Seven network questions ahead of face-off

Seven West executives held crisis talks on Wednesday ahead of the media company’s Federal Court showdown with ex-Spotlight producer Taylor Auerbach.

Former Spotlight producer Taylor Auerbach. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Seven West executives held crisis talks on Wednesday ahead of the media company’s Federal Court showdown with ex-Spotlight producer Taylor Auerbach, who has alleged in an affidavit filed with the court that the network committed numerous improprieties before and after it aired its exclusive sit-down interview with accused ­rapist Bruce Lehrmann last June.

The Australian has been told that internally at Seven, including at management level, people are asking questions about who knew what in relation to the events that took place in the lead-up to ­Spotlight securing their interview with Mr Lehrmann, which was seen as a huge victory for the ­network’s current affairs division over its commercial rivals.

Seven’s director of news Craig McPherson, who is not named in the affidavit or accused of any wrongdoing, and Spotlight executive producer Mark Llewellyn were involved in the crisis talks which were held on floors above the newsrooms on Wednesday.

“The Spotlight area is a ghost town today,” a newsroom insider told The Australian.

Well-placed sources within Seven said that if it emerged that staff at Spotlight – the station’s flagship current affairs program – engaged in misconduct relating to evidence in a legal matter, or knowingly approved illegitimate work expenses, the future of the show could be in doubt.

“The show would be in serious shit if this stuff turns out to be true,” one source said.

“It might still be salvageable, but if Kerry (Stokes) decides enough is enough, and that the damage to Seven’s reputation from all this stuff is too much, then it could be all over for Spotlight.”

But another source said Seven executives were firmly behind Llewellyn and his team, ­arguing that the Lehrmann interview show “was an excellent piece of journalism”.

“And it was properly put together,” the insider said, referencing the untested allegations made by Auerbach. “What will come out in court is that we complied with the subpoenas at all times.”

Seven West Media is controlled by billionaire tycoon Kerry Stokes. His spokesman declined to comment specifically on the matter on Wednesday, other than to say it is “a matter for Seven management”.

A Seven spokesman said: “The matter is before the court and therefore we are not commenting.”

Seven also has been dealing with issues relating to cutting costs to its news budgets, and falling TV ratings.

It is understood that excessive expenditure by the Spotlight show has been a concern at board level for some time.