by Thinus Ferreira
Michelle Craig is the next eNCA (DStv 403) on-air personality who has left the scandal-engulfed eMedia Investments' TV news channel in Hyde Park for a new perch as the new co-host of the Linden-based Newzroom Africa (DStv 405) that will debut its third morning show iteration, AM Report on Monday.
Newzroom Afrika ended its first morning show try, Breaking Dawn in December 2019, followed by morning version of Newsfeed.
Now the South African TV news channel is teaming Michelle Craig - the latest high-profile on-air talent defection from eNCA - with the existing Ayanda Nyathi. Benjamin "Benji" Leshoro will do sports coverage on the new amber-toned morning show.
AM Report will compete with the country's most-watched breakfast show - Morning Live on SABC2 and SABC News (DStv 404) produced in-house at Auckland Park; as well as Expresso on SABC3 produced by Cardova Productions from its Tokai studio in Cape Town.
Other morning show competitors include The South African morning with Xoli Mngambi and Jane Dutton on eNCA (DStv 403) who have both been removed from the air this week for unexplained reasons.
Then there's also a new third version of The Morning Show produced by Cheeky Media that will also return to the e.tv airwaves on 11 May after it went off the air because of the Covid-19 national lockdown in South Africa and had to let staffers go.
"AM Report will get viewers set for the day with a zesty combination of hard news and current affairs, delivered with the channel's charactistic passion and purpose," says Newzroom Afrika that just celebrated its first anniversary on 2 May 2020.
"With a fast-paced combination of the latest updates on the big news of the day, hard-hitting studio interviews and live crossings to our field reporters across the country, AM Report will provide a dependable survival guide for the day ahead, bringing viewers up to speed on key news developments that affect us all," says the TV news channel.
AM Report will review the morning's big news stories in the newspapers and look at compelling photographs, opinion pieces and cartoons in popular print and digital media. "The show will also take viewers on an agenda-setting tour of the day's news diary."
"Candid discussions with newsmakers will add further depth, insight and relevance to the big stories as the anchors interrogate the issues and engage with viewers," the channel says.
Michelle Craig says she's "looking forward to kicking off the news cycle each day and setting the pace with Newzroom Afrika's team of committed TV news professionals."
Katy Katopidis, Newzroom Afrika's news director, says "Michelle Craig will bring fresh energy and experience to the breakfast offering for viewers with her engaging journalism style and hard-hitting approach".
"We are thrilled to have Michelle on board. She is one of those special journalists who is truly passionate about her craft and understands the importance of telling human-centric stories. We are so looking forward to watching Michelle, Ayanda and Benjamin take breakfast television to the next level."
