Updated October 05, 2017 21:55:48

Photo: Lateline host Emma Alberici will take up the new position of chief economics correspondent when the show finishes.

The 27-year run of ABC's Lateline current affairs program will come to an end among a suite of changes planned for the national broadcaster's newsrooms.

ABC management announced today that Lateline would be cut as the broadcaster launches new investigative and specialist journalism teams.

The Link, a weekly program hosted by Stan Grant, will also be cut.

Grant is set to host a news discussion show at 9pm on the ABC News channel, as well as take up the new position of chief Asia correspondent.

Lateline host Emma Alberici will become the ABC's chief economics correspondent.

A half-hour late national bulletin will also be added to the main ABC channel at 10.30pm.

An investigations team of 10 reporters led by former 7.30 executive producer Jo Puccini will be created to break big-issue stories to be published across programs and platforms, the ABC said in a statement.

A specialist reporting team, led by former Lateline executive producer Lisa Whitby, will also be created.

The team of up to 20 will focus on in-depth reporting on topics including technology and science, regional communities, consumer affairs, education, health, arts, culture and entertainment, social affairs and indigenous affairs.

Photo: Stan Grant will host a discussion show on the ABC News channel. (ABC Radio - Conversations)

Lateline and The Link will end at the conclusion of their current seasons.

ABC director of News, Gaven Morris, said the proposal "represented a big investment in investigative, specialist and in-depth journalism at a time when many other media outlets are retreating from these areas".

"Public interest journalism on behalf of all Australians is more important to the role of ABC News than ever," he said in a statement.

Mr Morris also paid tribute to Lateline and its team.

"When it launched in 1990 Lateline was a ground-breaking program, and for almost three decades it has made an enormous contribution to Australian public life," he said.

"Many great ABC journalists and production teams have worked with Lateline and the current team has produced an innovative brand of late-evening current affairs."

Topics: journalism, television, australia

First posted October 05, 2017 14:23:22