ABC TV has confirmed journalists Nakari Thorpe and Lydia Feng are set to become the fresh faces of the ABC NSW Weekend 7PM News as Weekend Presenters.
This change follows Jeremy Fernandez‘s transition to the weekday anchor slot for the NSW 7PM News.
While Lydia Feng has already been presenting on Weekends, Nakari Thorpe will collaborate with her in this dual-anchor format from March 2024, after her return from parental leave.
On her appointment, Lydia Feng expressed her sentiments:
“I am delighted to become a permanent NSW 7PM News Presenter and feel incredibly privileged to take on this important role. I very much look forward to delivering the weekend news to the ABC’s loyal audience alongside continuing my reporting work across the network.
Journalism brings me into contact with so many people from all walks of life and I hope to continue to honour their stories in all the work that I do at the ABC.”
Echoing the excitement, Nakari Thorpe shared:
“It’s an honour to be given this opportunity and one I don’t take lightly. Our newsroom works incredibly hard to bring relevant, engaging and timely stories to our audiences everyday and to be part of that in this way is a great privilege.
I’m looking forward to working in this role and alongside colleagues who I admire and respect and continuing my work across the network.”
Adding to the collective enthusiasm, ABC Director, News Justin Stevens stated, “We are excited to have Lydia and Nakari present the NSW news weekend bulletin and know that they will bring their trademark professionalism and dedication to the role”.
Lydia Feng‘s journey with ABC began in 2019 as the Local Communities Reporter stationed in Sydney. Her reporting acumen spans a variety of themes including diverse community stories, major news events such as the Black Summer bushfires, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the pivotal 2023 NSW election. She has also contributed her expertise to Foreign Correspondent and has been a casual NSW 7PM News presenter since 2022. Prior to ABC, Lydia acquired vast experience across renowned media platforms like the Seven Network, SBS World News and Caixin Media, covering multiple cities including Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra.
Nakari Thorpe, identifying as a proud Gunnai, Gunditjmara and Gooreng Gooreng woman, embraced her role at ABC in 2021, focusing as the Indigenous Communities Reporter in the NSW newsroom. With an expansive reporting portfolio covering the COVID-19 pandemic, NSW floods, and the state’s election, Nakari is no stranger to critical coverage. Her past assignments include commendable reporting stints with SBS and NITV, specifically around federal politics and Indigenous affairs, highlighted by her coverage of the 2019 federal election.
