‘Bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment’: Nine’s bombshell report

An independent report into a toxic culture at Nine has recommended 22 changes. The report, which was handed down on Thursday, found “a systemic issue with abuse of power and authority”.

An independent report into culture at media company Nine Entertainment found a “a systemic issue with abuse of power and authority: bullying, discrimination: and sexual harassment”.

The review, conducted by Intersection, has made 22 recommendations, covering foundational to intermediate and advanced changes required to reset culture at Nine.

Nine Entertainment is owner of a number of large media businesses including Channel 9, 2GB radio and the Sydney Morning Herald.

The review included interviews with current and past employees with some 5000 staff notified of the findings today.

It also included a company-wide survey.

“Driving these behaviours is a lack of leadership accountability; power imbalances; gender inequality and a lack of diversity; and significant distrust in leaders at all levels of the business,” a statement from Nine on the report read.

Nine Entertainment chief executive officer Mike Sneesby, chief finance and strategy officer Matt Stanton and chief sales officer Michael Stephenson delivering the company's annual results on Wednesday, August 28, 2024. Source: Channel 9

Nine’s board has committed to implementing all 22 recommendations with an action plan requested from management next month.

The report is 80 pages and features numerous first-hand accounts from anonymised staff, past and present.

“The act of bullying is to intentionally cause emotional harm and that’s what (this manager) has done to dozens of employees,” one respondent is quoted as saying.

“They intentionally and repeatedly belittle individuals, who are always below (them) in the workplace structure, until they can’t take it anymore. This is a clear abuse of power.”

Speaking to sexual harassment, another said: “His comments about my body were constant … He made me feel like I was just a piece of meat to be ogled at … and that he was the credible one just because he was the older man … Over time, this eroded my confidence … It just chipped away at it.”

An all-staff meeting was called for 3pm, at which questions were encouraged.

The Daily Telegraph understands the meeting was ‘heated’ with the leadership team from the Today breakfast show and 60 Minutes among those grilling the senior executive.

Additionally, another respondent commented that the culture “destroyed me” as a human while another spoke of women being objectified.

“While we like to believe that the #MeToo movement improved working conditions for women, the Nine newsroom reeked of a man’s locker room,” they said.

“I had regularly overheard men … boisterously joke about sexual assault … and objectify women in general … I knew it was a ‘man’s place’.

More than 1000 staff are understood to have taken part in the survey.

“Today is an incredibly difficult day for Nine as we confront these findings and reflect on serious cultural issues as an organisation,” Nine Chair Catherine West said.

“The behaviour outlined in the report is unacceptable. Abuse of power, bullying, sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct is not okay. This behaviour has no place at Nine.

“We acknowledge that too many of our past and present employees have been harmed by poor workplace culture, the prevalence of inappropriate workplace behaviours, and an inadequate response in the past from Nine to those behaviours.

Mike Sneesby, former Nine Entertainment Chief Executive Officer announced his departure in September. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“To any individual who has experienced inappropriate conduct that does not meet the values of Nine, we are deeply sorry. On behalf of the Board, I unreservedly apologise.

“The strength and courage these individuals have shown in sharing their stories as part of this process will allow us to move forward as an organisation with a clear understanding of where we went wrong and their insights will help strengthen Nine’s culture for the better. For that, we thank them.

“Despite the proactive culture change agenda already underway, the reality is much more needs to be done and a cultural reset is required. Nine’s Board and leadership team are united in their commitment to accelerating and driving the required change.”

News of the reports imminent release comes just days after The Daily Telegraph revealed that Nine Entertainment made its director of communications and public relations Victoria Buchan, redundant as the broader industry faces pressure to cut costs.

It has been previously reported that Ms Buchan’s departure was not linked with the findings of the cultural review.

The long-awaited report into broader culture issues at Nine Entertainment was shared Thursday. Pictured is an email to employees.

The investigation was launched after shock allegations were made against Nine’s former news boss Darren Wick, with several woman coming forward to claim he had sexually harassed them and was part of a toxic culture in the newsroom.

In September, then beleaguered chief executive Mike Sneesby announced his departure from the business over ongoing allegations of toxic culture within the media organisation.

Acting Chief Executive Officer Matt Stanton said: “The Intersection report makes for hard reading for the many people who love working for Nine and all that we stand for. It was personally distressing for me to read these stories from our people. The behaviour experienced by many of our people right across the business is not acceptable in any workplace and falls well below what our people should expect in the work environment.

“While it is important that today all of us at Nine take a moment to reflect, we also move forward with a resolve to do better. We have a responsibility to our people to create a safe and respectful work environment to ensure they can perform at their best. Our people deserve nothing less.”

Intersection Principal Natasha de Silva said the review had been the most comprehensive of its kind of the Australian media sector.

“While our review contains sobering findings, the strong survey participation rate is an indication of the willingness of the Nine workforce to be part of the cultural change,” Ms de Silva said.

“The recommendations made by the review are intended to build a safe, respectful and inclusive culture at Nine into the future. I am encouraged by the Board and management’s commitment to transparency demonstrated by releasing the review report in full as well as their commitment to implementing the recommendations.”

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