Nine's new boss blasted over slur
CHANNEL Nine's news boss has been labelled "chauvinistic" as reporter Christine Spiteri mounted legal action after being dumped while on maternity leave.
CHANNEL Nine's news boss was yesterday under siege, labelled "racist and chauvinistic" as one of his senior reporters Christine Spiteri mounted a legal case after being dumped from the network while on maternity leave.
Telling Spiteri her contract would not be renewed, then saying that "with a surname like Spiteri you should try SBS" news chief John Westacott is alleged to have told journalists at an industry function in September the newsroom was "no place for women".
Nine sources said the stories were nothing but "mischief-making" by Spiteri who was "bitter to the core" after being denied her dream role in the news presenter's chair.
But insiders said Nine network chief David Gyngell blasted his own news boss, saying Westacott's comments to Spiteri were "not the f...ing smartest thing he has ever said".
Spiteri, the network's Los Angeles correspondent is due to return to Nine when her year's maternity leave ends in January. It is understood she has been offered either her former LA role or a role in the Sydney newsroom until her contract expires in March.
While Gyngell is believed to have blasted Westacott over his SBS comment, he backed the decision to terminate Spiteri's contract.
"Gyngell is trying to put an end to all this business of people negotiating their contracts through fear - he's drawing a line in the sand," the source said.
Hiring the same lawyer who acted for former Nine news chief Mark Llewellyn - the man who penned the infamous affidavit in which then-CEO Eddie McGuire talked of "boning" Jessica Rowe - Spiteri is said to be furious that she again has been passed over.
"Christine would like to have a career at Channel 9. She's been there for 13 years and it's where she sees her future," a source close to the 40-year-old first-time mother said.
It is understood the way in which Nine management allegedly "sabotaged" Spiteri's Los Angeles posting to make way for Gyngell's wife Leila McKinnon will be part of Spiteri's legal argument.
Nine claims Spiteri cut short her LA posting to return to Sydney with husband Matt, a model, to give birth to son Ethan in March.
Spiteri refused to comment yesterday. Her lawyer John Laxon said he would be "communicating with Channel 9".