The journalist who set up ABC News 24, Gaven Morris, has been appointed as the director of ABC News.
Morris, 43, has been head of news content for the past three years, which put him in charge of all the ABC’s digital and broadcast news output.
The man who was strongly tipped for the role, Craig McMurtrie, has been appointed to the newly created role of deputy director of ABC news. McMurtrie has been the acting director since Kate Torney resigned in July and is the more experienced of the two in terms of on the ground reporting.
McMurtrie is an accomplished foreign and national affairs reporter as well as news executive.
ABC managing director Mark Scott revealed the decision to the ABC newsroom on Thursday morning.
ABC appointments. @gavmorris - Director of News; @craigmcmurtrie Deputy Director of News. A formidable team. Congratulations to both.
— Mark Scott (@mscott) October 21, 2015
“Gaven comes to this role with a strong record in managing the complexity of large newsrooms and, in particular, building news brands such as ABC News 24,” Scott said. ”He is well positioned to lead ABC news into its next chapter.”
Morris said: “In a changing media landscape, original and distinctive journalism is more important than ever. Craig and I look forward to leading the team.”
Morris began as a Fairfax copy boy in Canberra in the early 1990s and has a background in 24-hour and international news with stints at CNN, Al-Jazeera English and Network Ten.
Gaven Morris - the most progressive individual at the ABC - is the new director of news.
— Barrie Cassidy (@barriecassidy) October 21, 2015
After an early career in front of the cameras on the ABC’s youth-focused current affairs show Attitude and the 7.30 Report, Morris worked overseas for almost a decade in international news, first at CNN and then freelance. He covered stories including the war in Iraq, the Liberian civil war and terrorist attacks in London and Europe.
In 2005, he moved to Doha as a member of the team that set up Al Jazeera English, before returning to the ABC in 2008. He was in charge of setting up ABC News 24 and as head of continuous news he oversaw breaking news content across all platforms. His job at News 24 sometimes made him a target of discontent for the more established parts of the ABC, such as current affairs television, which blamed continuous news for draining resources away from programs such as Four Corners.
Scott said both appointments were made after a comprehensive recruitment process involving both internal and external applicants.
“The ABC is the nation’s most trusted news gathering organisation and I am confident that in appointing Gaven and Craig it remains in reliable hands,” Scott said.
Morris said he was “pleased to be asked to lead ABC news team of dedicated staff and to serve the community by providing all Australians with an outstanding independent news service”.
New era for @abcnews -congratulations @gavmorris & @craigmcmurtrie. As a wise friend recently said to me: Let the future begin! #futurenews
— kate torney (@katetorney) October 21, 2015
