- ABC star’s new move
- Andrew Probyn has been dumped from ABC
Former ABC national political editor Andrew Probyn will join Nine Entertainment as national affairs editor from November.
Probyn, one of the national broadcaster’s most senior political reporters, was made redundant earlier this year, along with another 120 staff, as part of a major restructuring.
His new role was confirmed in an email sent to staff on Sunday by Nine chief executive Darren Wicks, hailing him as “highly regarded, respected and well-liked by his colleagues in the Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery”.
Mr Wicks said Probyn has a “jealous record of breaking big stories”.
Andrew Probyn (pictured) will join Nine’s Canberra bureau from November
Nine’s political editor Charles Croucher also welcomed the news on X (formerly Twitter).
‘Having you in the building is good for our industry, having you in the office is great for us!’ He wrote.
In a statement published in Nine Newspapers, the journalist said he was “delighted” to be joining the Nine agency.
“At a time when the need for trustworthy, reliable and agenda-free news has never been greater, I look forward to working with Charles Croucher and some of Australia’s best journalists,” he said.
Details of his new role, and whether it will include work across both Nine’s TV offering and its newspapers, are yet to be confirmed.
Probyn has previously said he was “stunned” after being informed by ABC management that the broadcaster “no longer” needed a political editor.
“I’m quite stunned,” he told Guardian Australia.
‘I have heard that the national broadcaster no longer needs a political editor and that they want to reinvest the money in social and digital reporting roles.
‘Good luck to the ABC. I’m still trying to come to terms with it.’
Probyn, who served as the broadcaster’s political editor for five years, became an unexpected internet sensation in 2020 when a tense exchange between himself and then Prime Minister Scott Morrison went viral.
“Andrew, I’m sorry, Andreas. I know that, but you’re not running the press conference,” Mr Morrison interrupted repeatedly as Mr Probyn tried to ask questions.
The exchange made Mr Probyn a sensation on TikTok as many, including singer Guy Sebastian, parodied the exchange.
He was also part of the senior staff – alongside Emma Alberici – former chairman Justin Milne demanded dismissal in 2018.
More to come.