Reuters executive Simon Robinson expected to replace Justin Stevens as ABC news director | Australian Broadcasting Corporation
According to information announced by Guardian Australia, Simon Robinson, one of Reuters’ senior news managers, is expected to be appointed as ABC’s news director in the coming days.
He will be the external replacement for Justin Stevens, who resigned Wednesday after four years on the job, citing personal and professional reasons.
Stevens’ resignation is effective immediately.
ABC chief executive Hugh Marks appeared before senate estimates on Thursday and was asked why Stevens was resigning.
He said Stevens, who was responsible for 2000 journalists across the country, felt it was time to move on and the ABC wanted to renew the organisation’s output.
“Stevens felt it was the right time for him to move on and pursue other careers, and I think this is clearly an opportunity for ABC to enter a new phase of operations where we want to, you know, renew and revitalize our output for the next 20 years to make sure we future-proof it,” Marks told senate estimates.
On Wednesday, Marks said Stevens had made an “incredible commitment” to ABC for 19 years, including ensuring ABC News became the No. 1 provider of digital news.
“I am grateful to have seen the strength of Justin’s editorial instincts and observed his dedication to ABC and its audiences,” Marks said. “I wish him success in the future”
Robinson began his career at Time Inc in Sydney as a fact checker for Who Weekly and went abroad to develop his career as a reporter, bureau chief and editor at Time.
He has been with Reuters for 16 years and currently serves as deputy editor-in-chief of the 2,600-strong newsroom.
Two sources with knowledge of the appointment told Guardian Australia Robinson was recently at Ultimo and chairman Kim Williams was a big fan.
In his bio on LinkedIn, Robinson says he helps shape Reuters’ editorial vision: “I can reshape a story or transform an organization in a similar way. I serve as a reporter, news editor and investigative editor. I have years of experience as a newsroom leader and working on strategy. As Reuters Deputy Editor-in-Chief, I help lead a newsroom of 2,600 professionals and lead our digital and publishing initiatives that help shape the news seen every day by billions of people around the world.”
In his farewell email to staff on Wednesday, Stevens said: “There is no more complex news organization in the country, no more scrutinized institution, and few more imbued with public expectations.
“In this context, I have sought to strengthen and defend our journalism without being blind to our stumbles; to keep up with the state of constant change in the digital age; and to evolve our News culture in a way that holds ourselves to the same standards as others in the broader community.”
More to come…
