| Michael Rowland | |
| Birth Place: | Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Television presenter, journalist |
| Network: | Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
| Show: | News Breakfast |
Michael Rowland (born 8 July 1968) is an Australian television news presenter and journalist, currently working for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, having previously been an American affairs correspondent in Washington.[1] Additionally, he has been a financial, economic and political reporter for several Australian News channels.[2]
He is currently co-host of the ABC's morning program News Breakfast alongside Bridget Brennan and is the network's senior presenter.[3] [4]
Rowland was born in Victoria, Australia before moving to Sydney. During his teenage years, he attended De La Salle College Ashfield and graduated in 1985.[5] He studied communication at the University of Technology Sydney, but quit after a year.[5]
In 1988, Rowland was hit in the eye by a stray pellet from a slingshot, causing it to dilate uncontrollably. Although doctors saved his eye, the dilation became permanent. Rowland additionally has colour blindness which was not caused by the incident.[6]
Rowland began his career in the news industry by reporting and journalism in the 1990s where he spent five years in the ABC's Parliament House bureau in Canberra, filing for Radio News and Lateline. During this time he learnt about news reporting and journalism as a news cadet for over a year.[7] He worked in the Canberra Press Gallery for five years covering both New South Wales and Victorian politics for the ABC.
In 1988, he transferred to a position as a New South Wales state political reporter. He then progressed to a finance reporter in 1991 for the ABC.[8] He met his future News Breakfast co-host Lisa Millar while covering the 1996 federal election at the ABC's Canberra Bureau.[9]
He was Lateline finance correspondent, and also covered business and economics for a range of other ABC TV and radio outlets including AM, current affairs morning program, The World Today, a current affairs program, PM, The Midday Report, Inside Business, the economic and financial focused branch of ABC and the 7 pm TV news all of which included Rowland as the financial presenter focussing on Australian economics.
Rowland then became the ABC's North America correspondent, and during his posting covered stories including the election of Barack Obama as US president, the outbreak of the financial crisis of 2007–2008, the Virginia Tech massacre and David Hicks' release from Guantanamo Bay detention camp.
In June 2010, Rowland was appointed co-host of News Breakfast, replacing Joe O'Brien.
In June 2019, the ABC announced that Rowland would take on an expanded role as senior network presenter for ABC's morning news breakfast program. In addition to News Breakfast, Rowland would anchor coverage of major domestic and international events across ABC News programs, including the 7 pm News, the breakfast segment for ABC News, and ABC Radio.[10]
Rowland covered the 2020 United States presidential election presenting live results for News Breakfast.[11]
In January 2021 HarperCollins published Black Summer: Stories of loss, courage and community from the 2019–2020 bushfires. The book was edited by Rowland, with proceeds being contributed to the Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund, as a means to provide support to the families who lost loved ones and homes during the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season.[12]
Rowland covered the 2024 United States presidential election for News Breakfast.[13]
In December 2024, Rowland announced that he will leave News Breakfast after 15 years.[14] His last show is on 13 December 2024.
Rowland is married to Nicola Webber with whom has two children. Rowland has disclosed throughout his social media platforms that he is a heavy family orientated person.
Rowland was the vice president for the Melbourne Press Club until his resignation in 2019 due to conflict between two other major members of the board.[15] He is still considered a life member of the club, and has been acknowledged by them for his work and contribution to the club and journalism.[16]
Rowland is a fan of the Western Bulldogs, and began supporting them after returning from the United States to co-anchor ABC News Breakfast when it launched midway through 2010. He has said that the reasons why he follows the team is due to him settling in Melbourne and because his son supported the team.[17] In 2016, he interviewed the Western Bulldogs president Peter Gordon on News Breakfast less than 48 hours after the club ended its 62-year-long premiership losing streak. Rowland described this experience as a big highlight in his years on the show, with Gordon allowing him to hold onto the AFL Premiership Cup. Rowland has also stated that of his interviews with celebrities on News Breakfast, his favourite was with American actor Alan Alda, who appeared on the show to promote science education.[18]