Signing off: Veteran Channel Seven newsreader Rod Young announces his retirement on air – ending a broadcast career spanning four decades
Veteran broadcaster Rod Young is signing off for good after a stellar 45-year career.
The Seven News Gold Coast anchor, 70, announced his retirement on air during his nightly news bulletin earlier this week.
Rod’s last broadcast will be on Thursday night, after working for the Seven Network for 19 years.
Signing off: Veteran Channel Seven newsreader Rod Young announced his retirement on air earlier this week, marking the end of a broadcast career spanning four decades
Rod’s extensive career has seen him cover countless major local and international stories, with a focus on those from the Sunshine State.
The journalist reflected on his four decades in the media in a statement.
‘I’ve just had my 70th birthday and after 40 years in broadcasting, it’s the perfect time to step away from the news desk,’ he said.
Drawing to a close: Rod’s last broadcast will be on Thursday night, after working for the Seven Network for 19 years
Rod said he was ‘very happy’ to start a ‘number of family projects’ but was also ‘grateful’ for the supportive friends he’d made throughout his television career.
‘I was especially lucky to be part of a very successful 7NEWS team and will always have wonderful memories of working with such a fantastic group of smart and talented journalists and production teams who made it all possible,’ he continued.
‘My thanks to the fantastic 7NEWS Gold Coast team who have been my news family for the last five years and to our wonderful viewers, I thank you.’
Statement: ‘I’ve just had my 70th birthday and after 40 years in broadcasting, it’s the perfect time to step away from the news desk,’ said Rod (pictured here with co-host Kendall Gilding)
Rod began his career as a radio host in the mid-1970s before joining ABC Queensland as a newsreader.
He joined Seven in 2002 and co-hosted 7NEWS Brisbane with Kay McGrath, a winning combination that saw them become Queensland’s No. 1 news-reading team.
His role most recently expanded to the Gold Coast, where he presented bulletins on weeknights and Sunday evenings.
Rod’s last bulletin will air on Thursday from 5:30pm on Seven and 7Plus.
Background: Rod began his career as a radio host in the ’70s before joining ABC Queensland as a newsreader. He joined Seven in 2002 and co-hosted 7NEWS Brisbane with Kay McGrath, a winning combination that saw them become Queensland’s No. 1 news-reading team