Aug 10
The stoush between the ABC and Sky News has continued today after ABC news director Kate Torney slammed the subscription news channel for locking out access for the national broadcaster to The Daily Telegraph’s leaders’ forum at the Rooty Hill RSL tomorrow night.
Torney says that Sky have broken with tradition by refusing to supply the national broadcaster with a clean feed of the event.
“At all times, the ABC has put the public interest ahead of media politics in this campaign.
“At the request of other media organisations and the two major parties, we have provided these campaign events to all media outlets. Now it appears others have chosen not to play by these rules, and the Australian public will be disadvantaged.
“We believe that as many Australians as possible should have the chance to engage in events of national significance, not just the 30 percent of households who have access to subscription television.”
The Australian reports the ABC have previously provided a feed to other broadcasters as the host broadcaster of National Press Club debates and borne all costs and that the ABC have made an offer to Sky to cover production costs.
Sky News CEO Angelos Frangopoulos told the paper that the broadcaster would be making a feed available from 7pm, an hour into the forum, while The Daily Telegraph’s editor Gary Linnell has called the ABC’s claims preposterous saying that the paper had approached Sky News to be the live broadcaster and that a feed available to all media.
MediaSpy discussion: Australian Federal Election 2010 Coverage
bacco|007 August 10th 2010
Aug 09
The Sydney Morning Herald‘s columnist Miranda Devine will return to News Limited, after a nine-year stint at the Fairfax broadsheet.
The conservative writer left Sydney’s The Daily Telegraph to join the Herald in 2001, but told The Australian that she felt that now was the time to make her return. She will take a national role which will see twice-weekly columns printed in News Limited’s newspapers in Sydney, Melbourne and other locations.
“I told [the Herald's editor] Peter Fray this week, and although it was nice to be asked to stay, Fairfax is a small company,” she told The Australian.
“It’s basically the Herald, and Victoria, and radio, and News Limited was offering a bigger role. It wasn’t about money. The money isn’t what motivates me. I was impressed by Garry [Linnell, editor of The Daily Telegraph], that’s the truth. And I’d been at the Herald nine years, and it was time.”
Linnell described Devine as “one of the most widely-read and influential writers in the country”, saying that she would be “the latest addition to our powerful stable of opinion writers”.
Devine had reportedly been earning $240,000 per year in her role at the Herald.
Devine has been an at-times controversial columnist for the Herald, writing in 2009 that “the power of green ideology” was in large part to blame for the Victorian bushfires and that members of the green movement “should be hanging from lamp-posts”.
Media Spy discussion: News Limited
Cyril Washbrook August 9th 2010
Mar 22
The Australian has revealed that journalist, Adam Walters, will join Seven News next month as a general reporter.
In late 2008, Walters was “recovering from a short but bruising stint” as media direct to former NSW premier Morris Iemma.
He quit Nine News to assist with Iemma’s leadership, but was out of a job only 23 days later when the premier was dumped. Walters, the father of former health minister Reba Meagher’s child, became a reporter at The Daily Telegraph. He was hired by the editor and former Nine colleague, Garry Linnell.
The Seven Network‘s news and current affairs director, Peter Meakin, made him a $250,000 offer to take on Nine, which has seen a resurgence in its news ratings.
Media Spy discussion: Seven News
tjkirk March 22nd 2010
Nov 14
David Penberthy has resigned as editor of the Daily Telegraph in the midst of the paper’s campaign for the New South Wales Government to “sack itself”, ABC News is reporting.
After three years in the position, Mr Penberthy will be replaced by former Channel Nine news and current affairs editor Garry Linnell, who joined News Limited just over a year ago as the Daily Telegraph’s editor-at-large.
News Limited says Mr Penberthy will become the first editor of a new national online, print and television venture at News Limited.
His resignation comes in the week that the paper unleashed a vociferous campaign against the New South Wales Government and the state’s Premier Nathan Rees.
The front page of yesterday’s Telegraph screamed, “Just sack yourself Premier and call election”.
Its website encourages readers to sign a petition against the State Government, which it describes as a “deceitful, callous and irresponsible mob”.
Thousands of respondents to a poll on the website have overwhelmingly supported the call.
Mr Penberthy’s career began when he was hired as a reporter for Adelaide’s The Advertiser under then-editor Piers Akerman, who now writes columns for the Daily Telegraph.
Splashmo November 14th 2008
Aug 27
Long-time 60 Minutes executive producer John Westacott has been named the director of news and current affairs at the Nine Network.
“John is highly experienced in television and we are delighted he is taking up this key management role,” Nines executive director Jeffrey Browne said in a statement posted at NineMSN. “He is one of the most proven executive producers in news and current affairs in this country, and will provide strong, experienced leadership for this team.”
Westacott, who led 60 Minutes for more than 15 years, said he was looking forward to being a key part of a team that “is rebuilding Nine to its position of pre-eminence in commercial television”.
“Nine has a great pool of talented journalists, editors and crews, and I look forward to working with them to provide the best news and current affairs programs, particularly in this election year.”
Westacott’s extensive early experience in newspapers included a stint as assistant editor at The Australian. He moved to television in 1982, where he worked at the ABC and then several Nine programs. Westacott replaces outgoing news chief Garry Linnell, who resigned last week.
MediaSpy users are discussing Nine’s new appointment in the National Nine News thread.
Lepatron August 27th 2007
Aug 26
The Nine Network is under attack in reports from both News Limited and Fairfax newspaper groups today.
The reports come after Ray Martin‘s announcement that he is leaving the network after thirty years, the latest in a long line of high-profile departures in recent years including David Leckie, Peter Meakin, David Gyngell, Sandra Levy, Mia Freedman, John Lyons, Mark Llewellyn, Cos Cardone and Gary Fenton.
News.com.au is taking the angle that the recent ‘boning’ of high-profile staffers at the network have cost over $25 million – including payouts to former Sunday host Jana Wendt, Today co-host Jessica Rowe, newsreader Sharyn Ghidella and commentator Alan Jones.
Around $2.5 million alone has been spent on payouts to departing heads of news and current affairs, including a reported payout of $1 million to Garry Linnell who resigned last week.
The once-dominant Nine Network has been described by media commentators as “barely functioning” and “a basket case”.
The Fairfax report explores the issues surrounding senior management at the network including circumstances surrounding Eddie McGuire‘s step-down from the CEO position, and the management style of network chief Jeff Browne, a former AFL executive bought across to Nine by McGuire. Browne comes under attack for having little television experience and for summing up the network as being little more than “a bucket of contracts”.
Media analysts ponder if the new foreign owners of the network, CVC, have realised that they have “bought a dud” and feel disappointed that the network that they bought that once had a rosy future is now in chaos.
Full story: News.com.au, Fairfax
Nine Network logo: The Age
n1ck (Guest Reporter) August 26th 2007
Aug 25
The instability in the management of the Nine Network could see another name depart – Ray Martin.
The former kingpin of Nine’s current affairs coverage is reportedly disillusioned by the lack of leadership at the network and frustrated by stalled plans for a new program that had been agreed upon by former CEO Eddie McGuire. Martin’s contract with Nine, worth around $1.5 million a year, is due to expire at the end of the year.
If Martin departs the network, he follows a number of other high-profile exits from Nine including news directors Peter Meakin, Mark Llewellyn and, this week, Garry Linnell. Also to walk from Nine have been Sunday producer John Lyons and executives David Leckie and David Gyngell. Leckie and Meakin have since steered rival network Seven to a much stronger ratings position and to higher profits, both at the expense of Nine. Linnell’s resignation came only weeks after it was revealed that Nine executive director Jeff Browne had made an offer to Seven’s Sunrise producer Adam Boland to head Nine’s news division.
The departure of Linnell earlier this week sparked speculation that Sixty Minutes producer John Westacott would be elevated to the role of director of news and current affairs, though Nine staffers are fearful of this and some have suggested that Martin, 62, should put himself up for the position instead.
Other possibilities for the position of director of news and current affairs have included sports director Steve Crawley and Nine’s director of factual programming, John McAvoy.
Source: The Australian
n1ck (Guest Reporter) August 25th 2007
Aug 23
Director of the Nine Network‘s News and Current Affairs division Garry Linnell has resigned, citing he had no support from the within the company.
In a statement released by Nine, Linnell said he did not have hope to set out the goals he had in mind.
“It has become clear to me in recent weeks that I do not have the full support of the company,” he said.
“This has placed me in an untenable position.
“The news and current affairs culture at Nine is the strongest and most committed in the country, and I am proud to have had the opportunity to work alongside the best in the business.”
Linnell, who is an accomplished print journalist, was poached by then-Nine CEO Eddie McGuire and former PBL manager John Alexander.
There was much controversy when it was earlier reported Nine executives were head-hunting Seven‘s wonder director of Sunrise and The Morning Show Adam Boland to take over from Linnell.
Source: News.com.au
Media Spy users can discuss the revelation here.
bacco|007 August 23rd 2007
Aug 11
Seven‘s star producer Adam Boland claims he has a trail of text and phone messages that proves that Nine executive director Jeff Browne tried to poach him from his role at Seven to director of news and current affairs at Nine.
Boland’s friends, who have seen the messages, claim they leave no doubt that Browne tried to attract Boland to a role at Nine which has been hard to grasp at Seven. Boland, however, refuses to release them.
The messages allegedly include the following inducements from Browne:
“We are the only network offering you news and current affairs.
“As long as (news chief Peter) Meakin is at Seven, Seven can’t match our offer.”
Speculation is also rife that new Today show co-host Lisa Wilkinson – poached from Weekend Sunrise by Browne – also tried to lure Boland away from his successful role with Sunrise and The Morning Show. Wilkinson, however, claims to have nothing to do with it, but still maintains a friendship with Boland and Seven news chief Peter Meakin.
Garry Linnell, the current Nine news director, has stayed out of it so far, but it is alleged that Browne and Nine executives want a director with a rich history in television – Linnell was a former editor-in-chief of The Bulletin.
Boland’s contract with Seven is up for review in February and he has told Meakin and Seven boss David Leckie that he was interested in the Nine offer because of a lack of direction in his role at Seven.
Source: The Australian
Media Spy discussion: Nine Network Changes or the News & Current Affairs forum.
bacco|007 August 11th 2007
Aug 09
The Nine Network has reportedly offered Sunrise executive producer Adam Boland the position of director of news and current affairs.
Nine chief Jeff Browne has made the offer despite the position currently being occupied by Garry Linnell. Browne’s vision for the network, which has struggled to maintain its traditional lead over the Seven Network, includes a change in timeslot for National Nine News and a possible nightly news and entertainment-based role for former CEO Eddie McGuire who is currently on a $5 million salary with the network.Â
Browne was unavailable for comment but sources at Nine indicated that Boland has been offered a senior role though not the position currently occupied by Linnell who is still on contract to Nine for another year.
Boland has told Seven CEO David Leckie that he has not accepted any position at Nine though his contract with Seven expires next February and has indicated that he would seek to negotiate an increased role at the network on the back of his success with Sunrise and spin-off programs The Morning Show and Weekend Sunrise. All three programs are currently winning their respective timeslots ahead of traditional news leader Nine.
Full story: The AustralianÂ
n1ck (Guest Reporter) August 9th 2007
Jul 17
After four turbulent years running Nine’s Sunday program, journalist John Lyons is walking away from television to return to newspapers.
Lyons confirmed yesterday that he had resigned as executive producer of Sunday to join The Australian as a senior reporter. He said he felt comfortable leaving Sunday now because the program had broken a lot of stories this year and was rating well.
Nine’s director of news and current affairs Garry Linnell said a replacement would be announced shortly. He denied any threat to the program’s future.
Lyons told Sunday staff on Friday he had accepted a job as a senior reporter on The Australian, because his first love was reporting. A former editor of The Sydney Morning Herald and correspondent for The Bulletin, Lyons was Washington correspondent for The Australian before joining Fairfax.
The Spy Report July 17th 2007
Jul 01
Former Today Tonight presenter Naomi Robson is now out of a job after almost twenty years with the Seven Network.
The network has confirmed that Robson is now out of contract and is not seeking to renew the agreement, though according to Robson’s manager Mark Klemens negotiations are continuing with Seven.
Since resigning from her role as the presenter of the east coast version of Today Tonight at the end of 2006, Robson appeared as a contestant on Dancing With The Stars and taped a pilot for a new daytime talk show which was not picked up by Seven, citing their preference to proceed with Sydney-based The Morning Show which debuted last month.Â
Seven’s Simon Francis has denied suggestions that the daytime show for Robson was never intended to go into full production and was only offered to Robson as an incentive to appear on Dancing With The Stars.
Robson began at Seven in 1990 initially as a news reporter but was plucked from obscurity by Steve Vizard to read the news on his late night show Tonight Live. Robson went onto a greater profile with the news department including co-presenting Seven’s attempt at a national 5.00pm news bulletin in the mid-1990s. Robson then took over from Jill Singer as the presenter of the Melbourne-based Today Tonight which eventually expanded into Sydney and Brisbane.
As the host of the tabloid-themed Today Tonight, Robson became an easy target for controversy and managed to make headlines for all the wrong reasons including a leaked off-air recording filled with expletives, her ill-advised tribute to Steve Irwin and her involvement in the attempt to save West Papuan orphan Wa-wa from cannibals.
Garry Linnell, news director at the Nine Network, denies suggestions by Klemens that the network is interested to sign up the former Seven presenter.
Full story: news.com.au
MediaSpy Discussion: Naomi Robson
The Spy Report July 1st 2007
May 21
A tipster this afternoon has seen around seven PBL executives in the NBN offices, including Network News Director Garry Linnell.
The tipster says the changeover date from NBN to Channel Nine is “very soon.”
The Spy Report May 21st 2007
May 10
Nine has named Lisa Wilkinson as co-host of its embattled Today show.
A statement was issued this afternoon from Nine, confirming that Wilkinson will jump ship from Seven, where she presents Weekend Sunrise, to Nine.
It also ends a week of speculation fuelled by weekend reports about the sacking of former host Jessica Rowe, who reportedly walked away with a $1 million payout, which named Wilkinson as her likely successor.
Nine’s statement confirmed Wilkinson will start on Monday, May 28.
“Lisa is a proven on-air talent with a strong journalistic pedigree,” Nine news and current affairs director Gary Linnell, said.
“Her warmth, empathy and intelligence are ideally suited to a program like Today.
“We have exciting plans for the show and Lisa is the perfect addition to a team which has already taken enormous strides forward this year.”
Nine’s Today show has struggled to hold market share in the last three years, pushing into second place by Seven’s now dominant Sunrise program.
Wilkinson will be the fifth co-host Nine has tried with Karl Stefanovic -Â she follows Tracey Grimshaw, Sarah Murdoch, Kellie Connolly and Jessica Rowe.
Wilkinson described breakfast television as “one of the hottest timeslots on TV”.
She said Nine’s offer, to present a show five days a week instead of one, was “ultimately, impossible to refuse”.
“This wasn’t a decision I took on my own, though,” she said. “With three young children, and a husband [journalist and broadcaster Peter FitzSimons] doing breakfast radio, it was a decision for the whole family.”But it made sense. And while I know the 3.30am starts won’t be easy, at least we will all be working to the same early-to-bed body clocks.”
Wilkinson handed her resignation to Seven this afternoon, following a lunch with Linnell.
Seven’s director of news and public affairs, Peter Meakin, said there were no hard feelings.
“We’re sorry that Lisa has decided to leave,” he said.
“We would like to thank her for everything she’s done for us.”
Seven is expected to confirm a replacement for Wilkinson in the next few days.
The Spy Report May 10th 2007
Channel Nine is believed to be in the final stages of negotiations with Lisa Wilkinson, who currently co-hosts Weekend Sunrise, to move channels and replace Jessica Rowe on Nine’s Today.
The breakfast television host game of musical chairs is expected to come to a head either this afternoon or tomorrow when it is expected Wilkinson will be announced as the official new presenter to host alongside Karl Stefanovic.
2UE reported that Wilkinson was seen at lunch with Nine’s head of News and Current Affairs Gary Linnell.
The Spy Report also understands that Stefanovic, whilst unhappy with the apparent signing, also posed happily with Wilkinson for photographs at the Logie Awards on Sunday night.
The Spy Report May 10th 2007
