Schwartz Media's daily news podcast, 7am, has welcomed Ruby Jones back to its hosting team, alongside Yorta Yorta writer and broadcaster, Daniel James.

Jones' return to the podcast, which she played an instrumental role in establishing, comes as she resumes her role as host and executive producer following her maternity leave.

"I can’t wait to come back to 7am to tell the most important stories in the country, alongside such a talented team who want to tell those stories in such exciting, fresh ways," said Jones. "The 7am listeners are an incredible community and I’m very much looking forward to getting back to giving them the best show to listen to every day."

James, meanwhile, is a contributor to The Saturday Paper, The Monthly, IndigenousX, SBS, Crikey, The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, and host of The Mission on 3RRRFM. He has joins the team after hosting 7am's coverage in the lead-up to the Voice referendum in 2023, when he interviewed key figures from both sides of the debate.

"I’ve always been an avid listener of 7am and now, to have the opportunity to join the team, is an exciting challenge at a crucial time. The 7am audience is an astute one, so I look forward to taking an in-depth look at the issues shaping Australia, here and abroad, during this particular crossroad in our history," said James.

Schwartz Media's head of audio, Sarah McVeigh, also returns from maternity leave and will work as an editor on 7am. The new hosts will be on air on alternate days, starting from Monday, July 15.

"I am thrilled to be back with the team, working on some of the most compelling audio storytelling in the country during an exciting new chapter for the show. We’re planning some ambitious projects we know the audience will love. Ruby Jones and Daniel James are a powerhouse pair of journalists. They both bring empathy and intelligence to their reporting and we’re lucky to have them," said McVeigh.

Schwartz Media's editor-in-chief, Erik Jensen, said: "Sarah, Ruby and Daniel are some of the best audiomakers in the country. Together, they will be making a show at the forefront of news podcasting, telling stories that cut through the daily cycle and connect to listeners who want more from news."