Trump, terrorism & tragedy - REBECCA'S NOSE FOR NEWS

The TV journalist is in the hot seat once again and loving it

- Fleur Guthrie

She might have taken a less traditional path into journalism, but Rebecca Wright hasn’t wasted time packing in a plethora of “dream jobs” and becoming a well-known face on our television screens.

With stints as a political reporter, US correspondent and most recently as a current affairs journalist for Sunday, her can-do attitude has seen her career trajectory rise. Yet stepping into the spotlight for her latest role has come somewhat out of the blue, she tells the Weekly.

Rebecca has begun presenting Newshub Live at 8 pm – a nightly 30-minute news bulletin on Discovery’s new free-to-air channel eden, which launched three weeks ago.

“I was feeling like I wanted to do something different,” says the 41-year-old. “I’ve been a reporter for a long time and going through lockdowns, you take a closer look at your life and start to question what’s next.

“Whenever I had the opportunity to do it, I’ve always loved presenting, such as The US Election Special. That got me thinking maybe I should head in that direction. And here I am! Now I’m excited to blend the news with interviews that do more of a deep dive and give people what they need to know and a little bit more.”

‘Yoko Ono lived a few blocks away and I saw Jerry Seinfeld at the supermarket’

Imbued with a sunny charisma, the mother-of-one points out that her daughter Scarlett, six, is used to mum’s jobs requiring her to work unusual hours. The flexibility of them, though, means Rebecca can still help out in the school library on Tuesdays and do 3 pm pick-ups in what will be her “new lunch hour”.