News legend Liz Hayes set for new chapter after incredible 44-year career with Nine

Legendary news figure Liz Hayes has announced her departure from Nine Network after a remarkable 44-year career with the network. This news marks the end of Hayes' long-standing collaboration with Nine, but it also heralds her continued involvement in new forms in the future.

Hayes will continue to be a part of the Nine Network family, participating in special reports and events, while also pursuing other development opportunities. This means that audiences will still have the chance to see Hayes on Nine, but her role and work focus will be adjusted.

In 1981, Hayes joined Nine News as a reporter and subsequently began hosting morning news programs. In 1986, she co-hosted "Today" with Steve Liebmann, a role she held for 10 years. This experience established her position in the news industry and allowed her to accumulate rich hosting experience.

In 1996, Hayes joined "60 Minutes," covering a wide range of topics, from U.S. presidential elections to the heartbreaking Syrian refugee crisis, and natural disasters around the globe. She presented many impactful reports to the audience with her profound insights and keen perspective.

Hayes' contribution to the news industry has been widely recognized. She won a Logie Award for producing and hosting the highly acclaimed documentary "The Greatest Gift" and received the 2024 Australian Media Diversity Award for "Lizzie Hayes Investigates". The award recognizes journalists' outstanding contributions to reporting on Australia's diverse people or issues, and this is the first time a commercial television station has received the award's recognition.

"When I came to Nine, I had a notebook and a typewriter, but like my much more experienced new colleagues, I had a huge passion for telling stories," Hayes said. "I was lucky to find my place. Even Kerry Packer, the boss of Nine at the time, seemed to have the same passionate storytelling gene."

"Of course, a lot has changed since then. The media world is evolving, and so am I. But what hasn't changed is that people still need good stories to be told, and I will continue to tell them," Hayes added.

"I leave Nine with gratitude for decades of experience, for the beautiful friendships that have endured, and with deep gratitude to the many people who have trusted me to tell their stories," Hayes concluded. Her departure marks the end of an era, but also heralds a new beginning for her in the news industry.