The drums of war are rumbling in Perth’s Nine’s St Georges Terrace bunker this week, amid a flurry of speculation recently named news boss Michael Genovese has fallen in love with one of the channel’s summer newsreaders…
Himself.
Some parts of the city’s newsroom are a little miffed. The all-rounder presented the channel’s flagship at 6 p.m. during the festive break – despite fulfilling a purely managerial role last month.
‘These summer fill-in positions are our first rung on the ladder to show our bosses what we can do and try to stake a claim for a full-time gig somewhere down the road – but instead it’s the boss who takes on the role! ‘ said an editorial staffer.
“We have a lot of great reporters who would really shine if given the chance, people like that Erin Harwood, Brooke Comerford And Michael Stempel – but instead Genovese does it all himself – it’s really frustrating.”
Nine’s new Perth news boss Michael Genovese and Seven crime reporter wife Jerrie Demasi
Rising Nine News Perth with Brooke Comerford, Erin Harwood and Michael Stamp
Additionally, network insiders believe that Genovese should be more aware of the turmoil that wearing two hats like this can cause after his wife and former Nine News reporter Jerry Demasi defected to rival Seven just over a year ago.
“He really should know better, considering what happened with Jerrie,” one person said.
“She’s absolutely amazing, but was tired of waiting in the wings, so she went somewhere where her skills are appreciated and she’ll get the right opportunities.”
However, they don’t have to worry.
Nine assures us that Genovese didn’t try to steal the show: he was locked up during the hectic holiday season to read the bulletins, long before he was elevated to the newsroom’s top job. So be prepared for more opportunities in the future.
Meanwhile, in Sydney’s Denison St, according to our spies, another network star was on everyone’s lips, with Nine’s recently returned US correspondent Alison Piotrowski impressive while co-hosting Today on the last weekend of the year.
Nine’s recently returned US correspondent Alison Piotrowski (left) is one to watch on the channel this year
“It was clear how good Ali was in the United States – we all saw that in the run-up to and day of the presidential election; her reporting and analysis was probably the best on the network,” a Nine insider said.
‘But seeing Ali on Today showed a whole new side of her. She was very dynamic.
‘The best part is that she has no pretensions whatsoever. She is incredibly loved because she is down to earth, a great person, a hard worker and good at her job.”
Aside from her fill-in duties, it appears Piotrowski has moved into a senior reporter role since returning to Sydney last month and we hear she’s emerging as someone to watch in 2025.
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