Mark Ferguson (news presenter)

Mark Ferguson (born 22 February 1966) is a news presenter.

Mark Ferguson
Ferguson in 2012
Born	22 February 1966 Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation	Seven News presenter
Years active	1989−present
Spouse(s)	Jayne
Children	3

Ferguson currently presents Seven News in Sydney on weeknights.

He was previously a senior news presenter with Nine News Sydney, presenting the weeknight news bulletin.

Career

After working with regional stations in New South Wales and Queensland, Ferguson joined the Seven Network in 1989 and reported for a number of Seven News programs, including 11AM and Hinch.

He moved to Sydney in 1991, before moving to the Nine Network in 1992. At Nine he became London correspondent and reported from the UK on a number of major stories including the death of Princess Diana.

In 1997 he returned to Sydney as a reporter and in 2001 became a presenter, initially on the National Nine Early News at 6 am, and later the National Nine Morning News at 11 am.

In 2003 he became the weekend presenter of National Nine News Sydney, occasionally filling in for Jim Waley on weeknights whenever required. He presented the flagship 6:00 pm weeknight news in Waley's absence in the final quarter of 2003 when he took leave to battle skin cancer,[1] and during the 2004-05 non-ratings period, in which the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami disaster in south-east Asia occurred. His efforts during this coverage, which drew high ratings for Nine, saw him retain the main weeknight presenting role on a permanent basis, replacing Waley, under whom the bulletin had retained a comfortable ratings lead following the retirement of Brian Henderson in 2002.[2][3] However, due to dwindling ratings at the Nine Network, Ferguson was replaced by Peter Overton in January 2009 and demoted back to his former weekend presenting role.[4][5]

In July 2009, it was revealed that Ferguson would move to Seven News from October.[6] Ferguson, who had been with Nine for 17 years, was removed immediately from the weekend bulletin, and was replaced by Georgie Gardner. He continued to present the news on This Afternoon, and then on Nine Afternoon News until September 2009.

In September 2009, he signed off Nine News for the final time, after more than 17 years with the network. He then presented the weekend bulletin on Seven News Sydney, replacing Chris Bath who took over from Ian Ross.[7]

Ferguson also presented Sunday Night while Chris Bath was at the 2012 London Olympics.

In January 2014, Ferguson was appointed weeknight presenter for Seven News Sydney replacing Chris Bath.

Personal life

Ferguson was one of nine children. He and his wife Jayne have three children who attend Mosman Preparatory School where Ferguson is the leader of the P&F and supports a junior journalism scholarship.

He is passionate about World War II aviation and is known to frequent Bankstown Airport. He got his start interviewing veterans in Georges Hall and hopes to one day write a biography of Simpson the Donkey man.

Ferguson is a Good Will Ambassador for the Good Beginnings charity organisation.

He is known affectionately as "Fergo" by friends and television presenters Lisa Wilkinson and Karl Stefanovic.

References

1. "Waley's cancer battle". Sydney Morning Herald. 23 October 2003. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
2. Mascarenhas, Alan (21 January 2005). "Nine dumps Jim Waley". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 28 May 2007.
3. "Life after Jim Waley at Nine". Crikey. 23 January 2005. Retrieved 9 August 2018. Nine won the ratings in Sydney for 2003 and 2004, although Seven closed the gap last year, putting pressure on Nine and Waley's performance.
4. McCowen, David (11 January 2009). "Ferguson ousted from top slot at Nine". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
5. Walters, Conrad (12 January 2009). "Ferguson dumped as Nine scrambles for No. 1". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
6. "Nine star Mark Ferguson defects to Seven". news.com.au. 3 July 2009. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2009.
7. "Mark Ferguson ditched by Channel 9 has last laugh at Australia's leading TV Network Channel 7". 3 November 2009. Retrieved 29 November 2009.