Sharyn Ghidella, recently sacked Channel Seven newsreader, admitted she was not shocked by the allegations of intimidation and bullying at the network.
Seven was in the spotlight this week in a revealing article by ABC program Four Corners, with many female employees describing the work environment as a “toxic” and “soul-destroying” one.
One journalist said she jumped in front of a moving car after claiming she was left with “paralysing” anxiety, while another branded Seven one of the most “degrading” places to work.
Ghidella, one of 150 Seven West Media employees laid off in mass layoffs last month, admitted she had seen problematic behaviour during her 17 years at Seven.
“I looked into it. A lot of it was information that I already knew a little bit about,” she said The courier post.
“You see things sometimes that you think are questionable. And I definitely speak out. I’m not someone who would sit back and allow things to happen to me that I don’t feel are right.”
Ghidella, who has since announced she will be joining Network 10 as presenter of the 5pm Queensland news bulletin, explained that she personally enjoyed working in television but regrets that others did not.
The problem of toxicity in journalism was also highlighted by veteran TV presenter Tracy Grimshaw at the Kennedy Awards on Friday night.
Recently sacked Channel Seven newsreader Sharyn Ghidella has revealed she wasn’t shocked to hear about allegations of harassment and bullying at the network
Grimshaw used her Lifetime Achievement Award acceptance speech to warn those who behave inappropriately that “the game is up.”
“Let this all be a shot in the arm for anyone in any workplace who still thinks this is the rough borderlands, because the truth is you are now just one phone call away from your own career-ending headline,” she told the audience.
The game is over, think about it.
‘And I also don’t like it when young women are told that they have to give up their dignity and self-determination in some way if they enter this sector.
“They definitely shouldn’t and if you tell them, they’re setting themselves up for failure. Think about it, if you’re told you’re going to be bullied and harassed and you’re better off not saying anything when it happens, well guess what? You don’t say anything.”
The problem of toxicity within the journalism industry was also highlighted by veteran TV presenter Tracy Grimshaw at the Kennedy Awards on Friday night
As many as 200 current and former Seven employees spoke to the ABC about award-winning journalist Louise Milligan’s investigative piece Don’t Speak.
A woman who wished to remain anonymous claims she worked “extremely long” hours for a salary slightly higher than minimum wage and her life spiralled downward.
On March 8, the journalist told her superiors at the network’s Brisbane office atop Mt Coot-tha that she wanted another job. But she claims she was told she had to stay for another six months.
“I can only describe it as: it felt like there was a noose around my neck,” she said.
‘[I] felt like she was in a committed domestic violence relationship with [Seven News].
At 10:45 that day, her concerned colleague received a phone call saying, “They won’t let me go,” “I’ve ruined my career,” “I want to get hit by a car.”
Just five minutes later, the reporter jumped in front of a vehicle.
“I’m completely devastated,” the woman said.
Seven reporter Olivia Babb (pictured) claimed she – like other women – was ‘bullied and harassed’ during her time at Seven
‘I saw a car coming towards me further on. I ran in front of it, hoping it would hit me.
“It stopped. I ran to find another car. I saw the edge of the cliff at Mt Coot-tha and I jumped. I went tumbling down the hill, through the bushes.”
She was taken to hospital and never worked at Seven again.
The shocking allegations come at a time of turmoil for the TV station, amid mass layoffs, declining ratings and testimony from a former Spotlight producer in a civil lawsuit alleging that interview candidate Bruce Lehrman was supplied with prostitutes and cocaine.
Mr Lehrmann and Channel Seven deny the allegations.
“It’s one of the most degrading, soul-destroying places you can work,” former Channel Seven reporter Olivia Babb told the programme.
‘Sometimes I feel like I’m dying inside when I go to work every day.’
The journalist claimed that she – like other women – was ‘bullied and harassed’ during her time at Seven.
‘I have been verbally attacked. I have been in situations where I did not feel safe on several occasions.
“This cameraman got in my face and said, ‘I don’t like you. I hate you. You’re an asshole.’ And I’ll never forget it.”
Babb told one of her bosses that she wanted to talk to HR about it.
“My boss looked at me and said, ‘Well, if we go to HR, it’s going to be even more work for me,’” she said.
“Do you really think #MeToo has made any difference to Seven?”
‘I’ve never seen anything that suggests it even happened, that Seven even knew about #MeToo.’
Shortly after the Four Corners investigation aired on Monday evening, Seven West Media published a brief statement.
“While we are clearly concerned about allegations of employee misconduct and abuse, a number of the issues raised represent long-standing issues that have been properly discussed and dealt with, in some cases many years ago,” the report said.
‘A number of people who exhibited behavior that was inconsistent with SWM’s values have already been removed from the organization.
‘We encourage all Seven West Media team members to speak up about any behaviour that does not reflect our values. Whistleblower protections are in place and are regularly re-emphasised to all employees.
‘We have a great team at SWM and the actions of some individuals do not reflect the values, behaviour and attitudes of the company as a whole, which is home to some of the best, hardest working and most passionate media professionals in Australia.
“We are focused on creating a stronger culture where our great people can thrive and where unacceptable behavior is not tolerated.”