Denham Hitchcock
{{Short description|Australian journalist and broadcaster}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Denham Hitchcock
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| nationality = Australian
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| years_active = 1994–present
| occupation = {{hlist|Journalist|broadcaster}}
| known_for = Television journalism
| television = Nine News, Sunday Night, 7News Spotlight
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| children =
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Denham Hitchcock is an Australian journalist and broadcaster.
He is well-known for his work with the Seven Network where he was a senior reporter for Sunday Night and 7NEWS Spotlight.{{cite web|url=https://7news.com.au/profile/denham-hitchcock|title=Denham Hitchcock- Reporter-7NEWS|publisher=Seven Network|access-date=18 July 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://au.news.yahoo.com/denham-hitchcock-230323898.html|title=Denham Hitchcock|date=13 June 2018 |publisher=Yahoo! News|access-date=18 July 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.mediaweek.com.au/mediaweek-roundup-denham-hitchcock-network-10-nine-more/|title=Mediaweek Roundup: Denham Hitchcock, Network 10, Nine + more|date=23 September 2020 |publisher=Mediaweek|access-date=18 July 2021}}
In January 2023 Hitchcock announced he had resigned from Seven.{{cite news|last=Davison|first=Katherine|date=11 January 2023|title=TV reporter quits Seven, tells of 'one lesson' he's learned|url=https://7news.com.au/entertainment/tv/tv-reporter-quits-seven-tells-of-one-lesson-hes-learned-c-9415324|work=7Life|location= |access-date=16 May 2023}}
Career
Hitchcock started his media career as a junior researcher for Channel 7’s current affairs program, Today Tonight, in 1994. Soon after, he was elevated to the position of researcher/producer on Today Tonight and then The Times.
Hitchcock went on to become a producer and part-time news reporter for the Seven Early Morning News, the 6 pm Seven News bulletin, and later an executive producer for the 11AM program.{{cite web|url=https://www.bandt.com.au/seven-announces-spotlight-investigations-team-covering-breaking-news-deep-dives/|title=Seven Announces Spotlight Investigations Team Covering Breaking news Deep&Dives|date=7 August 2020 |publisher=Mediaweek|access-date=18 July 2021}}
In 2010 Hitchcock was awarded the coveted position of US correspondent for the Nine Network.{{cite news |last=Knox|first=David|date=18 June 2010|title=Nine to re-open London bureau|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2010/06/nine-to-re-open-london-bureau.html|work=TV Tonight|location= |access-date=16 May 2023|quote=...while Denham Hitchcock moves to LA to work with Robert Penfold.}}{{cite web|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/denham-hitchcock-tippied-to-join-seven-after-dropping-out-of-contract-renegotiations-with-nine/news-story/e0d18da3dad3053b0fe4ccc112e81ce4|title=Denham Hitchcock tipped to join Seven after dropping out of contract renegotiations with Nine|publisher=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=18 July 2021}}
In 2011 he provided 24-hour coverage on the death of Osama bin Laden.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQAiU2bcNuY|title=2:09 OSAMA BIN LADEN DEAD : Ch9 Australia : Denham Hitchcock|publisher=YouTube|access-date=18 July 2021}} He covered the Typhoon Haiyan for the channel by hiring a private plane to fly into the devastated area. He was sent to Vatican City for the 2013 papal conclave, and was reporting live on the streets in New York during the Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Hitchcock has covered a series of mass shootings in the United States including the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting where 25 people were killed.
In 2014 Hitchcock left the Nine Network and returned to Australia to work for Channel Seven’s program, Sunday Night.{{cite web|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2014/01/denham-hitchcock-joins-sunday-night.html|title=Denham Hitchcock joins Sunday Night|date=21 January 2014 |publisher=TV Tonight|access-date=18 July 2021}}
In 2017 he went to Mexico to confront a plastic surgeon whose negligence led to the death of several patients including an Australian woman.{{cite web|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/fatal-operation-mission-to-stop-the-butcher-of-mexico/PCDZD5753JOUB3OGISVWJPXPJM/|title=Fatal operation: Mission to stop the 'Butcher of Mexico'|access-date=18 July 2021}} The same year, he flew to Colombia to report on the controversial arrest and imprisonment of Australian woman Cassandra Sainsbury, accused of being a cocaine drug mule.{{cite web|url=https://7news.com.au/news/sa/cocaine-cassie-sainsburys-uncle-neil-slams-the-convicted-drug-smugglers-release-c-983068|title='Cocaine Cassie' Sainsbury's uncle Neil slams the convicted drug smuggler's release|date=17 April 2020 |publisher=Seven Network|access-date=18 July 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://mumbrella.com.au/nine-seven-battle-rival-programs-alleged-drug-mule-cassie-sainsbury-446153|title=60 Minutes wins ratings battle with Sunday Night over alleged drug mule Cassie Sainsbury|date=22 May 2017 |publisher=Mumbrella|access-date=18 July 2021}}
Hitchcock has travelled to Iraq and Syria twice to report on the rise and fall of the ISIL.{{cite web|url=https://au.news.yahoo.com/denham-hitchcock-the-beginning-of-theend-34785354.html?guccounter=1guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8guce_referrer_sig=AQAAANB8khzY9BO7ZBttgM5mVwY3CnEEhJms1bbIDhaozqk7EWlXzg65ddyha7KBOAUJgBiOGUOZb2_lrqR_yUgxl9gV4ER8Mm4MN9XmFcxM_ibBP1WK5DjhWz5zQmnZD7Ng2xmZ4z9YyLKwskV1CSSjSYoKrYwdNaDAVAgmtPPENlc4|title=IDenham Hitchcock: The beginning of the end|publisher=Yahoo! News|access-date=18 July 2021}}
In 2020 the Sunday Night program was discontinued by the Seven Network{{cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/coronavirus-victoria-channel-7-reporter-flooded-with-support-after-daniel-andrews-treatment/news-story/e887cb1882a6c6e178a4e315ad0d050f|title=Coronavirus Victoria: Channel 7 reporter flooded with support after Daniel Andrews treatment|publisher=News.com.au|access-date=18 July 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://tvblackbox.com.au/page/2021/06/10/7news-spotlight-saving-candice/|title=7NEWS SPOTLIGHT: Saving Candice|access-date=18 July 2021}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/sep/25/thank-you-msm-pete-evans-gets-cosy-treatment-from-the-tele|title='Thank you MSM': Pete Evans gets cosy treatment from the Daily Telegraph
|work=The Guardian|date=25 September 2020
|access-date=18 July 2021
|last1=Meade
|first1=Amanda
}}{{cite web|url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/entertainment/confidential/enough-is-enough-channel-9-boss-has-accused-channel-7-of-copycat-journalism-ng-1dbe1d8b5e60dadeded63297f844aefe|title='Enough is enough!': Channel 9 boss has accused Channel 7 of copycat journalism|date=18 July 2017 |access-date=18 July 2021}} Hitchcock was retained to create hour long documentaries to fill the current affairs void left behind. The first report was on the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season.{{cite web|url=https://7news.com.au/the-morning-show/hellfire-the-battle-of-cobargo-will-expose-the-warning-signs-that-led-to-the-bushfires-c-677892|title='Hellfire: The Battle of Cobargo' will expose the warning signs that led to the bushfires|date=4 February 2020 |publisher=Seven Network|access-date=18 July 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://7news.com.au/news/bushfires/hellfire-the-battle-of-cobargo-c-677807|title=Hellfire: The Battle of Cobargo|date=4 February 2020 |publisher=Seven Network|access-date=18 July 2021}}
Hitchcock has written many articles for major Australian newspapers such as The Sydney Morning Herald and The Daily Telegraph.{{cite web|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/it-is-a-murderous-regime-with-no-mercy-and-one-aussie-who-went-to-fight-them-faces-life-in-jail-as-he-returns/news-story/82ce180756c08eb1a37fc19af65ca346|title=It is a murderous regime with no mercy and one Aussie who went to fight them faces life in jail as he returns|publisher=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=18 July 2021}} He has also compiled several reports for the world's largest men's magazine, Men's Health, including a visit to a traditional kickboxing camp in Thailand, and later completing a five-day fast.{{cite web|url=https://www.menshealth.com.au/denham-hitchcock-mens-health-cover-october-issue|title=Denham Hitchcock Is A Real Life Clark Kent|date=May 2021 |publisher=Men's Health|access-date=18 July 2021}}
In January 2023 Hitchcock announced on his Instagram page that he had resigned from the Seven Network.{{cite news|last=Davison|first=Katherine|date=11 January 2023|title=TV reporter quits Seven, tells of 'one lesson' he's learned|url=https://7news.com.au/entertainment/tv/tv-reporter-quits-seven-tells-of-one-lesson-hes-learned-c-9415324|work=7Life|location= |access-date=16 May 2023}} He stated: “I have resigned from the Channel Seven network. This is normally where people say they need to spend more time with their family, and that is certainly true, my girls are everything to me, but there’s other reasons..." before stating his intention to sail around the Pacific Islands.
In May 2023 it was announced that he would be presenting a television documentary for Sky News Australia entitled Who murdered Marea? which would explore the unsolved 2003 murder of former charity shop worker Marea Yann.{{cite news|last=Wigney|first=James|date=13 May 2023|title=New Sky News documentary sheds light on final days of Marea Yann before her murder|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/new-sky-news-documentary-sheds-light-on-final-days-of-marea-yann-before-her-murder/news-story/40845b858302b388943a791c437f70ab|work=Herald Sun|location= |access-date=16 May 2023}}{{cite news |last=Knox|first=David|date=11 May 2023|title=Airdate: Who killed Marea?|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2023/05/airdate-who-murdered-marea.html |work=TV Tonight|location= |access-date=16 May 2023}}
Personal life
Denham Hitchcock is the son of former Channel 10 journalist Kevin Hitchcock.Sydney Morning Herald 12 June 2025, page 21
In 2008 Hitchcock and fellow journalist Daniel Sutton were allegedly attacked by members of the Bega Roosters rugby league team while attempting to leave the Commercial Hotel in Bega after having dinner.{{cite news |last=Williams|first=Lauren|date=4 December 2008|title=Trio charged over Bega assault of two TV journalists |url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/trio-charged-over-bega-assault-of-two-tv-journalists/news-story/f1fb56703ca0f176d8d88545eb5b1638|work=The Daily Telegraph|location= |access-date=16 May 2023}} Police subsequently charged three men with assault. The journalists had been in Bega covering the Tathra wharf drownings.{{cite news|last=Dart|first=Jonathan|date=19 November 2008|title=Father, sons die in wharf tragedy |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/father-sons-die-in-wharf-tragedy-20081119-gdt3gj.html?page=fullpage|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|location= |access-date=16 May 2023}}{{cite news |author= |date=4 December 2008|title=Three men charged over journos attack|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/three-men-charged-over-journos-attack-20081204-6qw3.html|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|location= |access-date=16 May 2023}} Hitchcock sustained facial injuries in the alleged attack and was taken to hospital.
In 2021, shortly after receiving the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, he was hospitalized for pericarditis, a side effect linked to the spike protein injection.{{cite web| url = https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/coronavirus/channel-7-journalist-denham-hitchcock-in-hospital-with-pericarditis-after-covid-19-pfizer-vaccine-ng-b881983043z| title = Channel 7 journalist Denham Hitchcock in hospital with pericarditis after COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine {{!}} PerthNow| date = 26 August 2021}}
Hitchcock is known for his passion of sailing. After purchasing a second hand yacht, he spent two years restoring it before sailing from Sydney to Lord Howe Island and Fiji in 2019.
References
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Category:Australian journalists
Category:Australian war correspondents
Category:Australian television presenters
Category:Australian newspaper editors