Channel 7 rising star Ashlee Mullany scores plum job in network’s Los Angeles bureau

JUST a year after “making the switch” to Seven News, former News Corp Australia reporter Ashlee Mullany has jetted out to Los Angeles for her next big career break in the network’s US bureau.

Channel 7 rising star Ashley Mullany is on her way to the network's US bureau. Picture: Rohan Kelly

JUST a year after “making the switch” to Seven News, former News Corp Australia reporter Ashlee Mullany has jetted out to Los Angeles for her next big career break in the network’s US bureau.

The 27-year-old media star will replace Angela Cox, who returned to Sydney last week after a seven-year stint working alongside bureau chief Mike Amor and experienced correspondent Emma Dallimore.

Mullany, who specialised in courts and crime for The Daily Telegraph, was hand-picked for the plum job, flying out last Friday ahead of her first shift Stateside this week.

Before taking off, she told TV Insider: “It’s such an exciting time to be over in the States, with everything happening in politics, but no doubt I’ll get to cover crime as well. It will be quite diverse.”

She is expected to appear across all of Seven’s news programming, filing stories and live reports for Sunrise and The Morning Show as well as the 6pm bulletins.

“It’s certainly been a bit of a whirlwind,” she said, revealing her promotion “happened quite quickly”.

“There is a lot to get my head around but I’m looking forward to just immersing myself in the news in the States and covering some of the really big (court) cases as well.”

Cox is expected to take a short break to settle back into Sydney (taking to morning yoga and the beach lifestyle at Bondi last week) before taking up her new role anchoring the news for Weekend Sunrise.

Talitha Cummins, husband Ben Lucas and their baby Oliver. Source: Supplied

It is unclear where that leaves incumbent newsreader Talitha Cummins, who brought warmth and integrity to the role, developing an amiable rapport with co-hosts Andrew O’Keefe and Monique Wrightduring her time on the weekend show.

Cox’s international news experience also positions her as a natural for Seven’s current affairs flagship Sunday Night, as well as a strong addition to Sunrise should the network bosses look to make any adjustments to arrest the audience fluctuations which saw Nine’s Today make ground in the ratings this year.

Mullany has already turned to Cox for advice, adding: “I’ve certainly got big boots to fill.

“She’s someone I looked up to in my transition to television, so I’ve got a lot to learn from her. She’s done a wonderful job over there and my understanding is she’s really looking forward to being back in Sydney. I’m sure she’ll have plenty of tips to give me as well and I’ll be all ears.”