Nine Entertainment has commissioned an independent review after acknowledging “alleged inappropriate behaviour and broader cultural issues” in its television newsrooms.
In an email to staff sent on Monday, Nine’s chief executive, Mike Sneesby, noted the “very tough time” employees had experienced after media reports on how management handled allegations of inappropriate behaviour by former television news boss Darren Wick.
The reports, published in News Corp and Nine newspapers, alleged inappropriate touching of female staff at Nine Entertainment functions, including Christmas parties and the Logies television awards. Wick has been approached for comment.
Sneesby said the review would be handled by an external firm and provide findings and advice on how the organisation could improve in the future.
“I acknowledge the distress and frustration the substance of these reports has caused,” Sneesby wrote.
“I believe we have taken positive steps in recent years at Nine to improve our culture … but the recent reports that detail alleged serious failings of leadership in television news clearly tells me more work needs to be done to ensure we have a safe and inclusive workplace throughout Nine.”
Sneesby said an investigation by an external law firm into the complaint against Wick began as soon as it was received, with actions based on “limited” information available at the time.
“Since then there have been a series of media reports about multiple complainants,” he wrote.
“At this stage we have not directly received any information about those complaints so I would encourage those individuals, or anyone else with information, to provide it … so it can be independently investigated.”
Sneesby said he had never signed non-disclosure agreements for any employee relating to a complaint or behavioural issue as CEO at Nine Entertainment, including in relation to Wick’s alleged behaviour. Sneesby became chief executive in April 2021.
But he acknowledged that following “recent reports and internal feedback”, leadership at Nine needed to “accelerate the work we are doing to build a culture of respect and trust”.
He confirmed the independent review of behaviours and “concentration of power” at the organisation that had “damaged the trust and fairness within our television newsrooms”.
Additionally, Nine Entertainment will establish an external formal complaint line for people to provide information independent of management, and a helpline for “emotional or psychological support”.
“A key part of this is ensuring everyone feels safe to raise concerns and to speak up when they see something inappropriate happening in the workplace,” he wrote.
“We want to listen, we want to hear about your experiences and we want to support you.
“I am very proud of the work we do at Nine. It is critical we face up to any failings with integrity.”
In media reports, employees have alleged a toxic culture within Nine’s television newsroom.
Allegations included that Wick, the news and current affairs chief for more than a decade and an employee at Nine for more than 25 years, groped three women in public view of their colleagues. He left Nine in mid-March of this year following the formal complaint and related investigation.
Speaking on Sky News on Sunday, the communications minister, Michelle Rowland, encouraged all media outlets to improve their management of internal complaints in light of the allegations.
“The media sector has been highlighted in recent years as an area that needs improvement, I say that as someone where I work in a profession where standards need to be lifted as well,” she said.
