Nine culture review reveals bullying and harassment

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Nine Entertainment's culture review reveals rampant bullying and harassment across the large media organisation.
Nine culture review reveals rampant bullying and harassment

An independent review of one of Australia’s largest media companies, Nine Entertainment, has found widespread bullying, intimidation, and harassment.

More than half of respondents to the review said they had witnessed an “abuse of power”.

The review follows sexual harassment allegations against Nine’s ex-head of news, Darren Wick.

Nine has committed to adopting all 22 recommendations to overhaul its complaints processes and improve its culture.

Nine

Nine Entertainment Corporation is a media conglomerate that oversees several news and entertainment brands.

It has around 5,000 employees across Channel Nine, newspapers The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald, property advertiser Domain, and youth publisher, Pedestrian.tv.

Nine also owns streaming platform Stan and radio stations in most capital cities.

Background

In March, the head of Nine’s News and Current Affairs department Darren Wick stepped down. He was replaced two months later by Fiona Dear.

In May, Sky News and the Sydney Morning Herald published anonymous allegations from Nine employees of bullying and sexual harassment by Wick.

Senior Nine leaders emailed staff acknowledging the “serious” claims of “inappropriate behaviour” that had taken place.

Nine hired consulting firm Intersection to launch a review of the company.

Findings

Nearly 1,000 employees were surveyed and around 120 were interviewed. Intersection handed down its final report this week.

It found 49% of workers had experienced bullying, discrimination, or harassment.

Rates were highest in Nine’s broadcast division (57%) and Stan (55%).

Nearly two-thirds of people who work in Nine’s broadcasting division said they had witnessed or experienced an abuse of power and authority.

The report details claims of sexual harassment, bullying, and a “toxic” workplace culture across Nine.

Witnesses told Intersection about groping, kissing, and stalking within the broadcast division.

The report identified multiple factors creating the environment. It said the workplace was “appearance-based” for women, where some were promoted for “appearance not skills”.

It found a lack of diversity also contributed to poor workplace culture.

Anonymous statements from Nine employees:

“It would not be uncommon to be asked or to hear: “Who did you f**k last night?” or “Someone is going to get their d**k sucked”.

“Bullies thrive and are rewarded.”

“I have seen a [woman] bully/harass a colleague to the point where they resign and then the same female bully then bullies the replacement. And then it happens again.”

“There is sexual intimidation against young women and I find this completely unacceptable.”

Recommendations

The report concluded there are “concerning levels of inappropriate workplace behaviours” at Nine.

It said employees were being let down by existing “checks and balances” to stop poor behaviour, which it said “are not working well.”

It made 22 recommendations to change the organisation’s culture. This includes investing in a centralised human resources system, appointing an independent complaints investigator, developing a diversity and inclusion strategy, and better training for managers.

Response

In a statement, Nine apologised “unreservedly” and committed to adopting the recommendations.

Nine chair Catherine West said: “A cultural reset is required.”

“Too many of our past and present employees have been harmed by poor workplace culture, the prevalence of inappropriate workplace behaviours, and an inadequate response in the past from Nine to those behaviours.”

The peak media union, the Media Entertainement and Arts Alliance (MEAA), said Nine’s cultural review should be a “wake-up call to Australia’s media industry”.

MEAA Acting Director Michelle Rae said: “It is an indictment upon management at Nine that these practices were allowed to continue for decades.”

“The victims had their careers ruined, while the perpetrators were often rewarded and their misdemeanours were covered up,” Rae said.

1800 RESPECT:

Call: 1800 737 732

Text: 0458 737 732

Video: 1800RESPECT.org.au

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