Jessica Rowe
Jessica Rowe
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Jessica Rowe

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Jessica Rowe

Jessica June Rowe AM (born 22 June 1970) is an Australian journalist, author and television presenter. She was the co-host of Studio 10 on Network Ten until March 2018, and is Member of the Order of Australia for her mental health advocacy.

Rowe attended Sydney Girls High School and Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, completing a Bachelor of Arts in 1993. During her studies she was a broadcaster with on-campus community radio station 2MCE-FM. Rowe later graduated from the University of Sydney with a Master of International Studies degree in 2003.[citation needed]

Rowe started work at the Nine Network as a receptionist and later as a weather presenter for Prime7. In 1996 she began working as a news presenter for Network Ten. She presented Ten Sydney's Ten News at Five bulletin alongside Ron Wilson. Rowe finished her hosting duties at Network Ten in 2005.

In October 2005, Rowe published her first book; The Best of Times, The Worst of Times (Allen & Unwin), a recollection of her experiences of her mother's battle with bipolar disorder. The book was co-written by Rowe's mother, Penelope Rowe.

In 2006, Rowe joined the Nine Network to host the Today breakfast show, alongside Karl Stefanovic, replacing Tracy Grimshaw. Network Ten pursued legal action over Rowe's defection to the Nine Network, citing a clause within Network Ten's contract that prevented her from working with a competing broadcaster until June 2006. The case was dismissed by the Supreme Court on 30 December 2005, allowing Rowe to debut on Today on 30 January 2006.

Her arrival at Today was met with initial criticism, including "on-air giggling, absence of serious journalistic credentials and lack of chemistry with co-host Karl Stefanovic". Rowe was also criticised over an on-air gaffe involving Brigadier Michael Slater, which revealed during a live cross that the interview from Dili, East Timor, was being stage managed when Rowe tried to use old looting and violence footage, even though Slater told her it was a "couple of days old".

During this time Nine Network CEO Eddie McGuire made a public statement in June 2006 stating that the claims Rowe was to be "sacked" were part of "a malicious and unprecedented vilification campaign" This followed the sworn evidence in an affidavit from Nine Network's former head of news, Mark Llewellyn, that McGuire had threatened to "bone" Rowe during a meeting with executives.

On 6 May 2007, Rowe left the Nine Network due to "payment disputes" after her return from maternity leave.

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