Mumbrella staff resign, others warned over drug-fuelled Christmas afterparty

In an extraordinary move, media news company Mumbrella has published details of a drug-fuelled Christmas party which resulted in two staff members resigning.

Two staff have resigned and others received warnings after attending a drug fuelled Christmas party for media and marketing news business, Mumbrella.

David Longman, boss of Diversified Communications, owner of Mumbrella, took the extraordinary move of making the news public rather than have “kept it behind closed doors”.

The party was held in North Sydney on December 9, after which “a small group of Mumbrella staff” went back to the company’s Walker Street office “to continue in an unofficial capacity”.

“During this time, illicit drugs were purchased, distributed and consumed by a number of the staff there,” Longman wrote in a statement on the Mumbrella website. “The staff ranged from junior to more senior staff.”

Media and advertising news website Mumbrella published details of their staff’s illicit drug use on their own website in the name of “transparency”.

Mr Longman stated the incident was reported days later and a HR investigation followed.

“It is not enough to simply investigate. Action must be taken, and that action must result in long-term benefits for the business and its staff,” he wrote. “Unfortunately, as a result of the investigation, two Mumbrella staff have resigned and a number of others have been warned. Furthermore, staff involved will be undertaking a drug awareness and education program which I believe will provide long-term benefits.”

David Longman is the managing director of Diversified Communications, which owns Mumbrella.

Diversified Communications bought Mumbrella four years ago for a reported $8 million. It is a media and marketing news website that was founded by Tim Burrowes in 2008 and provides breaking news and broader commentary on the industry, as well as hosting events for the sector.

“Mumbrella’s editorial team writes about the good and bad of the industry, including issues with substance abuse,” Longman said. “Even when it is uncomfortable, Mumbrella and Diversified Communications must hold itself to the same standards it asks of the rest of the industry.”

“We have chosen to disclose the incident as it is important that we are transparent with our audience about what has occurred, it would be easier for those involved to have kept it behind closed doors, however as Mumbrella has done throughout its time, we have owned our mistakes. It’s this transparency which has allowed Mumbrella to build the trust and reputation it has in the industry.”

Originally published as Mumbrella staff resign, others warned over drug-fuelled Christmas afterparty