Robert Ovadia is an Australian journalist. He previously worked as a reporter and fill-in presenter for ''

Seven News Seven News (stylised 7NEWS) is the television news service of the Seven Network and, as of 2021, the highest-rating in Australia. National bulletins are presented from Seven's high definition studios in South Eveleigh, Sydney, while its flags ...

'' in

Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...

Career

Ovadia graduated from Hills Grammar School in 1990. He studied Communications and

French French may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France ** French people, a nation and ethnic group ** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices Arts and media * The French (band), ...

Macquarie University Macquarie University ( ) is a Public university, public research university in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Founded in 1964 by the New South Wales Government, it was the third university to be established in the Sydney metropolitan area. ...

, and began his career in regional television in

Wagga Wagga Wagga Wagga (; informally called Wagga) is a major regional city in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. Straddling the Murrumbidgee River, with an urban population of more than 57,003 as of 2021, it is an important agricultural, m ...

. Eighteen months later, he took a senior reporting job in

Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...

with

Network 10 Network 10 (commonly known as the 10 Network, Channel 10 or simply 10) is an Australian commercial television network. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Paramount Global's UK & Australia division and is one of the five national free-to-a ...

. In 1999, he took a job with

Associated Press The Associated Press (AP) is an American not-for-profit organization, not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association, and produces news reports that are dist ...

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

, while he toured

Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...

and parts of

Asia Asia ( , ) is the largest continent in the world by both land area and population. It covers an area of more than 44 million square kilometres, about 30% of Earth's total land area and 8% of Earth's total surface area. The continent, which ...

. Ovadia joined ''

'' in 2000, just after the

2000 Olympic Games The 2000 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, officially branded as Sydney 2000, and also known as the Games of the New Millennium, were an international multi-sport event held from 15 September to 1 October ...

. While working with Seven, Ovadia has reported on a range of stories, including the 2002 Sydney bushfire crisis and the

Iraq War The Iraq War (), also referred to as the Second Gulf War, was a prolonged conflict in Iraq lasting from 2003 to 2011. It began with 2003 invasion of Iraq, the invasion by a Multi-National Force – Iraq, United States-led coalition, which ...

, before being promoted to Crime Reporter in September 2003. Ovadia has broken many major stories of statewide and national significance. In 2008, he and colleague

Aela Callan Aela Callan is a documentary filmmaker and journalist based in Berlin, Germany. Callan began her career in Perth at 6PR radio in 1999, before working in the Canberra press gallery, Sydney's 2UE radio. and Seven News in Sydney, New South Wales, ...

won a prestigious

Walkley Award The annual Walkley Awards are presented in Australia to recognise and reward excellence in journalism. They cover all media including print, television, documentary, radio, photographic and online media. The Gold Walkley is the highest prize and ...

for Television News Reporting for breaking the Iguanagate scandal that engulfed the NSW and federal governments. In 2009, he was the MC at the funeral of the Lin family who were murdered outside their North Epping home in 2009. He was chosen ahead of

Nine 9 (nine) is the natural number following and preceding . Evolution of the Hindu–Arabic digit Circa 300 BC, as part of the Brahmi numerals, various Indians wrote a digit 9 similar in shape to the modern closing question mark without the bot ...

reporter Jessica Rich. The event was held at

Sydney Olympic Park, New South Wales Sydney Olympic Park is a suburb of Greater Western Sydney, located 13 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Parramatta Council. It is commonly known as Olympic Park but officially na ...

. From 2011, Ovadia has filled in as a news anchor on various news bulletins, including '' Seven Morning News'' and '' The Morning Show'' as well as late night news updates. Ovadia is credited as Sydney's crime reporter, and fills predominantly crime and justice related stories. In late 2013, Ovadia won his second Walkley Award for his exposé into an

Australian Defence Force The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is the Armed forces, military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia and its national interests. It consists of three branches: the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Australian Army and the Royal Aus ...

sex scandal cover-up. On 13 December 2013, Ovadia filled in on ''

Today Tonight ''Today Tonight'' was an Australian current affairs television program produced by the Seven Network. It aired from January 1995 to November 2019 in Adelaide and Perth. Editions in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne were previously produced be ...

'' while regular fill-in presenter

Kylie Gillies Kylie Gillies (born 4 May 1967) is an Australian television presenter for the Seven Network, based in Sydney, Australia. Gillies is the co-host of '' The Morning Show'' with Larry Emdur. Career Gillies was born in Tamworth and attended Tamwor ...

was on holidays. On 25 December 2013, 2014 and 2015, Ovadia presented the ''

'' weeknight bulletin in Sydney. In October 2019, Ovadia reported having his name circulated and receiving death threats after escorting pro-Beijing actress

Celine Ma Leung Wing-ngan () (born 6 December 1967), better known by her stage name Celine Ma Tai-lo (), is a Hong Kong actress and singer. She is best known for her role as May May in the long-running TVB television series '' A Kindred Spirit''. Career C ...

to safety from a mob of protesters. Ovadia criticised what he saw as the weaponisation of disinformation from ''

Apple Daily ''Apple Daily'' ( zh, t=蘋果日報, j=ping4 gwo2 jat6 bou3) was a Chinese-language newspaper published in Hong Kong from 1995 to 2021. Founded by Jimmy Lai and part of Next Media, ''Apple Daily'' was known for its sensational headlines, ...

'', which selectively edited footage of Ma's assault as Ma attempting to instigate violence. In June 2024, Ovadia was sacked by the

Seven Network Seven Network (stylised 7Network, and commonly known as Channel Seven or simply Seven) is an Australian commercial free-to-air Television broadcasting in Australia, television network. It is owned by Seven West Media, Seven West Media Limited, ...

after allegations of inappropriate conduct involving emails with a former female Seven employee. He subsequently lodged an unfair dismissal claim against Seven and the network’s news boss

Anthony De Ceglie Anthony De Ceglie is an Australian journalist. He is currently chief executive of NRL expansion club the Perth Bears. De Ceglie has previously been Seven West Media's director of news and current affairs, and editor-in-chief of West Australia ...

. During Ovadia's Federal Court hearing in August, the Seven Network alleged that a further thirteen women had come forward with complaints about Ovadia's conduct. Ovadia claimed in court that "The claims are baseless and Seven has never provided evidence despite repeated requests." Ovadia dropped his legal action against Seven in September 2024.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ovadia, Robert Living people Australian television journalists Crime journalists Macquarie University alumni People educated at The Hills Grammar School Year of birth missing (living people)