from a team of more than a dozen journalists, statisticians, political scientists and researchers, led by veteran 7NEWS Political Editor Mark Riley, as well as weekly data of every poll across the country throughout the campaign collated by leading research company Painted Dog Research as commissioned by 7NEWS.
The 7NEWS Election Needle will be informed by more than just a “poll of polls”. Leading political scientists Simon Jackman and Luke Mansillo will also help guide the predictions.
Dr Jackman is an Honorary Professor at the University of Sydney and is one of Australia’s most accomplished social and political scientists, while Dr Mansillo holds a PhD in political science from the University of Sydney and specialises in public opinion, political behaviour, survey research methods and Australian elections.
7NEWS has assembled the biggest election team in Australia to deliver the most comprehensive and advanced coverage of the Federal Election and put viewers well ahead of the rest across Seven, 7plus, 7NEWS.com.au and socials platforms.
With reporters stationed in every corner of the country, the news network will be unstoppable whenever and wherever viewers need the truth and the pulse from key battlegrounds and booths in all states and territories.
Seven’s Director of News and Current Affairs and Seven West Media Editor-in-Chief, Anthony De Ceglie, said: “This bodes to be an incredibly tight election that could come down to just a handful of seats across the country.
“In an era of information and misinformation overload, the 7NEWS Election Needle will cut through the spin to give Australians a clear picture of which leader has the momentum.
“This is the biggest election team 7NEWS has ever compiled, with award-winning reporters in every state as well as Canberra and our National News Desk ready to bring viewers the facts on every twist, every promise, every gaffe and every swing across the nation,” he said.
Riley, who is covering his 12th federal election in his 32-years in Canberra, a major part of 45 years in journalism, said: “It will be a fascinating, combative and important contest as a first-term government battles to hold power against a buoyant and uncompromising Opposition.
“It will be an honour to lead the biggest-ever election team across the platforms of Seven to bring viewers and readers the best, most accurate and informed coverage in a highly competitive and diverse media landscape.”
Riley will be joined by 7NEWS Chief Reporter Chris Reason, 7NEWS Foreign Editor Hugh Whitfeld and 7NEWS Business Editor Amelia Brace, while each state will have local award-winning reporters on the campaign trail too.
Be watching 7NEWS live at 6.00pm on Tuesday for the first reveal of where the Election Needle currently sits.
Let’s hope Seven has fixed up their IT after the last election where their “Screen of Dreams” and computer were all over the shop with the numbers going up and down like someone was hitting “I’m Feeling Lucky” button.
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I don’t think that Screen of Dreams has ever worked as advertised.
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Yep - they tried to claim that it uses the same technology as CNN, but either someone installed the software wrong, or it was false advertising, as it looked more like a basic touchscreen set-up in comparison to CNN. Mark Riley fumbling when presenting the data wasn’t a good look either - should be on the desk doing analysis, with someone like Hugh Whitfield doing the screen of dreams (if they wheel it back out).
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to be fair their claim of being U N S T O P P A B L E also hasn’t worked as advertised 
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What is this - gameshow.
Does De Celige know the difference between reporting and gimmicks?
This isn’t The Chase Australia.
The biggest question of all the coverage will be this:
Who will have the biggest gimmick - Seven’s swinging needle, or Nine’s machine to kick out outgoing politicians which also serves as either a take on a political joke from the past few years or a cross promotional tool.
This gimmick is tired and stale. Election coverage in Australia needs to be shaken up a bit IMO.
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Now that would shake it up.