Nine Entertainment is the latest media organisation to be on the receiving end of a public and excoriating lashing. Earlier this month, an independent review concluded that systemic racism existed within the ABC. Three weeks on, a separate third-party review has found ‘concerning levels of inappropriate workplace behaviours’ at Nine, including abuse of power and authority, bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment. Though some may not find the results that surprising, it’s dispiriting to get yet another unsavoury insight into the goings-on at the commercial broadcaster.
Nine’s review focused on the culture within its TV News and Current Affairs division, but also considered the results of a workforce-wide survey. In the last five years across the organisation, 52% experienced or witnessed abuse of power or authority; 49% experienced bullying, discrimination or harassment; and 24% experienced sexual harassment.
Women reported experiencing all three forms at a greater rate than men. There are reports of women being rated by their ‘fuckability’, while others were subjected to non-consensual touching by male co-workers. Known perpetrators were not reprimanded. Rather, employees were warned to avoid interactions with certain individuals and discouraged from reporting incidents. In other instances, inappropriate workplace behaviours were covered up. One participant admitted they had debilitating anxiety before each workday and at one point thought about suicide.
Though a lifetime ago in 24-hour news cycle terms, it was only 2017 when Nine superstar Don Burke was accused of indecent assault, sexual harassment and bullying women in the 1980s and 1990s. Several female celebrities had called out Nine for fostering a ‘boys’ club’ atmosphere. This included Kerri-Anne Kennerley, who said that ‘chauvinism and discrimination was rife’ and the abuse executives levelled at staff was ‘fierce.’ At the time, Nine issued a statement that Burke’s alleged behaviour was ‘completely unacceptable’ and it had ‘zero tolerance of sexual harassment and workplace bullying.’ The statement also read that Nine had ‘robust policies and procedures for dealing with complaints and to support staff in such circumstances.’
Given the latest review covers a period after this statement, it is perhaps not altogether surprising that some staff are sceptical about Nine’s promises to enact change. Some are reportedly disappointed no individuals were named, while others are planning to sue. Even so, Nine’s board says it will implement all 22 of the review’s recommendations and its chair Catherine West has apologised unreservedly to those impacted.
Of course, only time will tell whether things will improve for Nine staffers. Here’s hoping it won’t take another seven years to find out.
Tamara Markus, CMT Researcher