Award-winning reporter Jacob Greber has been appointed Political Editor of the national broadcaster’s flagship current affairs program 7.30.
Greber, currently the ABC’s Chief Digital Political Correspondent, will officially step into the role from 7 July. His appointment follows Laura Tingle’s recent elevation to Global Affairs Editor.
The announcement was made during Thursday night’s edition of 7.30, with host Sarah Ferguson introducing him on-air as someone who’s “not really a guest at all,” nodding to his longstanding press gallery experience.
7.30 Report’s Sarah Ferguson announcing the appointment of Jacob Greber as the show’s new Political Editor
Veteran journalist with global credentials
With close to three decades in journalism, Greber’s career has spanned state politics, international finance and economic reporting.
He began as a copyboy in the Canberra Press Gallery before stints with The Courier-Mail, the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation and Bloomberg News. During his time in Europe, he covered the fallout from the global financial crisis, Switzerland’s banking giants, and broader macroeconomic trends.
Returning to Australia in 2012, Greber joined The Australian Financial Review, serving as Economics Correspondent, US Correspondent based in Washington DC, and later as Senior Political Correspondent.
At the ABC, he will continue to contribute to the ABC NEWS website, Politics Now podcast, and Sunday morning panel show Insiders.
“It’s an incredible time to join 7.30 with Sarah Ferguson and the team,” said Greber. “Our audience rightly demands clarity and insight about the people who govern us and the challenges we face as a nation. I also salute Laura Tingle, an absolute class act and fearless force of nature. I’m humbled and thrilled to pick up where she’s left off.”
ABC News Director Justin Stevens added: “We’re thrilled to have Jacob take on the role of 7.30 Political Editor. He’s been a fantastic addition to the ABC and has just come off a superb election campaign.”
Justin Stevens
Leadership transition and broader structural changes
Greber replaces Tingle, who was recently appointed as the ABC’s first Global Affairs Editor. Tingle’s move coincides with broader editorial and operational changes under new Managing Director Hugh Marks.
According to the Australian Financial Review, among one the first major structural shifts under Marks, the ABC has shuttered its digital content and innovation team and axed flagship panel show Q+A, resulting in 50 job losses.
In a message to staff, Marks said the decisions reflect a move away from areas “that no longer align with our priorities.”
Forty permanent staff have been made redundant, while 10 contracts will end early. Other changes include renaming the ABC’s content division to ABC Screen, and a reorganisation of audio operations to separate capital city and sports content.