Young Channel Seven reporters take voluntary redundancy as jobs are axed around the country

A spate of young reporters are quietly walking away from Channel Seven as the network's brutal redundancy bloodbath sweeps through newsrooms across the country.

Among the latest casualties is former 7NEWS Sydney reporter Inga Neilsen, who confirmed this week she had accepted a voluntary redundancy after more than six years with the network.

'After more than six years telling other people's stories, it's time to share some news of my own,' she wrote in an emotional social media post on Thursday.

'Last week, I accepted a redundancy from 7NEWS. A country kid from Braidwood, I achieved my childhood dream of becoming a TV reporter in Sydney.'

Neilsen reflected on covering some of Australia's biggest tragedies during her career, including devastating floods and bushfires.

'I've met people on the worst days of their lives. Those who lost homes, livelihoods and loved ones to floods and fires. What I'll remember most isn't the tragedy, but the resilience people showed in the face of it,' she wrote.

The reporter began her career at WIN News Albury before later working as police reporter at Nine News Adelaide and eventually joining Seven in Sydney.

'For now, it's time to put down the microphone and try something new, focused on creating, connecting, and putting more positivity into the world. Above all, I know Mum would be proud,' she added.

In Melbourne, longtime Channel Seven reporter Estelle Griepink also confirmed she was leaving after accepting a voluntary redundancy following 11 years at the network.

'The end of an ERA!!' the mother-of-two wrote on Instagram.

'Thank you so much to all the incredible reporters, cameramen, editors, producers, graphic designers, directors, chief of staffs and make up artists who I've had the pleasure of working with, laughing with, crying with and making memories with!'

'There is NO job like TV news and I leave with stories to last a lifetime - but I'm so excited about the new chapter and can't wait to spend more time with my babies.'

TV insiders said that Sydney reporter Grace Fitzgibbon, who recently welcomed her first child and is on maternity leave, is believed to also be among those whose roles were affected. 

Young reporters Brianna Jackson and Amy Clements are also believed to be among staff nervously waiting to learn their fate as cuts continue to ripple through the business.

Their departures come as panic spreads through Seven newsrooms amid sweeping cuts linked to the newly merged Southern Cross Media empire, which now controls Seven West Media and Southern Cross Austereo. 

The company announced this week between 250 and 300 roles would be slashed nationally as worsening television advertising conditions hammer the business.

New chief executive Rohan Lund said the company needed to 'reset our cost base' amid deteriorating market conditions, with the cuts expected to deliver up to $150 million in annual savings.

Meanwhile, veteran presenter Natarsha Belling is also understood to have departed Seven, with Hugh Whitfeld stepping into the network's midday news bulletin.

Belling had only joined Seven's National News at Noon around 18 months ago.

Before that, she famously spent more than two decades at Network Ten before being made redundant in 2020.