Stan Grant quits Monash University media integrity role

Just six months after former ABC Q+A host Stan Grant quit the taxpayer-funded broadcaster and signed on to spearhead Monash University’s centre devoted to media integrity, he has quit.

When Diary made inquiries to Monash last week the front office seemed a tad confused about Grant’s status at the university, and hours later sent a formal statement spelling out that Grant had since packed his bags and was no longer at the institution.

The dean of Monash University’s Faculty of Arts, Katie Stevenson, said in a statement: “Stan Grant has made the difficult decision to step down from his role at the Constructive Institute Asia Pacific in the Faculty of Arts, which is a mission he remains passionately committed to.

“He will now focus on himself, his family and explore ways to support his community on ­country.

“Stan Grant remains deeply supportive of the Constructive Institute Asia Pacific.”

Grant, a Wiradjuri, Gurrawin and Dharawal man, was appointed the Institute’s inaugural director of its Asia Pacific operations in August.

Former ABC presenter Stan Grant has quit his role at Monash University’s Constructive Institute.

His sudden exit comes after he had undertaken serious preparation for the role.

Last year he flew to Denmark for six weeks to work at the Denmark-based Institute.

He was also being heavily promoted for the Constructive Institute launch, titled “Dis­information and democracy: Why we need to fix the news”.

But Diary has learned that event was cancelled just two weeks before it was set to be take place.

Led by The Wheeler Centre, the launch was to be held on February 20, starring Grant, ABC TV host Jan Fran, who describes herself as a “journalis … ish” and the Denmark’s Constructive Institute’s chief executive, Ulrik Haagerup.

The Constructive Institute is now in a spot of bother with its launch on hold.

It is understood that the hunt to find a replacement for Grant is under way.

Plot thickens as Nine boss Darren Wick’s disappearance extends

The extended absence of Nine’s long-serving news and current affairs boss Darren Wick is continuing to generate speculation, puzzlement, conspiracies and concern among staff.

After Diary last week highlighted Wick’s unexplained, weeks-long absence from Nine’s North Sydney headquarters, the plot has thickened in recent days as staff have noticed the veteran newsman’s absence from another one of his other favourite domains – social media. Multiple sources contacted Diary to divulge that Wick had recently gone on an online freshen-up, removing all traces of his numerous posts shared via his Instagram account, @wickied9.

Wick is known to share the odd pic or two, particularly from scenic locations.

But for now he does not have a single post available online for any of his 600-odd followers to enjoy.

His Instagram account is heavy with his fellow Nine heavyweights following him – 2GB host Ben Fordham, former A Current Affair presenter Tracy Grimshaw, Today Show presenters Karl Stefanovic, Sarah Abo and Brooke Boney, and Europe correspondent Brett McLeod.

Wick doesn’t mind the odd follow himself, having notched up more than 900 accounts to keep an eye on.

Perhaps he’ll just keep his ­account active to keep an eye on what’s going on in the world of­ ­social media, without divulging anything about his current whereabouts.

Some Nine staff have told Diary that they are surprised ‘‘Wickie’’ is absent smack bang in the middle of TV ratings season – especially in the critical first ­quarter of the year, which often sets the platform for the year ahead.

Surely the TV ratings are front of mind for any news boss right now?

Looking back at the past seven days of ratings, rival Seven, led by news boss Craig McPherson, won every night with a bigger total TV national audience.

Diary contacted Nine on Sunday to try and put an end to the mystery, but the network’s spokeswoman refused to comment.

Wick himself didn’t return our calls either.

Macca’s migration stance investigated

Legendary ABC radio presenter Ian ‘Macca’ McNamara’s program is an institution but his colourful commentary of late has drawn the attention of the public broadcaster’s ombudsman.

Macca’s hot takes on rising immigration numbers, and his attack on a random punter who was out on Sydney Harbour on Australia Day, obviously rubbed some ABC listeners up the wrong way.

On February 18, ‘‘Heather’’ rang Macca’s Sunday morning show Australia All Over to discuss the plan by the NSW government, led by Premier Chris Minns, to increase housing density around transport hubs in Sydney to help alleviate the housing crisis.

Interesting issue, to be sure. And McNamara decided to grab the ball and run with it.

“The other thing I’d say, Heather, about all of this, is if you invite 600,000 people into Australia, it’s just a no-brainer that you’re going to have problems with housing,” Macca mused.

Seamlessly shifting to the issue of immigration, Macca gathered speed. “I mean why don’t they say, well look, let’s cut back on the number of people coming and let’s fix up the problems we’ve got now.”

Macca then suggested to Heather that Australia has “too many people”.

Of course, Macca is entitled to his opinion, and according to ABS statistics, Australia recorded an overseas migration net gain of 518,000 in 2022-23.

But were Macca’s comments a breach of the ABC’s editorial ­standards?

After a complaint was made to the ABC it asked ombudsman Fiona Cameron to investigate.

In her findings, Cameron said many listeners would “reasonably expect ‘Macca’ to respond to and express his views on some of the issues raised by callers”.

She found Macca’s comments did not breach editorial standards but added that the ABC management has discussed the matter with him and his Australia All Over team.

Interestingly, the matter doesn’t fall into the news and current affairs category, which is headed by news boss Justin ­Stevens.

But that wasn’t the only Macca matter that has come across Cameron’s desk of late.

The ABC also received 10 complaints about his comments on his January 28 show, where he discussed Australia Day and recounted how he called out someone who referred to Australia Day as ‘‘Invasion Day’’.

Macca was lapping up the Australia Day celebrations on Sydney Harbour when he was left unimpressed by remarks made by a fellow bystander.

“Bloke came up to me, I didn’t know him, he didn’t know me … and he said, ‘It’s interesting to think about Invasion Day’, and I stopped him right there and said ‘Mate, it might be Invasion Day to you but it’s Australia Day to me’.”

So did these comments breach editorials standards?

Short answer: No.

Cameron said Macca was merely “presenting a position that acknowledged that while many views exist, being united is better than being in opposition of each other.”

So, in 2024 at least, it’s Macca 2, Wowsers 0.

And Macca’s program, Australia All Over, which has been on air since 1985, lives to fight another day.

Narelda targets cops

Channel 10 newsreader Narelda Jacobs has made it very clear she’s not the least bit concerned about her ability to maintain impartiality or objectivity while holding down the job of delivering the network’s daytime news bulletins.

Most newsreaders in the country are known for keeping their opinions to themselves, with the job of reading the news often coming with the requirement to keep well and truly out of debates.

But not so for Jacobs, a Noongar woman who just two months ago was appointed to host Ten’s new 3.30pm national news bulletin, 10 News First: Afternoon.

Channel 10 newsreader Narelda Jacobs reading the 10 News First bulletin.

Diary has been informed that Jacobs has been ruffling feathers inside the walls at Ten with her recent outspoken Instagram posts and ongoing criticism of the NSW police after the alleged murders of former Studio 10 reporter Jesse Baird and his partner Luke Davies by Sydney policeman Beau Lamarre-Condon.

Jacobs shared a recent post asking her 48,000 Instagram followers: “Should police march in Mardi Gras?”

Then she laid out five reasons why the deaths of the two men, including her former colleague, Baird, “is more than the isolated actions of one man in a crime of passion – a description many ­reject.” According to Jacobs, it’s a “systemic failure of police” on a range of issues, including psych testing and firearm procedures.

Jacobs also cited the force’s “refusal to respect many in the LGBTQIA+ community by self-excluding in the Mardi Gras ­parade.”

In another post on February 28, Jacobs again wrote of her disdain for NSW police and their decision on whether or not they should march at Mardi Gras.

“The queer community doesn’t have to prove police are worthy of inclusion.

“Police have to prove it themselves,” she wrote.

“Organisations have to show they are inclusive, safe spaces before they can march under the rainbow.

“Whether marching in uniform or not, the onus is on NSW Police to demonstrate their remorse, deep reflection and systemic change so we can all feel included in their protection and community service.”

Diary asked Ten if Jacobs’s social media comments were appropriate given she’s a newsreader. But the spokeswoman wouldn’t comment.

Diary also tried to contact Jacobs on Sunday, who was at Daylesford’s Chillout Festival, Australia’s regional LGBTQIA+ annual pride event, but she didn’t respond.

It is a challenge to find any other newsreader in the country who spouts their views.

Have the likes of Nine’s Peter Overton and Peter Hitchener, or Seven’s Mark Ferguson and Peter Mitchell, or Ten’s Jennifer Keyte ever been caught out publicly sharing their personal viewpoints on rolling news stories?  

Jacobs has been on leave and is due to return to her news-presenting gigs for 10 News First Midday and 10 News First Afternoons this week.

Jacobs has previously courted strife due to her activism.

On the day of the voice referendum she uploaded a selfie on Instagram wearing a T-shirt supporting a Yes vote that read: “We support the Uluru Statement from the Heart”.

She was also part of the controversial SBS coverage on the night of the voice vote where she described Yes advocate Professor Marcia Langton as a “national treasure” before accusing No campaigner, Indigenous businessman Warren Mundine, of attacking the academic, telling viewers: “I think, well, we’ve just seen who Warren Mundine is.”

SBS ombudsman Amy Stockwell later found the broadcast “unduly favoured” Prof Langton.

Lattouf’s plea

Hardly a week passes by without fill-in ABC radio presenter Antoinette Lattouf having a swipe about her treatment by the ABC, as the taxpayer-funded broadcaster battles it out with her at the Fair Work Commission over claims she was unlawfully terminated due to her social media ­conduct.

The sacked ABC Sydney radio host decided to take to X over the weekend to give her own blow-by-by take on what’s unfolded so far at the FWC hearing, seeming to not give two hoots about whether it’s a good idea to weigh in on the proceedings via the online cesspit that X is.

To give a quick wrap, on December 19 Lattouf shared a Human Rights Watch post on social media about the war that read: “The Israeli government is using starvation of civilians as a weapon of war in Gaza.”

ABC fill-in presenter Antoinette Lattouf who was presenting ABC Sydney's mornings show for one week in December 2023. Picture: Instagram.

She was taken off air the next day, before she could complete the remaining two shifts of her one week stint.

According to Lattouf on the weekend, she said on X she was “NOT given directive to post on socials” and that at the hearing there was “evidence (ABC managing director) David Anderson WAS involved in my sacking”.

And it didn’t stop there – she also claimed that at Fair Work, “Managers UNABLE (to) explain supposed policy breach” and even said “ABC Comms fed my sacking to The Oz.”

But one of Lattouf’s followers decided to hit back at her online wrap of the Fair Work hearing – none other than former 3AW broadcaster Neil Mitchell – who just happens to know a few things about media law and ethics.

“Is it really appropriate to be publicly analysing and reporting your own case?” he asked.

Lattouf, however, doubled down.

“Why shouldn’t I? These are all said and revealed in an open court. It’s my reputation that lobbyists and some ABC managers have sought to destroy,” she posted in response to Mitchell.

She also said there’s “no jury”, so she’s fine to say what she wants.

Is it really appropriate to be publicly analyzing and reporting your own case ?

— Neil Mitchell (@3AWNeilMitchell) March 9, 2024

Lattouf also took another swing at recently departed ABC chair Ita Buttrose.

Lattouf posted that Buttrose said in January: “It is abhorrent and incorrect that people would suggest that he (Anderson) has shown a lack of support for ­independent journalism and ­journalists.”

Lattouf then asked: “Well if I didn’t break a policy or fail to listen to a directive – why did the ABC do this?”

Lattouf has been working with Maurice Blackburn’s national head of employment Josh Bornstein on the legal showdown.

She decided to yet again put the begging bowl out on the weekend, asking for more donations to help pay her legal bills.

Lattouf has repeatedly been updating her donation target on her GoFundMe page and at last check she’s hoping to raise a whopping $180,000.

As of Sunday night she had raised $105,000.

Surely Maurice Blackburn can’t be too pleased Lattouf keeps putting frequent call-outs for donations?

When Diary asked a representative from the legal firm about it, and whether she should be commenting on her own case, we were swiftly told: “No comment.”

The hearing continues on Monday.

Nick Tabakoff is on leave