Since they lost both of their back-up readers a couple of months ago, when Rob or Jo is away, the other went solo in all regions and Danielle DePinto covered the news updates. I don’t mind this.
Networks (not just you) need to start to transition away from their male-female duo obsession. Either have two females or just a solo anchor, because the number of capable male reporters with presenting potential diminishes each year. Otherwise, we will keep ending up with sub-par presenters because networks want a male to fill the role.
It should be Samantha Heathwood who replaces Rob when he retires in the bulletins that Jo doesn’t present. Jo then would read solo in the bulletins that she presents.
No he’s not, he’s been reporting for 7 for years, and regularly travels to regional areas to report for Brisbane and nationally. Also, this argument contradicts your next two, as any other reporter from Brisbane will be just as unknown, and regional reporters even more so.
We can act as PC as we like but we know a news bulletin double header especially in the regions, will be male/female.
The regional reporters are far too green to be presenting a bulletin - for many it’s their first job out of uni. Plus they’d have to relocate, 7 would have to put them up in a hotel backfill the role in the newsroom they came from etc etc.
Maybe we will go with Dannielle and Jo, the problem is that Dannielle is normally a producer checking scripts from the 6 other bureaux and as people take leave over the Christmas period this would put a big strain on resources.
Bringing someone from Brisbane is always an option but that needs the Brisbane News Director to release one of his staff. It would mean that the replacement would have to be happy with at least a 3 hour round trip drive Monday to Friday. I could not see Sam Heathwood doing this as a single mum to two boys, she would not get home until at least 8:00pm
Having a single reader is unlikely as reading 7 bulletins each afternoon for up to a month is a big ask.
Maybe Jo and Dannielle can each do three bulletins and Jo also reads the live Sunshine Coast bulletin.
If you’re nervous about someone unfamiliar fronting the bulletin solo that isn’t Rob or Jo, an unconventional suggestion could be that Rosanna does the 3 northern bulletins with Jo solo south, as she does the daytime updates anyway. You’re safer to have a newbie on weather, IMO.
This sort of highlights a succession problem too, I suppose. You must be pretty miffed that they stole Steve?
Does Sam want to live on the Sunshine Coast? She would have more opportunities in Brisbane you would think? Also Joanne Desmond probably isn’t leaving soon.
Sam could fill in for Amanda Abate on the Gold Coast News if she’s based in Brisbane but they tend to just go solo there if someone’s away.
Both the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast is only an hour or two drive away from Brisbane. I’m sure Samantha heathwood would be happy to take what ever is available in south east Queensland
We were expecting Steve to get the Gold Coast gig, he’ll be missed on the Sunny Coast news desk, great reader and a fun guy to work with, I hope his presence will give the GC bulletin a badly needed boost in ratings.
Rosanna would not be available to read daily as she lectures at the University of The Sunshine Coast, too difficult to work around those commitments.
