Mark Ferguson (news presenter)
Mark Ferguson | |
|---|---|
 Ferguson in 2012 | |
| Born | (1966-02-22) 22 February 1966 Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation | Seven News presenter |
| Years active | 1989−present |
| Spouse(s) | Jayne |
| Children | 3 |
Mark Ferguson (born 22 February 1966) is a news presenter.
Ferguson is currently weeknight presenter for Seven News in Sydney.
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. He presented the flagship 6:00 pm weeknight news in Jim Waley's absence during the 2004-05 non-ratings period, during 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.[1][2] 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.[3][4]
In July 2009, it was revealed that Ferguson would move to Seven News from October.[5] 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.[6]
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
^ Mascarenhas, Alan (21 January 2005). "Nine dumps Jim Waley". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2007-05-28..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
^ "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.
^ McCowen, David (11 January 2009). "Ferguson ousted from top slot at Nine". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
^ Walters, Conrad (12 January 2009). "Ferguson dumped as Nine scrambles for No. 1". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
^ "Nine star Mark Ferguson defects to Seven". news.com.au. 3 July 2009. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 2009-07-08.
^ "Mark Ferguson ditched by Channel 9 has last laugh at Australia's leading TV Network Channel 7". 3 November 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-29.
 | Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mark Ferguson (news presenter). |
| Media offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Chris Bath | Seven News Sydney Sunday-Thursday presenter 27 January 2014 – present | Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Preceded by Chris Bath | Seven News Sydney Friday & Saturday presenter 28 November 2009 – January 2014 | Succeeded by Chris Bath |
| Preceded by Chris Bath | Seven Afternoon News Thursday & Friday presenter November 2009 – December 2012 | Succeeded by Rebecca Maddern |
| Preceded by Kim Watkins / Jim Waley Mike Munro / Michael Usher | Nine News Sydney Weekend presenter 2003 – 2004 2009 | Succeeded by Mike Munro Georgie Gardner |
| Preceded by Jim Waley | Nine News Sydney Weeknight presenter 2005 – 9 January 2009 | Succeeded by Peter Overton |
First New television program | This Afternoon News presenter 29 June 2009 – 14 July 2009 | Program axed |
| Preceded by program re-instated | Nine Afternoon News presenter 15 July 2009 – 25 September 2009 | Succeeded by Wendy Kingston |
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