Hamish Macdonald takes high-profile job with ABC News in US

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/jan/03/hamish-macdonald-takes-high-profile-job-with-abc-news-in-us

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Australian journalist Hamish Macdonald has taken a new role as international affairs correspondent for the US network ABC News, it was announced on Friday morning.

The former Ten News journalist, who resigned from the network’s revamped Eyewitness News in September, will be based in London after a short time in New York.

Macdonald told Guardian Australia the job offer from ABC News was an unsolicited approach and an opportunity he “couldn’t turn down”.

“It’s a dream job and not one that I was expecting would ever come my way. I can’t wait to get stuck into it,” he said.

Macdonald will cover breaking news in north Africa and the Middle East.

“I’m very acutely aware the length of travel can become debilitating,” he said about the decision to move overseas.

The ABC’s president of news, Ben Sherwood, said in an email to staff he was delighted to announce Macdonald’s posting, describing him as “one of the best storytellers of his generation”.

“Hamish is a dynamic addition to our outstanding international news gathering team.”

Macdonald will start with ABC News on Monday working from New York for a few months before moving to London. He met his new colleagues in New York last week, including Diane Sawyer, the host of ABC’s flagship news program. He will be part of a high-profile news team including Christiane Amanpour, Katie Couric and George Stephanopoulos.

Macdonald began his stint at Ten with the George Negus-helmed 6.30 news program before hosting his own current affairs show, The Truth Is. He has also reported for Britain’s Channel 4 and ITV, as well as al-Jazeera.

At the time of leaving Ten late last year, Macdonald said he would like to take some “down-time … to consider which option to pursue next”.

Macdonald has since revealed Ten were supportive of the move to ABC News and negotiated a release from his contract, which was due to end in February.

Fairfax Media reports Macdonald has a “carve-out” clause in his contract that leaves him free to pursue other work in Australia.

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