Despite a turbulent few months on Today, presenter Danika Mason has much cause for celebration. The sports reporter, known as much for her sideline reporting of the NRL as she is in the Nine Network studio, is not only expecting her first child, but she’s also nominated for her first TV WEEK Logie Award!
Sitting down to discuss the recognition and her road to motherhood, Danika says she “couldn’t believe it” when the nominations were announced.
“We [Nine] have been nominated as a team before, so when they [producers] told me, they had to, kind of, explain that it’s just me!” Danika tells TV WEEK.
Logies and legacy
During the 66th TV WEEK Logie Awards, the winner for the Bruce McAvaney Award for Most Popular Sports Presenter will be announced for the first time. Danika is among the esteemed group which includes Jelena Dokic, James Bracey, Eddie McGuire, Ricky Ponting and award namesake, Bruce McAvaney.
“It’s incredible to be alongside the other nominees – Bracey is the OG, Eddie has done everything and Jelena is such an inspiration,” she says. “Then there’s Bruce who is the voice of so many sports – and who the award is named after! Sometimes I think, ‘Why am I there?’”
We, like the audience at home, know precisely why. From the studio where she presents on Today and Freddy and The Eighth, to boots-on-the-ground reporting across various footy fields, Danika is a reliable source of expertise. Even on her days off, she’s watching the footy at home with her fiancé and NRL player, Liam Knight.
“It’s a lot of footy,” she concedes with a laugh. “Sometimes I think I don’t have a life. But I do love to switch off and watch reality TV. I like The Real Housewives of Orange County – not a lot of people know that about me!”
Footy field of dreams
For all her efforts to diversify, sport has been ingrained in her from a young age. Growing up, Danika played a various sport in the community and watched Ken Sutcliffe “every night on TV while eating dinner” with her family. Then, in 2012, she landed an internship at the Nine Network and saw him in person: “I was starstruck,” she says.
Her passion for sport quickly became a fully-fledged career.
“I was open to everything when I first started [at Nine] but the person who got me in knows me well and said, ‘You wouldn’t last a day in news!’” Danika recalls.
In a predominantly male field, Danika has held her own. She acknowledges that, at times, she can be the only woman in a room. But she’s never felt the need to prove herself.
“It’s changed so much over time and a lot of women before me have put in the hard yards,” she says of the gender balance in sports journalism. “I’ve grown up seeing the shift in real time, not just in sport but in news as well, which is awesome.”
The Today shake-up
Never been one to “look over the fence”, Danika doesn’t necessarily have big plans for her future. But as speculation grows about who will sit in the Today chair after the controversial exit of long-time host Karl Stefanovic, Danika appears to be happy where she is.
The newsroom continues to be looked at from a distance – for now.
“I’m really enjoying what I do. I love those big productions like State of Origin and the Australian Open, they give you such job satisfaction,” she says. “So, I’m not that person who is looking to see if the grass is greener. I love what I do.”
Meanwhile, Today is yet to make an announcement about who will replace Karl, as well as Sarah Abo, who is currently on maternity leave.
In its upheaval, Danika says the team just had to “get through” the changes that has seen a roster of guest presenters filling in at the desk.
“Everyone experiences change in their jobs, and we have so many people that can come and fill in [on the show] who are like an extension of the family,” she explains. “So, once you get through that initial change period, you sort of settle back in.”
Danika prefers to focus on the literal game at hand, rather than the headlines.
“You can’t really attach emotion to things like this,” she adds. “I can’t control what’s gone on so you just deal with it, work through it and come out the other side. People look at the media as if it’s something different but it’s like any other workplace. And everyone helps each other out.”
A new chapter: motherhood
Having Sarah as both a colleague and friend during that time has been immensely helpful in more ways than one. Sarah went on maternity leave shortly after Karl left the breakfast program and has since shared life as a new mum with Danika.
Danika and Liam are expecting to welcome a baby girl, quite sensibly, “in the off season,” she says with a laugh. “I may be back for round one [of the 2027 NRL season]! But you never know how things will end up. Hopefully it all goes to plan.”
Trying to keep her pregnancy a secret became somewhat difficult on a live news program. At times, Danika was certain the public would find out.
“I had bad morning sickness in the first trimester. A few times, I’d have to dart off set to be sick and come back,” she recalls.
Danika found comfort in her female colleagues.
“I get a lot of advice from Jayne Azzopardi, while Sarah will send me texts and photos of little Sonny. Sarah said to me that the [lack of] sleep isn’t that bad because we’re so used to having a different sleep structure – I’m just looking forward to having more coffee than I’m allowed to have the moment!”
Whatever lies ahead for the family, Danika is simply grateful for all of it.
“It can be a struggle for people to get to the point that we’re in, so Liam and I are so grateful,” she says.” It’s truly a miracle to have a baby, and I have every emotion that goes with it. We know how incredibly lucky we are. I’m so thankful.”
The 66th TV WEEK Logie Awards air Sunday August 16 on Channel Seven and 7plus. You can vote for your favourite show or star here.
Share this post