60 Minutes kidnap charges: Nine’s despair at TV crew’s ordeal
Head of News Darren Wick, pictured, is in Lebanon is meeting with the authorities in a desperate bid to secure the freedom of the TV crew currently languishing in a Beirut jail. At home, the CEO met with the journalists’ worried families.
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SINCE when is Channel 9 in the business of child stealing? Is that what we do now?”
The explosive question set the tone of a desperate and angry meeting held in Channel 9’s Willoughby boardroom on Wednesday as families of the four 60 Minutes staffers now in jail in Lebanon met with the newly installed Nine chief executive Hugh Marks.
The question to Mr Marks came from the distraught wife of one of the four incarcerated 60 Minutes crew members.
The response that the anxious families of reporter Tara Brown, producer Stephen Rice, cameraman Ben Williamson and sound recordist David “Tangles” Ballment received failed to calm some of the distressed family members, a Nine source said after the meeting.
Mr Marks invited the families to join him in Nine’s boardroom so he could address concerns — both personal and legal — relating to the 60 Minutes staff who are facing charges after being dispatched to Lebanon to cover a story that was expected to reunite Brisbane mother Sally Faulkner with her two young children, Lahela and Noah.
Insiders yesterday said there was a distinct lack of information coming from Nine during the meeting.
“Nine management is out of their depth,” said one after the meeting. “They have never encountered anything like this before.”
Another source said the meeting had been frank and open, and that everyone in the room was worried, anxious and concerned.
he wives of the three men and Brown’s husband, TV producer John McAvoy, are keeping a vigil for their loved ones, hoping for any word that their nightmare ordeal may soon be over.
With all four 60 Minutes crew members facing possible sentences of between three and 20 years, if convicted on charges of kidnapping and disrespect for Lebanese authorities, Nine executives are trying to calm their frightened families.
Sources say management is also trying to prevent them from taking matters into their own hands or taking legal action against Nine.
Mr Marks has written to network staff confirming that senior management had not yet started its internal investigation of the bungled child recovery attempt in Beirut.
In a company-wide memo seen by The Daily Telegraph, Mr Marks said: “I know there are lots of questions about how this happened. Questions we will get to the bottom of when everyone gets back. It is essential that we do whatever we can to help facilitate our crew’s fastest possible return to Australia.
“Wickie (Nine’s head of news Darren Wick, who is in Beirut) has had numerous meetings with a wide range of senior government and legal officials and our presence there is being well received.
“We are highly respectful of the Lebanese legal process and this is well understood and appreciated over there.
“We think it is encouraging that the judge has directed the parents of the two children to reach a mediated agreement on custody.
“It demonstrates sound logic and a rational approach to what has been an intractable issue for that family.
“I know it’s a testing and frustrating time for us all, especially for those who are close to the 60 crew, colleagues and friends.
“My priority is to get our crew home and every decision is being made through that prism, while providing whatever support we can give to those who are impacted by these events.”
Mr Marks indicated he would hold regular meetings with the families “to keep them up to date”.
The story of Ms Faulkner’s plight was originally offered to A Current Affair last year, colleagues of the 60 Minutes crew told The Telegraph.
After being rejected as being “too tricky” for A Current Affair, which has a smaller programming budget than 60 Minutes, the story brief was forwarded to the executive producer of 60 Minutes.
Insiders maintain Nine executive Tom Malone was acting in the role at the time. On February 6 he was appointed Nine’s new Director of Sport and the 60 Minutes top job was filled by the program’s then chief of staff Kirsty Thomson.
The job of telling Ms Faulkner’s story then went to veteran producer Stephen Rice, a former executive producer of A Current Affair who is famous at Nine for his love of a thrilling yarn and a chase. Tara Brown was assigned as reporter.
Nine insiders maintain that with money in short supply at Nine, the most senior heads of television — including the CEO — would have been required to sign off on any funds invested in the story.
Mr Marks said Mr Wick had seen the team in Beirut. “He has had regular but brief visits with Tara, Stephen, Ben and Tangles,” he said.
“They are in good health, generally good spirits and being well treated by local officials.
“Our fixer on the ground is doing a great job and we have organised food, books and other comforts and necessities.”
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