Sarah Abo

Syrian-Australian television journalist

Sarah Abo

Born| 13 November 1985–1986[1]

Damascus, Syria

Alma mater| Monash University
Occupation(s)| Television presenter, journalist, reporter
Years active| 2008–present
Employer| Nine Network
Television|

* 60 Minutes
* Today

Spouse|

Cyrus Moran

(m. 2012)​

Sarah Abo (born 13 November 1985 or 1986)[1] is an Australian television presenter, journalist and reporter.[1]

Abo is currently a co-host of the Nine Network's breakfast program Today with Karl Stefanovic.[2] She is also a reporter on 60 Minutes.

## Early life

[edit]

Abo was born in Damascus, Syria to Fouad and Samia and has two younger sisters.[1] In 1990, when she was four years of age, the family relocated to Melbourne, Australia where she attended Our Lady of Mercy College in Heidelberg.[3][1][4] Abo went on to graduate from Monash University in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours), majoring in Journalism.[1][5]

## Career

[edit]

Abo commenced her television career in 2008 at Network 10's Adelaide newsroom where she initially worked as an archiving and production assistant before becoming a Ten News reporter.[1][6][5] After two years, Abo moved back to Melbourne where she continued to work as a reporter for Network 10 for another three years.[6]

In 2013, she commenced working for SBS Television as a presenter and reporter on programs such as SBS World News, Dateline, Insight and Small Business Secrets.[7] In 2014, Abo completed a fellowship at CNN in Atlanta.[8] Abo was a presenter and journalist for SBS for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.[5]

In 2019, Abo joined the Nine Network as a 60 Minutes reporter.[9] Since joining the network, Abo regularly filled in as co-host of Nine's breakfast show Today including in March 2022 when regular co-host Allison Langdon contracted COVID-19.[10]

Abo was chosen to moderate the second leaders' debate between Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese prior to the 2022 Australian federal election which aired on 8 May 2022.[11] After the debate, Abo was the subject of a controversial tweet posted by Mark Latham,[12] the New South Wales state leader of Pauline Hanson's One Nation, who seemingly used Abo's surname as a racial slur.[13] Criticising Abo's performance as moderator, Latham said "never trust an Abo with something as important as that".[13] The word "Abo" is a highly offensive reference to Aboriginal Australians.[14] The Nine Network said that they intended to report Latham's comments to the authorities while praising Abo's handling of the debate.[15]

In November 2022, Abo was announced as the new co-host of the Nine Network's breakfast program Today in 2023, replacing Allison Langdon who was appointed as the host of A Current Affair following the retirement of Tracy Grimshaw.[2]

In December 2023, Nine announced that Abo will host Carols by Candlelight with David Campbell.[16]

## Personal life

[edit]

On 15 December 2012, Abo married Cyrus Moran.[17]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g Quigley, Genevieve (28 February 2021). "'There's no excuse': The family gamble that taught Sarah Abo to chase her dreams". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
2. ^ a b "Sarah Abo named new co-host of Today as Allison Langdon moves to A Current Affair". The Guardian. 27 November 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
3. ^ Olijnyk, Max (2013-09-21). "Six burning questions for ... Sarah Abo". The Age. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
4. ^ "National careers week: it's more than a job". Our Lady of Mercy College. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
5. ^ a b c "Sarah Abo". Monash University. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
6. ^ a b Fokina, Yulia (13 November 2018). "Sarah Abo: From archive room to SBS reporter". Upstart Magazine. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
7. ^ Knox, David (12 August 2013). "Sarah Abo joins World News Australia". TV Tonight. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
8. ^ "Walkley Foundation announces new Judging Board members". Walkley News. Walkley Foundation. 29 April 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
9. ^ Knox, David (26 January 2019). "Sarah Abo joins 60 Minutes". TV Tonight. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
10. ^ Nsenduluka, Mibengé (22 March 2022). "Today show stars Allison Langdon and Brooke Boney off-air after positive Covid test". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
11. ^ Simmonds, Matthew (30 April 2022). "Nine to host second leaders' debate between Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese". TV Blackbox. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
12. ^ Carey, Alexis; Francis, Chantelle (May 10, 2022). "Election 2022: Nine to report Mark Latham over 'racist' Sarah Abo debate tweet | news.com.au". news.com.au.
13. ^ a b Bharadwaj, Angira; Moran, Jonathon. "'Outrage industry' has me wrong over 'tawdry tweet' says Latham". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
14. ^ Al Nashar, Nabil; Teece-Johnson, Danny (5 August 2019). "Five mistakes people make in conversation with Aboriginal people". Australia Alyaom radio. Special Broadcasting Service. Retrieved 10 May 2022. "...shortening the term 'Aboriginal' to 'Abo' is highly offensive to Indigenous people due to historical usage and is considered a derogatory term..."
15. ^ Quinn, Karl (9 May 2022). "Nine vows to report Mark Latham to authorities after offensive tweet". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
16. ^ "Music phenomenon G Flip to light up carols stage on Christmas Eve & David Campbell and Sarah Abo to host". Nine for Brands. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
17. ^ Milligan, Bec (16 January 2023). "Everything you need to know about Sarah Abo". Now to Love. Retrieved 16 January 2023.

*[m.]: married