Fresh drama erupts within Nine as embattled network appoints powerful new boss – but there’s a VERY big problem with that

Nine has pressed ahead with replacing one of its most powerful news directors even though ousted boss Amanda Paterson is suing the company and demanding she be reinstated in the role. 

The network’s national news and current affairs chief, Fiona Dear, informed staff popular Nine-lifer Brendan Hockings had been appointed as the channel’s new Queensland news director just after midday on Thursday. 

Hockings, who started his career with Nine as a production assistant in its Brisbane newsroom in May 2005, has been working in the position in caretaker mode since Paterson was unceremoniously sacked last month. 

Paterson claims the network unfairly used the anonymous findings of the highly publicised cultural report into its ‘toxic’ workplace culture to terminate her after 31 years of service during a seven-minute Zoom call on November 7.

She has since launched legal action against Nine Entertainment and Dear, seeking damages arising from unlawful termination, and demanding she be reinstated in her old job. 

The latter appears unlikely to happen with Dear moving quickly to install Hockings on a full-time basis and announce his appointment as one of her final pieces of business before going on leave over the festive period at the end of the week. 

The Queensland job is one of the most critical at the network, and Hockings will be responsible for not only overseeing Brisbane but also the channel’s Darwin news operation and Gold Coast newsroom, which services one of the country’s fastest growing cities. 

Tellingly, there was no word on a full-time replacement for ousted Sydney news chief Simon Hobbs who unexpectedly parted ways with the company the week after Paterson was axed. 

Former A Current Affair star Amanda Patterson was unceremoniously sacked as Queensland news boss last month and is suing to get her job back

The competition for the role has been fiercely contested both internally and externally, with leading candidates including Nine newsrooms veterans Mark Burrows and Damian Ryan as well as 60 Minutes star reporter Amelia Adams and her executive producer Kirsty Thomson. 

On the other side of the country in Perth, Nine staffers were informed on Thursday that their acting news boss, Michael Genovese, had also been appointed on a full-time basis. 

The well-known and highly regarded newsman, who is married to Seven crime reporter Jerrie Demasi, has been filling in as the city’s top editorial chief since predecessor Gareth Parker moved to Sydney to run the national news desk. 

Genovese made headlines earlier this year after a casual pre-press conference conversation he was having with Perth Lord Mayor and former Seven star Basil Zempilas referencing the Australian Open women’s final was picked up on a ‘hot mic’. 

Critics initially thought they had caught Zempilas describing the match as ‘a reserves game’ before he explained he had actually been been joking with Genovese about the challenge of presenting the news on the same night as the tennis.  

‘Before today’s press conference Michael and I were talking about how presenting the news when a big sporting event is on at the same time means a small audience will watch the news,’ Zempilas clarified.

‘I then say to Michael words to the effect, “Are you reading the news tonight?” He says yes and I say, “The tennis is on tonight isn’t it?”

‘He then says, “The women’s final.” And I then say referring to reading the news against that broadcast, “it’s like the reserves then”.

Nine’s new Perth news boss Michael Genovese and Seven crime reporter wife Jerrie Demasi

Perth mayor Basil Zempilas appeared to let slip that he regards the Australian Open women’s final as a ‘reserves game’; however, he has since clarified that was not the intended meaning

‘Reading the news against the tennis was what I was referring to as “being the reserves”. Not the tennis. I can not make that any clearer or be any more emphatic.

‘It is totally disingenuous and flat out wrong to suggest otherwise and I will not be accused of having said something I did not say.’

‘Before today’s press conference Michael and I were talking about how presenting the news when a big sporting event is on at the same time means a small audience will watch the news,’ he tweeted just before 6pm on Saturday. 

Dear said both Hockings and Genovese’s appointments came after a thorough selection process as the media giant looks to rebuild its shattered newsroom morale in the wake of a devastating year of scandal. 

‘We were overwhelmed with applications from highly talented journalists and leaders during this process and these internal appointments showcase the depth we have within 9News,’ Dear told staff. 

‘Both Brendan and Michael are exceptional journalists, leaders, and people, and we are extremely fortunate to have individuals of their calibre to appoint into these key leadership positions to drive our transformation and continue to uplift Nine’s culture.

‘Over the past few months they have provided leadership stability and strong editorial guidance to their respective newsrooms, and I am proud to formally announce them in these roles today.’

Hockings, who has previously won plaudits within the network for his work as the network’s national director of news events, said he felt privileged to take on the powerful Queensland position.   

Mr Zempilas has worked a tennis commentator at the Australian Open as well as being host of Channel Seven’s Weekend Sunrise (pictured with Monique Wright)

Nine’s national news and current affairs boss Fiona Dear made the appointments before heading off on holidays over the festive break

‘I marvel constantly at the creativity, passion and dedication of our 9News Queensland team,’ he said. 

‘I’m honoured to take up this role and look forward to leading this extraordinary team of people as we tell Queensland and the Northern Territory’s greatest stories.’

His comments were mirrored by Genovese in Western Australia. 

‘Nine Perth has been my home for over a decade and it’s a privilege to take on the role of news director and lead the hard-working team here,’ he said. 

‘As West Australians turn to 9News as their trusted source of information, we remain committed to delivering the stories that matter to Perth, every single day.’

News of Hockings’ appointment will do little to quell the ongoing legal tussle between Nine and his former newsroom colleague Paterson. 

Although it is understood Hockings and Paterson were on good terms throughout their time working together, Paterson has since hired celebrity employment lawyer John Laxon to help her win back her job. 

On the day she was axed by Nine, Paterson claims she was asked to attend a snap meeting with Dear, who appeared via videolink from Sydney and told her that her employment was being terminated effective immediately.

Ousted Queensland news boss Paterson claims she was marched out of Nine’s Mt Coot-tha headquarters in Brisbane and had to wait in the car park while someone fetched her puppy

Paterson was then escorted from the building without a chance to farewell staff or retrieve her puppy from her office, which was there as part of Nine’s pets at work policy.

Instead, an HR staff member was sent to fetch the puppy while Paterson waited in the network car park.

Paterson was reportedly told she had been sacked as a result of three alleged workplace breaches.

They included failing to complete her in-house online ‘training modules,’ botching the  contract extension for one of her staff members, and an office incident where she made a lighthearted reference to the recent removal of ‘d***heads’ from the company.

In an email confirming her departure, Dear said: ‘I wanted to let you know that QTQ News Director Amanda Paterson has finished up with Nine today.

‘While we formalise and internal and external recruitment process to replace the role, Kate Donnison has agreed to step in on a short-term basis until QTQ EP Brendan Hockings returns from the US and his annual leave.

‘Brendan will then act in the role until we finalise the recruitment process to ensure stability in leadership during this time.’ 

Noreasons have been offered publicly for Hobbs shock departure, which Dear announced to staffers in Nine’s Sydney newsroom during a ‘town hall’ meeting on November 13, a week after Paterson was sacked. 

Nine are still to announce a replacement for former Sydney news boss Simon Hobbs

‘I wanted to let you know about some further changes to the news and current affairs leadership team,’ Dear said in the email. 

‘Simon Hobbs will be finishing up…with Nine at the end of this week.

‘Current deputy news director Margie McLew will assume the responsibilities of news director until a permanent replacement is finalised. 

‘Simon will be supporting Margie from home to ensure a seamless transition and handover in leadership, before finishing with the business on Friday, 15 November.

‘We are recruiting for three news director roles…the job ads are now live…and I’d encourage anyone who is interested to apply, or reach out for a confidential chat.’

Hobbs had been leading Nine’s Sydney operation for almost 13 years having rejoined the network in 2012 after working as a producer in the US for six years. 

Staffers were quick to point out that neither email thanked the departing news bosses for their time at the network or contribution to the company. 

The executive reshuffles follows revelations Today show politics reporter Airlie Walsh is also suing the network in the federal court for sexual discrimination.

The specifics of her claim are yet to be aired publicly but it is understood they relate to historic interactions with a number of senior executives.