‘The Quartet’: Four powerful players behind Nine’s toxic newsroom

They were branded “The Quartet” — four of Nine’s most high-profile operators who protected one another at all costs, allowing allegations of inappropriate behaviour to go unchecked for years

They were branded “The Quartet” — four of Nine’s most high-profile operators who would go into bat for, and protect, one another at all costs.

This week it was revealed that senior current and former Channel 9 employees have claimed that allegations regarding the network’s former news boss ­Darren Wick behaving inappropriately were not properly scrutinised and left unchecked for many years.

And those who ignored the claims of bad behaviour, which included allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards women, are known as “The Quartet” by many in the industry.

“There were four of them,” one insider said. “And they were as thick as thieves.

“Even if you knew of or experienced alleged bad behaviour, you would never report it because you weren’t going up against one, you were going head to head with four of them.

“And they all had power.”

Former Nine News chief Darren Wick. Picture: Supplied

The criticism of the toxic culture at Nine has prompted CEO Mike Sneesby to issue an e-mail to all staff this week reiterating that anyone who makes a complaint about a colleague “will not be damaging to your career”.

“It is important for everyone at Nine to know that we don’t tolerate inappropriate behaviour in the workplace and want to know if there is inappropriate behaviour occurring, so that it can be addressed promptly,” the email from Sneesby read.

“Making a complaint about inappropriate conduct will not be damaging to your career — if you feel that you have been victimised because you have made a complaint about an issue, you should raise that with the senior leaders of our business or with People and Culture.”

CEO Mike Sneesby (right, pictured with chairman Peter Costello) has told staff to report inappropriate behaviour in the workplace. Picture: James Brickwood

The email comes as Saturday Confidential can reveal that Wick was calling in to the newsroom for daily ratings updates and to be across operations as recently as last week and is still on the books – so being paid – until June.

He has also been seen in Nine’s offices as recently as the past few weeks.

Questions are also being asked about whether his replacement, respected journalist Fiona Dear, knew about allegations of Wick’s inappropriate behaviour. Dear – who is not in the quartet and is not accused of wrongdoing – worked very closely alongside Wick as his second in charge in recent years.

Many involved feel bad for Sneesby, who started long after many of these allegations took place.

Sneesby is a family man. He is a decent man, a very good businessman, very respectful and has taken everything that has come to light very personally,” a source said.

“He has taken it hard.

“But we are optimistic about the future because if anyone can turn the ship around, it’s Sneesby.

“He will fix it.”

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