Seven’s newsroom, reporters embroiled in drama as tensions reach boiling point
Tensions have boiled over at Channel Seven, with emails sent to female reporters over their “backstabbing”, encouraging them to spend more time on stories not “gossiping or online shopping”. But one journalist fired back with a doozy. READ THE LEAKED EMAILS.
Page 13
Don't miss out on the headlines from Page 13. Followed categories will be added to My News.
We all know it’s a dog-eat-dog world. Not that we are er, calling anyone a bitch. They’ve done that for us.
But wowza! Toxic is to underplay what’s been going on at Melbourne’s Seven News.
Think Frontline on steroids.
THE UNEXPECTED GUEST AT FEV’S SNIP
Hungry byline chasers, gallows humour, getting scooped and trying to take someone’s round are all part of the fabric that makes up an ambitious, vibrant newsroom.
A newsroom’s top brass thrives on it, thinking that throwing everyone into the shark tank — with only the fittest coming up gasping for air — will get the best out of everyone.
But every so often, the tension inside a newsroom reaches boiling point. No media platform does dirty politics for better or worse than TV.
The emails start leaking out and Page 13 has seen some doozies coming out of Network Seven headquarters.
A series of emails to female reporters including Emily Angwin, Sharnelle Vella, Melina Sarris, Jodi Lee, Teegan Dolling, Cassie Zervos, Jacqueline Felgate and Estelle Griepink from fed-up Channel 7 executive news producer Lynne Scrivens washed up on the Page 13 beach head this week.
The emails, and Page 13 is not suggesting they are warranted, were sent late last year following Seven News director Simon Pristel’s resignation to go to the dark side of public relations and crisis management and new news director Shaun Menegola coming over from Perth.
One was titled “Year of the Woman — please read”. It just doesn’t seem fair not to share.
“2018 has without doubt been the Year of the Woman,” it begins.
“Around the world, women are standing up for themselves, being taken seriously, getting more opportunities.
“Yet, here in the 7 newsroom, it seems we are still a bit behind the times. The bitching and backstabbing … I’m so done with it.
“All of us, I’m sure have been guilty of having a bitch about a colleague. Enough already, let’s start supporting each other, as women in an industry dominated by men.
“And I can tell you who else won’t tolerate whingers, our new news director Shaun. From all accounts, he’s someone who will embrace hard workers with great attitudes.
“People who spend spare time at work looking for stories, not gossiping or online shopping, will do well in 2019.”
This last par and reference to “online shopping” went down like a lead balloon and seemed out of synch with the whole “I am Woman” culture.
Scrivens punched out another email, this one titled, “The Late News”. This went to reporters, male and female.
Nor did it hold back: “Reporters will be rostered on 2pm-11pm for the late news shifts over the next couple of months.
“My mind is blown by the apathy coming from so many journalists … I just cannot believe the negative attitude so many of you have. Obviously few of you actually want to get anywhere in the game?”
Reporter Emily Angwin fired back a doozy. “I find your email incredibly inappropriate,” Angwin wrote.
“You demanding journalists work beyond what are ‘reasonable’ hours for no extra money.
“We have families, partners, children, pets. No one is afraid to work hard here, but to take away our evenings with our loved ones, without even a discussion with us, is upsetting.
“We all know network opportunities aren’t based on hard work, they’re based on favouritism.
“We have a hard working, talented group of staff at 7 who are feeling increasingly devalued. I don’t think that’s how to get the best out of a team.”
Fighting words.
“Everyone wants to be Brooke Vandenberg,” commented one network insider of the toxic culture at Seven’s newsroom, referring to the amoral Frontline TV reporter played by Jane Kennedy, who played the cat’s-bottom pouting princess with aplomb.
“It’s been mental,” said another. “Mean Girls is putting it mildly.”
AMBER SHERLOCK ‘JACKETGATE’ PART 2?
‘I WAS MORTIFIED’: SHERLOCK SPEAKS
Stories of squabbling reporters treading a well-worn track to human resources have been circulating out of Seven.
Two reporters were even given an inter-office IVO of sorts. We hear HR deemed the best way forward for the warring staffers was to create a demilitarisation zone.
The female reporters were not to be in each other’s presence while working. Someone even suggested a 10m exclusion zone in answer to Page 13 inquiries.
With Menegola now in the news director’s chair, backchat doesn’t cut it.
One reporter questioning being asked to cover a story was told, “You will, because I told you to.”
On Friday night, a Seven newsroom insider said: “Times have changed, we are a passionate team that works under pressure and sometimes things boil over, but that’s not much different to any other team.
“In 2019, our energy’s going into producing great news bulletins for Melbourne, when we do that, everyone is happy.”
It’s a dog-eat-dog world with more bitchy bites than inflicted by Brooke Vandenberg. Watch this space.
Buddhist Brett Sutton’s calm response to wild rumour
Brett Sutton met rumours of his sacking with a gag and continues to win fans (and hearts) with his silver fox looks and calming presence at the grim daily press conferences. So how does a man with such a tough job stay so smooth? Put it down to his Buddhist training.
Silver fox Brett Sutton the silver lining in COVID stress
Brett Sutton has emerged as an unlikely sex symbol during the dreaded COVID-19 presser and sobering numbers game each day, with online fan groups describing him as ‘Chief Swoon Officer’ and ‘Dr Brett McHunk’. Take that, McDreamy.