Channel 10 is set to lose over 40 years of combined newsroom experience with the departures of veteran news leaders Daniel Sutton and Julia Burrell. Both individuals have accepted voluntary redundancies, as announced in an all-staff email on Monday morning.
Daniel Sutton, executive producer of 10 News+, is a more than two-decade veteran of the network. During his tenure, he held various senior editorial roles, including a stint as Channel 10's US correspondent before leading 10 News+ since its launch last year. Management described Sutton in the internal email as a "true leader" whose editorial judgment, calm demeanor, and sense of humor will be missed. He is expected to leave the network in the coming weeks.
Julia Burrell, the executive producer of the Sydney 5pm bulletin, also accepted a voluntary redundancy. Burrell has been with Channel 10 for over 20 years and is considered a key editorial figure within the Sydney newsroom. Her responsibilities included overseeing major election coverage and significant rolling news events. Management referred to her as the "powerhouse of the Sydney newsroom," commending her leadership and dedication. Burrell will remain with the broadcaster for an extended handover period.
These departures coincide with a broader programming shift at Channel 10. Last month, the network canceled its current affairs program 10 News+ after only a year on air due to struggling ratings. The program was moved from its weekday schedule to a single Sunday night broadcast. Effective August 10, the flagship 5pm news bulletin will be extended from 60 to 90 minutes to provide more local news coverage.
10 News+ initially launched in June 2025 as a one-hour nightly program, replacing The Project. Its runtime was later reduced to 30 minutes in January as the network sought to improve performance. The program will continue to air on Sundays at 6:30 p.m.
Network vice-president of news Martin White informed staff that the programming changes are driven by audience demand for more local reporting. Hosts of the extended bulletin, Amelia Brace and Denham Hitchcock, will remain with Channel 10. Hitchcock will work on documentaries, while Brace will take maternity leave before returning to the news division.