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Jennifer Keyte

Jennifer Keyte (born 21 January 1960) is an Australian journalist, news presenter, and television personality with a career spanning more than four decades in broadcast media. She is best known for her work across Australia's three major commercial networks—Ten, Seven, and Nine—and has anchored 10 News First Melbourne since 2018, presenting the evening bulletin for Network 10 (as of 2025). Keyte has also appeared in acting roles on shows such as Neighbours and Prisoner, and she remains active as a keynote speaker, master of ceremonies, and ambassador for charitable causes like the Good Friday Appeal. Keyte began her media career in the early as a cadet and copywriter at radio stations EON-FM and 3XY, initially aspiring to investigative newspaper . In 1983, at around age 23, she joined as a reporter covering courts, , and , later contributing to Good Morning Australia and weekend news bulletins. Her early television work established her as a versatile broadcaster in a male-dominated industry, where she navigated newsrooms often referred to as "" due to their challenging environments. Throughout her career, Keyte made several high-profile network switches that highlighted her prominence in television news. In 1987, she moved to the Seven Network, co-presenting the evening news with before becoming the solo presenter, which significantly boosted ratings in . She joined the in 1996 to host lifestyle program Good Medicine and Moment of Truth, but returned to Seven in 2003 for weekend newsreading. In 2018, she rejoined full-time, marking her return to her first major network after more than three decades in the industry. Keyte's contributions to journalism have been recognized with prestigious awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Melbourne Press Club's 2023 Quill Awards for her enduring impact on Australian media. She mentors younger journalists at Network 10 and advocates for greater gender diversity in broadcasting, reflecting on how the industry has evolved from its earlier "boys' club" dynamics (as of 2025).

Early life and education

Early life

Jennifer Keyte was born on 21 January 1960 in , , . She grew up in the Melbourne suburb of , where her family owned a . During school holidays, Keyte assisted her father in the pharmacy, listening to radio broadcasts and participating in conversations about current events and politics, which provided an early introduction to media and public discourse. Her mother instilled a strong , advising her to approach any task with full commitment or not at all. These childhood experiences in the northwest area, near Essendon, fostered her budding interest in communication. Initially, Keyte aspired to become a teacher, but during her teenage years, she shifted her focus to following work experience at a local radio station. She started school in 1965, excited to join her older sisters, and Jill. Keyte later transitioned to formal education, beginning at St John Bosco's Primary School in nearby Niddrie before attending St Columba's College in Essendon.

Education

Keyte attended St Columba's College, an all-girls Catholic in Essendon, , where she completed her . In the late 1970s, she enrolled in a program at . After completing just one year, Keyte departed the university to pursue opportunities in media, influenced by a work experience placement at radio station EON FM that led to a cadetship offer in 1980.

Broadcasting career

Early career in radio and television

Keyte's entry into broadcasting occurred in 1980 when she secured a cadetship at EON FM, Australia's first commercial FM radio station in Melbourne. After leaving her studies at La Trobe University following her first year of a Bachelor of Arts, she quickly advanced to a graded journalist position at the station, where she handled early morning copywriting and even read bulletins amid staff shortages. Her enthusiasm for investigative journalism drove her rapid progression in radio. She soon moved to 3XY, taking on roles as a where she wrote and read bulletins, embracing diverse challenges to build her skills in the competitive media landscape. In 1982, at age 22, Keyte transitioned to by joining ATV-0 () in as a reporter for , focusing on beats including courts, crime, and state politics. This role provided her with foundational experience across general and live reporting in a male-dominated . By the mid-1980s, Keyte expanded her on-air presence at , contributing segments to the morning program Good Morning Australia and co-presenting weekend news bulletins alongside Charles Slade. These opportunities honed her versatility in during an era marked by casual newsroom environments, including on-set smoking. Additionally, she ventured into acting with cameo appearances as a newsreader in the soap operas in 1986 and in 1985.

Mid-career transitions across networks

In 1987, Jennifer Keyte transitioned from radio and her initial television roles at Network 10 to the Seven Network's HSV-7 in Melbourne, where she began co-anchoring the Seven Nightly News alongside Glenn Taylor. This move marked her entry into a prominent primetime news position, and by 1988, she had become the main weeknight anchor for the bulletin. In 1990, Keyte was promoted to chief newsreader, becoming Australia's first solo female primetime commercial news presenter, a role she held until her abrupt departure from Seven at the end of 1995. During the early 1990s, she also presented the news segments on the late-night variety show Tonight Live with Steve Vizard, contributing to the program's blend of comedy and current affairs. Following a brief stint at radio station in 1996, Keyte shifted to the , where she hosted the health-focused program Good Medicine and the one-off series Moment of Truth. These roles diversified her portfolio beyond straight news, emphasizing lifestyle and investigative content, though her time at Nine was relatively short-lived amid shifting network dynamics. Keyte returned to the Seven Network in August 2003 as the weekend news presenter in Melbourne, effectively swapping roles with Peter Mitchell, who had taken over her former weeknight position in 1996. In this capacity, she also took on fill-in presenting duties, substituting for Natalie Barr on Sunrise, Seven Morning News, and Seven 4.30 News. Her tenure at Seven during this period faced a notable legal challenge in 2006, when she and other Seven News staff, including Natalie Barr, were charged with contempt of court for reporting on suppressed details of a Children's Court case involving a child seeking to divorce his parents. The charges were dismissed by a Melbourne magistrate, who ruled that journalists could not be held personally responsible for published stories, affirming the protections around media reporting practices.

Return to Network 10 and recent roles

In May 2018, Jennifer Keyte rejoined after previous stints there in the , taking on the role of for the 5pm 10 News First Melbourne bulletin alongside sports Stephen Quartermain. This marked her return to the network where she had begun her television career, now anchoring the weekday evening news from the studios. From September 2020 to February 2023, Keyte expanded her responsibilities to include presenting the edition of , broadcast from following Network 10's decision to centralize production for that market. This arrangement ended with the relaunch of a local bulletin on February 6, 2023, after which Keyte's final presentation for that edition aired on February 3. Since 2023, Keyte has continued as the primary presenter for Melbourne while occasionally filling in for national bulletins and other presenting duties across 's news output. As of November 2025, she remains a key anchor for the Melbourne edition, co-presenting with Stephen Quartermain on weekday evenings. In a 2024 interview, Keyte reflected on the evolution of newsroom culture at , contrasting the male-dominated "boys' club" environment of broadcasting—where she described executives' social circles as "" and noted the loss of female talent due to inflexible policies—with the current setup, which features six female main anchors for and four out of five female executive editors. She highlighted progressive changes, such as shared paternity and maternity leave, stating, "What I love these days is… the men are having paternity leave too," and expressed that such shifts have made the workplace more inclusive compared to her early career experiences.

Personal life

Family and marriage

Jennifer Keyte married Ben Faggetter in the early 1990s, and the couple remained together for 16 years. Together, they had two sons: James, born around 2000, and (also known as ), born around 2003. Keyte and Faggetter separated in 2009, with the divorce finalized thereafter. As a , Keyte has described the challenges of raising her sons while managing the demands of news presenting, noting that it requires significant effort and often means missing family events, though she prioritizes her children's independence and well-being.

Later relationships

Following her 2009 divorce from Ben Faggetter, Jennifer Keyte remained single for an extended period, focusing on her career and family. In May 2024, she publicly shared that she was ready to seek new love, expressing openness to despite reservations about its challenges. Keyte began a relationship with medical professor Meng Law in April 2024, after meeting through mutual friends. By December 2024, the couple had been dating for eight months, with Keyte describing Law as "really amazing" and noting they "hit it off" immediately. The pair made their first public appearance together at the Australian Open golf tournament at Kingston Heath in Victoria in late November 2024, where Keyte was seen with Law on her arm. As of November 2025, no public updates indicate a change in their relationship status.

Recognition and legacy

Awards and honors

In March 2024, Jennifer Keyte received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Melbourne Press Club at its 29th Quill Awards ceremony, recognizing her extensive contributions to journalism over more than 40 years. The award honors her accomplished career in presenting news across multiple networks and her role as a powerful role model for female journalists in the industry. Earlier in her career, Keyte accepted a Walkley Award for Television News Reporting in 2009 on behalf of the Seven News Melbourne team for their coverage of the Black Saturday bushfires.

Impact on journalism

Jennifer Keyte has reflected on the significant evolution of Australian newsrooms since the 1980s, when they were heavily male-dominated environments she described as a "boys' club." She recalled the executive area at Network 10's Nunawading studios, nicknamed "Skid Row," as emblematic of this culture, where men balanced careers and families without apparent disruption, while women faced implicit barriers and frequent farewells upon starting families. By 2024, Keyte noted a marked shift, particularly at Network 10, which she praised for its progressive and inclusive approach, crediting the network's modern environment for valuing women's experience without the outdated "use-by date" scrutiny once common for female journalists. This transformation is exemplified by Network 10's leadership in gender equity, boasting six female anchors across its bulletins as of March 2024. As of November 2025, these include Jennifer Keyte (Melbourne), Tiffany Warne (Adelaide, filling in for Kate Freebairn on maternity leave), Narelda Jacobs (national midday/afternoon), Natalie Forrest (Perth evenings), Sharyn Ghidella (Queensland), Sandra Sully (Sydney), and Chris Bath (weekends). As one of these anchors, Keyte's four-decade career positions her as a trailblazer for women in news presenting, having been the first to solo host prime-time commercial TV news in Australia and serving as a powerful role model for female journalists navigating industry barriers. Her influence extends to mentoring younger colleagues at Network 10, where she emphasizes choice in balancing professional demands with personal life, drawing from her own experiences of part-time work during motherhood. Keyte has openly addressed the emotional toll of journalism in interviews, highlighting strategies for work-life balance and amid constant exposure to distressing stories. In a 2023 conversation with former footballer , she described news work as "heavy" but affirmed that "life is heavy," advocating for disconnection during holidays, reliance on and for grounding, and maintaining lightness through laughter to cope with dark content. She stressed the importance of community check-ins and professional support resources, such as newsroom helplines, for those without strong networks, underscoring a broader cultural shift toward prioritizing in the profession. Keyte's public image as a trusted Melbourne presenter has solidified her influence, with her sophisticated delivery and credibility earning her recognition as one of the city's most respected figures in media over more than 40 years. As a sought-after guest speaker, she frequently shares insights on and industry progress, further amplifying her role in shaping perceptions of women in Australian journalism.

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