Ch7 clean out claims another scalp as senior journo sent packing
Channel 7’s senior crime reporter Cameron Baud has been given his marching orders— with insiders saying that won’t be the only casualty at the network.
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Expect more salt to be rubbed into the wounds at Seven, with word the network’s new executives will again wield the axe.
Recently instated Melbourne director of news Chris Salter and network chief of news and current affairs Anthony De Ceglie are said to be looking at double-figure sackings in its Melbourne newsroom and production team and asking presenters to take salary cuts.
The calls about the new round of redundancies came flooding Page 13 revealed Channel 7 was cleaning house, with longtime Melbourne police reporter Cameron Baud the latest to be given marching orders.
While Seven said Baud was “not part of our plans for the future”, those within the newsroom say his sacking couldn’t have come soon enough, with many disappointed over the handling of a Seven investigation into an incident with a female colleague in the past.
The under siege network has been clearing the decks of late, with talk of an ABC Four Corners investigation by reporter Louise Milligan into the network’s “toxic culture” gaining pace.
Budget concerns and redundancies, with the arrival of Seven West Media boss Kerry Stokes’ lieutenant Anthony DeCeglie as the new head of the embattled newsroom are said to be behind the flurry of exits in the past couple of weeks.
But the stories behind the PR spin paint a different light, with Melbourne staff saying Baud’s past behaviour has been nothing short of “despicable”, questioning management’s choice to keep him on.
Baud, who has been with the network since 2010, was told by outgoing news director Shaun Menegola on Wednesday that his services were no longer required.
It’s understood the senior crime reporter left the network’s Dockland headquarters immediately.
Because journos and newshounds don’t whisper, they bark, Baud was unceremoniously given his marching orders while working on a news package mid-script for the upcoming bulletin.
It’s understood Baud’s past behaviour surfaced again after employees undertook a staff survey by the new CEO Jeff Howard.
There have long been whispers around newsrooms about an incident with a female colleague during a major Australian event.
How he continued amid his jealousy of his younger colleagues’ success and epic showdowns showed the culture within the newsroom.
When Page 13 called Baud on Friday, he said “the termination of my employment did not arise out of any allegation/s of misconduct”.
“I reserve my rights,” he added.
Baud’s sacking was one of Menegola’s final cuts before he leaves the newsroom on Friday. Page 13 last month revealed the news director abruptly told staff in an email he was departing the network to return home and spend more time with his family after joining the Melbourne newsroom in 2019, having moved from Perth.
Let’s just say a cohort of females at Seven News Melbourne weren’t crying their eyes out when Baud left on Wednesday.
Baud is the third high profile employee of the Seven newsroom to be quietly let go, with Seven launching an investigation earlier this week into allegations of “inappropriate behaviour” by veteran Sydney journalist Robert Ovadia.
A network spokesman confirmed Ovadia was on leave and said: “Seven is conducting an investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour by Robert Ovadia.”
In a statement Ovadia said he would defend the “malicious” allegations.
“Seven has told me no current or former colleague has made any complaint against me,” he stated.
“As far as I am aware, I have not been stood down by the company.
“Any suggestion I have behaved inappropriately at any time is false, malicious and will be defended.”
In a separate move, the network announced the departure of its Sydney newsroom chief of staff Andrew Frampton this week.
An email sent to staff last Friday described Frampton’s departure as “amicable” and thanked him for his many years of service.
“Andrew’s departure comes as we restructure into a digital first newsroom and it was entirely amicable and on good terms,” the email read.
“We wish him all the best in his next endeavour, which we’re sure he’ll excel at.”
Frampton is not accused of any misconduct, but Page 13 understands his name has been brought up with HR previously.
Back in Melbourne, veteran crime reporter Baud, nicknamed “The Harvester of Sorrow,” was known for butting heads in the newsroom, rubbing many of his colleagues up the wrong way.
It was his aggressive nature that scored him the high-paying gig at the Seven network.
Baud was recruited to the Seven stable after he strongarmed an overzealous fan at the Melbourne Grand Prix during a live cross for his Channel 10 employer in 2008, where he worked for nine years.
Working the crime beat as the senior reporter for thirteen years, Baud famously asked Borce Ristevski what we were all thinking in a press conference in 2019:
“Borce did you kill your wife?”
Baud copped a barrage of criticism for the upfront question, with Neil Mitchell tearing shreds off him on his then 3AW Mornings show, saying he overstepped the boundaries of decency and legitimate journalism.
Three years later Ristevski pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of his 47-year-old wife Karen and was jailed for nine years.
When questioned about Baud’s abrupt departure, a Seven spokesman told Page 13 he was not part of the network’s plans moving forward.
“We’re reviewing our reporting teams across the network. Cam has been a familiar face on our news bulletins, but was out of contract and not part of our plans for the future.”
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