Peter Mitchell (newsreader)

Peter Mitchell
Born	(1960-06-14) June 14, 1960 Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia
Occupation(s)	Television broadcaster, news presenter, journalist
Years active	1977–present
Known for	Lead news anchor for Seven News Melbourne since 2000

Peter Mitchell (born 14 June 1960) is a prominent Australian television broadcaster who has served as the lead news anchor for Seven News Melbourne since 2000, following his tenure as the weekend news presenter.

Career

Mitchell commenced his media career in 1977 with the Nine Network, initially working as a sports journalist. His coverage included Australian rules football, golf, tennis, and events such as the Commonwealth Games. By 1982, he shifted focus to general news reporting, where he covered significant incidents like the Ash Wednesday bushfires in Victoria in 1983.

In 1987, Mitchell moved to the Seven Network to take on the role of weekend news anchor, a position he maintained for thirteen years. In November 2000, he advanced to become the sole weeknight news presenter. A notable moment in his career occurred in 1997 when he was the first Australian news anchor to break the news of Princess Diana's passing during an AFL game broadcast.

Beyond his television work, Mitchell contributed a weekly column entitled "Tee for Two" to the Sunday Herald Sun and penned a biography about Australian golfer Peter Thomson. In 2018, he publicly apologized to the Victorian Supreme Court after making inappropriate remarks on air while covering a murder trial.

Awards

In recognition of his deep connections with the community and his professional achievements, Mitchell was inducted into the City of Frankston Hall of Fame in 2010.

Personal life

Raised on the Mornington Peninsula, Mitchell attended The Peninsula School located in Mount Eliza. His father, Geoff Mitchell, was both a Frankston City Councillor and Mayor during 1970–1971 and also played football for Frankston in the VFA.

A devoted supporter of the Collingwood Football Club, Mitchell began attending matches alongside his father from the age of five. He is married to Philippa, and together they have five children and four grandchildren.