New Channel 7 newsreader Sarah Greenhalgh feared having children would crush her career

As Channel 7 grapples with allegations of a toxic workplace culture, the new star of the Brisbane newsroom says she has been able to make her own rules as she steps into her role.

Seven News Brisbane presenters Max Futcher and Sarah Greenhalgh. Picture: Richard Walker

New Channel 7 newsreader Sarah Greenhalgh has revealed how she almost gave up on her dream of becoming a mother because of fears it might affect her career.

The 34-year-old, who is six months pregnant, officially steps into her new role as co-anchor of Seven’s 6pm nightly bulletin on Monday and says she made it clear when she took the job that she would be taking maternity leave from mid-February.

“I’ll come back when it suits everybody, including bub,” she said.

The appointment of the former foreign correspondent – after the shock axing of long-time star Sharyn Ghidella – has been lauded as a progressive move for women in media.

“It’s something I didn’t think would be possible early in my career,” Greenhalgh said.

“But the fact that Seven has effectively promoted me, knowing that I am pregnant as well, I think it’s great, not just for me – I think it’s great for any female across the industry.”

Sarah Greenhalgh will begin her new role on October 20. Picture: Richard Walker

Greenhalgh says management has assured her there is no strict deadline for returning and that this flexibility is something women in the media industry have lacked.

“Women have gone through such tough times historically, especially in television, when they had to come back very quickly from maternity leave because they felt enormous pressure to do so; otherwise they might be considered less than their male counterparts,” she said.

“I think the fact that Seven has said, ‘we know you’re pregnant, that’s not a problem. It’s not an issue. We’re confident that you can do the job,’ I’m feeling no pressure at all in terms of having to put my family second to my job and I think it’s really refreshing.

“You owe it to the women who have gone before you, who haven’t had it that way.”

Her co-anchor Max Futcher, who has been on the 7News Brisbane presenting desk since 2018, says he is excited about working with Greenhalgh.

“Sarah and I, we go back a long way, been around the world, different spots and now turned up together on the same desk” he said. “It’s a bit of serendipity, right?”

Their partnership comes at a crucial time for Seven’s newsroom, which has been navigating upheaval in the wake of Ghidella’s exit and allegations of a toxic workplace culture exposed by an ABC Four Corners investigation. Futcher acknowledges there are still challenges ahead.

Former Seven newsreader Sharyn Ghidella has joined Channel 10.

“It’s been well publicised that it’s been a difficult time,” he said. “And I guess being the public face of that over the past few months, personally, has been a bit difficult.

“But the way that I’ve dealt with that is to keep reminding myself every day that it’s not about me, it’s about the audience.

“I’m also leading a team of young journos and camera people and technical staff and editors who don’t have time for me to be a sook. I needed to step up and lead them.”

Futcher says he is still in contact with Ghidella, who is now anchoring competitor Network 10’s news bulletin,

“In terms of Sharyn, obviously that was a tough time for me,” he said.

“It’s really sad because she’s a really close friend of mine.

“We still speak all the time, but the best thing has been to see her land on her feet like we all knew that she would and to see her prospering as well.”

Originally published as New Channel 7 newsreader Sarah Greenhalgh feared having children would crush her career