For Nine’s traumatised staff, action is more vital than words
This is a mess for Nine. The workplace review ripped off the scab, but the bleeding remains, reports The Australian’s James Madden.
From the outset, the company’s workplace culture review was badly ill-conceived, albeit well-meaning.
The expectation among staff was that the bullies (and worse) within Nine would be weeded out and the company’s newsrooms would become tolerable places to work. That may still happen, of course, and let’s hope it does.
But after more than 1000 complaints were made to the external company tasked with conducting the review, the widespread feeling among staff after Thursday’s crisis meeting is that Friday looks like it will be more of the same. The problem hasn’t been fixed.
‘Sold a pup’: Nine stars lash bombshell report for refusing to name names
Nine’s biggest TV stars have raised concerns they have been “sold a pup” over a bombshell report into a toxic bullying culture during an emotional all-staff meeting, reports News Corp’s Samantha Maiden.
Leaked details have emerged of the meeting that was held on Thursday to coincide with the release of the bombshell report, which was first reported by news.com.au just after midday.
Two hours later, when Nine staff gathered to hear from executives, witnesses say that 60 Minutes reporters Tom Steinfort and Dimity Clancey and Channel Nine presenter Deb Knight raised concerns including what the fallout will be for those accused of bullying.
“Tom Steinfort asked a very good question. He was just asking if there are no heads that are going to roll, where’s the accountability?,’’ a Nine employee said.
Nine presenter Deb Knight then asked if the bad behaviour stopped today, “Well, what about those who behaved badly yesterday?”
‘It’s been horrific’: Nine staff detail their despair
The rotten secrets of Nine have now been published in a report made public by the organisation, detailing what many in the media and entertainment industry already knew but most were fearful of speaking about, reports The Australian’s Liam Mendes.
Some of the cases detailed in the report include the targeting of young women, women rated on their ‘f**kability’, unwarranted touching, staff “iced out” and careers destroyed for speaking out, with others so traumatised they told the investigators they, or their colleagues, were suicidal.
Over the past five years, 52 per cent of Nine staff who gave evidence to the Intersection inquiry experienced or witnessed abuse of power or authority in the workplace, 49 per cent experienced bullying, discrimination or harassment and just under a quarter experienced sexual harassment.
The report, 82 pages in length, details allegations of bullying, sexual harassment, abuse of power, discrimination and cover-ups, with dozens of allegations detailing the horrific office culture.
It’s ‘dirty washing day’: Nine’s cultural entrails laid bare
Thursday, October 17, 2024 will be forever known as “dirty washing day” at Nine Entertainment, reports Nine Publishing’s Elizabeth Knight.
It’s the day the bonnet was lifted on the culture of the country’s largest media company, showing it’s a less than well-oiled machine.
There is a certain discomfort in writing about one’s own employer, but not because it shouldn’t be subject to scrutiny.
Rather, it has a certain glass house feel to it. Our mastheads, radio and television stations regularly expose the poor culture or misdeeds of other organisations, and while it is our obligation to also expose Nine’s own shortcomings, it opens the door to a further level of criticism.
Nine had little choice but to get to the bottom of a previously underestimated toxic culture inside its walls.
Staff at Nine Entertainment ‘devastated’ after findings of review handed down
Frustrated participants of Nine’s sexual harassment and bullying review said they had been left “devastated”, with many concerned “no heads will roll” as a result of the damning findings, report The Australian’s Sophie Elsworth and Liam Mendes.
Sources told The Australian there was “anger” among staff who gathered around the country on Thursday at an all-staff meeting where the mood was “tense” as they were addressed by acting chief executive Matt Stanton.
Multiple women – who did not wish to be named – spoke to The Australian shortly after the review was made public on Thursday and one former female employee fought back tears, saying: “Is that all they are going to do? My life is so screwed, it’s ruined.
“Everyone can see this report but it doesn’t make any difference, there’s no repercussions, there’s no accountability. They are protecting the protected species because they bring in the money.”
Another former staffer who took part in the review said on Thursday: “It’s empowering to finally see Nine’s dirty laundry aired for all to see.
“There are, however, still some people in powerful positions in the news department who were the ringleaders of the bullying and harassment outlined in this report.
“Until they are dealt with, this report is meaningless. More heads need to roll to ensure the culture really changes.”
Is the Nine Entertainment board really up to the challenge needed to change?
Nine’s board led by Catherine West now has a road map to fix the media company. The question is whether the same board that was fast asleep as culture was getting worse is also the right one to fix it, reports The Australian’s Eric Johnston.
The board-commissioned investigation into Nine marks a seminal moment for the broadcast and publishing company exposing a toxic culture where junior female employees were fearful and a culture of bullying and harassment thrived.
And in a worrying sign, Nine missed every moment created by a crisis that it needs to rebuild.
The company isn’t owning it publicly. Acting chief executive Matt Stanton has ruled out accountability for those involved, nor is there full-throated public commitment that the behaviour uncovered is unacceptable and perpetrators will be sent packing.
It was only in an internal email West said the company had “undeniable problems with our workplace culture”.
It shows a company that has failed to evolve. This means it is increasingly out of touch with its two biggest revenue drivers – audience and advertisers. So too it means the best talent and smartest management material will simply move on to other opportunities rather than stay in the sandbox stuck in the 1980s.
Damning report: Nine lives for network of creeps and bullies
There was widespread anger among Nine staff on Thursday when the findings of the report were released, as it emerged that the review didn’t identify some of the alleged workplace offenders, some of whom are understood to have been the subject of multiple complaints from employees, past and present, reports Sophie Elsworth, James Madden and Liam Mendes.
The report, conducted by external firm Intersection, stated that it “did not extend to investigating or making findings about any individual incident or allegation”.
Some current staff felt were left so distressed by the treatment by their bosses at Nine that they contemplated suicide, and are now considering pursuing compensation through the courts after being left dissatisfied by the outcome of the external review.
Nine TV and radio employees openly expressed frustrations with the review when acting chief executive Matt Stanton addressed newsroom staff on Thursday afternoon. Radio host Deb Knight, TV presenters Amelia Adams, Tom Steinfort and Today executive producer Kendall Bora were among those to speak up.
Nine Entertainment’s cultural crisis exposes its hypocrisy
There is no question that Nine Entertainment Co is at its best when exposing bad behaviour, misconduct and cultural failings across society, business and politics, reports The AFR’s James Thomson.
But the disgusting revelations about a systemic culture of sexual harassment, bullying and abuses of power contained in a damning review of the business gives it no choice but to turn the blowtorch it has so often aimed at others – whether it’s through the famous foot-in-the-door exposés at A Current Affair, the sharp-tongued interviews on radio stations at 3AW and 2GB or the investigations at The Age, Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian Financial Review – on itself.
While they committed to introducing the 22 recommendations as quickly as possible, that didn’t answer the first and obvious question asked in an emotional staff briefing: who has lost their job over this disgrace?
Nine’s culture of shaming, ghosting and belittling revealed
Managers in Nine’s broadcast division would single out employees and belittle them until they could take it no more as part of a culture in which workers were routinely shamed, gaslighted and intimidated – sometimes to the point of self-harm, report Nine Publishing’s Calum Jaspan and Jordan Baker.
“We call this ‘punishment island’,” said one Nine employee who cannot be named. “A dark and desolate place no one wants to be.”
Staff in the broadcast division were furious that the report that was handed to the company didn’t name any perpetrators, and none of the bullies, power players and “toxic” staff whose behaviour was criticised, were held to account. “It feels like people who have behaved badly are getting off Scot-free,” said one.
The report paints a picture of an organisation lacking accountability, where decisions are based on personal gain or preference, and where an individual’s role or status can be used to bully, harass or punch down. Across the company, almost a quarter of staff reported experiencing sexual harassment.
News Brands
Misinformation debate being ‘hijacked’ to target ‘disagreed with’ content: News executive
News Corp Australia senior executive Campbell Reid says public debate about the threat of online misinformation has been “hijacked” by people seeking to label content they disagree with as false.
Addressing a Senate inquiry examining Labor’s proposed laws to combat misinformation and disinformation, Reid said he supported the intention of the bill but preferred it not be passed into law without being “improved”.
Reid said it was right that News Corp, the publisher of The Australian, and other professional news outlets be exempt from the legislation because they “take responsibility” for their content, while social media platforms did not.
He said the Communications Legislation Amendment (Combating Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill in its current form would impact on free speech.
Publisher defends ‘sexist’ list as reflective of ad industry
The publisher of a celebrated list of creative leaders in Australia’s advertising industry has defended its feature after receiving international backlash for a double-page spread of 20 men, reports The Australian’s Danielle Long.
Campaign Brief, a print and online publication dedicated to showcasing the creative advertising and production industry, has been in the firing line for its annual feature, which ranks the most awarded creative leaders based on the work created by their agencies.
The list draws results from the Best Ads feature, which is compiled from a weekly feature where creative leaders from around the globe select and award the best work. The points are allocated to the agency and the publication published photos of the most senior creative at the agency.
Campaign Brief owner and publisher Michael Lynch has defended the feature which he argued is “reflective of the creative departments in advertising agencies”.
“Unfortunately the list exposes the uncomfortable truth that the majority of agencies have male chief creative officers (CCO),” he said.
10 News First anchor Sandra Sully joins new campaign to unplug from social media
Veteran newsreader Sandra Sully has spoken of the “vile” and “derogatory” comments she receives from anonymous keyboard warriors, reports News Corp’s Jonathan Moran.
The TV star has learned how to deal with the misogyny and hate she often receives from faceless keyboard trolls, but has fears for Australia’s younger population.
Backing Unplug 24, on October 24, the 10 News First anchor and respected journalist is encouraging Australians to abstain from social media for 24 hours.
“In a world swirling in change and 24/7 pressures, Unplug 24 is a welcome and timely reminder of the value of switching off,” Sully said.
“Mental health issues are now so pervasive that we are witnessing generations of young Australians paying the price of social media addiction. Its toxicity is deadly.”
Amazon enters news space with live US election coverage from Brian Williams
Amazon is dipping its toe into the news business, with a familiar face, reports The New York Times.
Brian Williams, the longtime news anchor, will host a newscast on the evening of the US election day on Amazon Video, the company said on Thursday.
The show, titled “Election Night Live With Brian Williams,” will deliver election results and analysis.
The show will be made available to all Amazon customers, regardless of whether they subscribe to the company’s streaming service, Amazon Prime.
Amazon said that Williams, who spent much of his career at NBC and MSNBC, would rely primarily on election results from third party sources, probably The Associated Press or Reuters. And the show will feature live expert commentators “representing a range of backgrounds and perspectives.” A longtime news producer, Jonathan Wald, will serve as the show’s executive producer and showrunner, while a pair of Emmy-winning live event producers, Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner, will produce the show.
Television
‘I was in tears’: The show that brought Brendan Cowell and Asher Keddie back together
New ABC drama Plum tells the story of former Cronulla Sharks rugby league star Peter “the Plum” Lum, who is grappling with the old habits of the past – drinking, gambling, drugs – and the effects these are having on his future, reports Nine Publishing’s Louise Rugendyke.
Surrounded by friends and filming where he grew up in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire, Plum isn’t just another job for Cowell, it’s incredibly personal. It’s adapted from the 2021 book of the same name that he wrote in London during lockdown. Filming had stalled on the Avatar sequels he was working on, and he was unable to fly back to Australia.
Cowell wrote every day, from 8am to 6pm (after a morning online boxing class), and found his way back to Cronulla.
Plum also brought Cowell home in another way – reuniting him with his Love My Way co-star Asher Keddie for the first time in more than 20 years, as well as producer John Edwards and Fiona Seres, who ended up co-writing the TV series with Cowell.
“It’s joyous, it’s a treat,” says Keddie. “To be working together, we’ve been excited about it, but the joy of coming back into each other’s space as actors, as grown-ups – because, I promise you, we weren’t grown up when we were shooting Love My Way, we were kids – that’s the lovely part.”
Radio
Marty Sheargold on drunken regrets, mental health, quitting breakfast radio
Marty Sheargold admits he wasn’t travelling too well this time last year, reports News Corp’s James Wigney.
It will be 12 months tomorrow since the comedian, actor and radio host announced he was taking an extended break from his popular Triple M breakfast show to work on improving his work/life balance and to deal with the mental exhaustion that had arisen from his many commitments across TV, radio and stand-up.
Things had come to a head a few weeks earlier at the AFL grand final when after several months of sobriety, he fell off the wagon with a thud. After a messy, and reportedly sweary, incident in a corporate box, he left the game early, which he insists was “under my own steam”. And while he says he was annoyed by the coverage at the time saying he’d been ejected or escorted from the ground, freely accepts he’d acted like a bit of a goose.
A year later and Sheargold says he is tracking well mentally, feels “much less scattered” than he did and has found a healthier work routine. After returning to his breakfast show briefly in January, he quit the high-pressure gig for good in July and shifted to the national drivetime slot so he could spend more time with his two teenage kids. He’s also close to finishing a marathon national stand-up tour with mates Sam Pang, Mick Molloy and Lawrence Mooney, and will be back on TV screens on Sunday with the third season of the hit homegrown comedy Fisk.
Sports Media
NRL clubs want updates on TV broadcast deal
The NRL and its clubs are in the final stages of thrashing out new licence agreements as they work towards an agreement over whether the clubs should have the right to be kept informed of negotiations for the next broadcasting deal, report News Corp’s Michael Carayannis and Brent Read.
The licence agreements, which guarantee the clubs a place in the competition next year, are due to expire in a matter of weeks on October 31.
The parties have agreed on most issues but talks threatened to grind to a halt over whether the clubs should have consultation rights on negotiations between head office and the broadcasters.
The current broadcast agreements with the Nine Network and Foxtel run until the end of 2027 but the NRL is expected to kick off fresh talks over the next cycle in coming months as they look to secure a record deal.
The clubs didn’t necessarily want a seat at the table – they just wanted to know what was going on in discussions with the broadcasters.