In our must-read Mail+ column, Steve Jackson and Peter van Onselen reveal what’s REALLY going on in the worlds of media and politics each week.
Guardian inmates flee when they can’t run the asylum
Ever since former Guardian Australia political editor Katherine Murphy resigned from the left-wing publication to work more directly for Anthony Albanese and Labor as one of the PM’s official spin doctors, there has been a mass exodus of staff from the outlet’s Canberra bureau.
They couldn’t all go work for Albo, of course, even if he has increased the number of media advisers the government employs to record levels. But the avalanche of departures from the Guardian has continued all the same.
Amy Remeikis, Paul Karp, Daniel Hurst and veteran snapper Mike Bowers have all moved on to greener pastures. Well, let’s be honest, few employers could be more ideologically green than the Guardian, but move on they all have.
In the case of Bowers, it’s an understandable retirement from the gallery after a long, illustrious career. Although we do hear that by the end of his time at the Guardian he was ‘fed up’ and ‘very vocal about being over it’.
But what about the others? So young to leave somewhere so virtuous!
One unkind member of the parliamentary gallery claimed the common thread was all three’s unwillingness to work with (or is that for?) newly appointed Guardian political editor Karen Middleton.
Political live-blogger Amy Remeikis – who announced her support for Palestine with this thirst trap a year ago – is one of several staffers to resign from the Guardian in recent months
But Inside Mail knows Middleton well and therefore knows that can’t be true – at least not with respect to any shortcomings on her end. Middleton is a press gallery veteran, having been political editor at SBS before moving to the Saturday Paper. She’s well-liked and well-regarded.
More likely, we hear, some of the above names were none too happy about being passed over for the top job, registering their dissatisfaction with their collective feet. The workers united will never be defeated!
In the case of Karp, that’s perhaps understandable – he’s a pretty good journo. In the case of Remeikis, however, let’s just call such complaints extremely wishful thinking.
That said, as noted philosopher Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson once intoned: ‘Don’t be afraid to be ambitious about your goals. Hard work never stops. Neither should your dreams.’
And it’s a case of all’s well that ends well for reluctant landlord Remeikis, who is now happily ensconced in a new, made-up job at the Australia Institute.
What’s she doing there? Pretty much the same thing she did at the Guardian (think pyjama-clad videos filmed in her flat at 11am and reposting Al Jazeera clips on Instagram) only for a little bit more money.
And with that, we’ve found the real reason for the mass exodus from the Guardian – a publication well-known around the parliamentary gallery for paying a pittance. Despite the cost-of-living crunch in recent years, Guardian salaries have continued to fall behind those attainable elsewhere.
Management there seems to think employees should be grateful for the opportunity just to work somewhere so enlightened. One senior gallery figure – not at the Guardian, to be clear – even said there’s an oft-repeated, half-serious rumour they ‘would charge journalists to work there if they thought they could get away with it’.
Inside Mail hears the outlet’s Canberra crew didn’t like the idea of working under respected political editor Karen Middleton (pictured) and figured they could make more money elsewhere
It’s beyond ironic that a masthead hell-bent on virtue-signalling on everything from workers’ rights to increasing government spending to the need to up the foreign aid budget should take such a callously commercial approach to squeezing down the salaries of its own staff.
But the Guardian isn’t the first hypocritical actor in the media and it won’t be the last.
Sports presenters caught out in toilet tryst
It isn’t often we resort to playing ‘guess who, don’t sue’ here at Inside Mail – although there’s nothing wrong with a bit of blind gossip to brighten up a Thursday morning…
But with this particular story, we really had no choice. We have in our hands the sort of well-informed tittle-tattle that makes defamation lawyers’ heads explode.
Here it goes… Two well-known TV sports presenters are the talk of the industry after getting up to a little ‘sport’ of their own while in transit recently.
Forget the mile-high club, though. This pair couldn’t even wait until they’d boarded the flight before they were all over each other and were ultimately caught in the act in one of the Qantas Lounge loos.
Alright, we reckon that’s about all we can get away with. We’re not in the business of ruining reputations (or marriages, for that matter).
Legal disclaimer: None of the TV personalities mentioned or pictured elsewhere in this column were involved in the encounter.
Two well-known TV sports presenters allegedly romped in the toilets of a Qantas Lounge (stock image shown here; none of the individuals mentioned in this article are involved)
A case of tennis Albo
Anthony Albanese has decided he doesn’t want to start this election year with a chorus of boos at popular sporting events, skipping the Sydney Test against India with rumours he’s also planning to miss the tennis at the Australian Open in Melbourne.
Still Inside Mail isn’t convinced the Prime Minister will be able to resist the lure of strawberries and cream at the Open (or does that only happen at Wimbledon?) such is his love of the game.
It was late last year when Albo prioritised a hit of tennis in an affluent Perth seaside suburb with an old left-wing Labor mate rather than make haste and head to the firebombed synagogue in Melbourne.
To be fair, the PM had the tennis fixture in his diary for weeks, even packing his whites to comply with the exclusive Cottesloe Tennis Club’s dress code.
The PM is usually a fixture at the Australia Open, but not this year (or so he claims)
So we can see a little wiggle room in the PM’s media team briefing out that he’s ‘not expected’ to make it to the Aussie Open, which wraps up on Australia Day later this month. Where there is a will, there is a way!
Albo has been a regular at the event for many years, which is perhaps the reason why he spat back at a question this week about why he was working in January.
‘I work every January,’ a clearly irritated PM declared from a camera set up in Cairns rather than court side at the tennis.
Albo is already in Far North Queensland begging for votes, a move Tasmania independent Jacqui Lambie has labelled ‘bizarre’, noting that Australians don’t want to be pestered by politicians during their time off over summer.
Another Nine employee prepares to sue the network
Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the newsroom, it turns out there are still more than a few lawyers circling Nine’s North Sydney headquarters.
Inside Mail can reveal another long-term network staffer is preparing to file a claim against the embattled broadcaster in the coming weeks after working with a celebrity legal eagle to collate ‘two decades’ worth of evidence’.
The latest would-be litigant, who we’ve agreed not to name, told us her allegations revolved around the ‘diabolical treatment’ she allegedly endured from ‘numerous senior Nine staff’ while ‘witnessing and being on the receiving end of extremely inappropriate behaviour’.
What exactly does she mean by ‘extremely inappropriate behaviour’, we hear you ask? We wanted to know too, because that phrase tends to cover all manner of sins… and, in this case, it certainly does.
‘It includes incidents of sexual discrimination and harassment,’ she told Inside Mail.
‘Being subjected to sexual behaviour and witnessing it, physical violence and bullying – and all while performing hundreds of hours of unpaid overtime.
‘There was a time when I was working 60-70 hours a week, being subjected to all this abuse, and still only clearing $30,000 – it’s disgusting how they took advantage of people because they knew you were too scared to say anything.’
The complainant walked us through some of her specific accusations – and they’re not pretty – and said she intended to sue the network as well as a sitting member of the company’s executive team and a ‘well-known old-school TV guru’.
Now, it’s important to remember none of her claims have been filed with a court, let alone heard by one… yet.
Still, it will doubtless come as another PR nightmare for the troubled network, which already has a number of legal battles on its hands.
Ousted Queensland news director Amanda Paterson is already suing both the media giant and its newly minted news and current affairs boss, Fiona Dear, for unlawful dismissal.
Ousted Queensland news boss Amanda Paterson was unceremoniously sacked in November and is suing to get her job back
The one-time A Current Affair reporter claims she was unceremoniously sacked during a seven-minute Zoom call with Dear in November, with her new boss allegedly citing a string of trivial workplace offences, including failing to complete the network’s online training modules.
She is now seeking damages and demanding Nine reinstate her in her former role – although that seems more than a little unlikely, considering Dear has already given Pato’s job to former colleague and fellow Nine lifer, Brendan Hockings.
Popular Today show political reporter Airlie Walsh is also suing the broadcaster, having filed a human rights sexual discrimination complaint in the Federal Court last month.
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.
Those who thought that the toxic culture scandal that plagued Nine last year was all done and dusted may well find there is still plenty of drama to come on that front.
Sure, they say time heals all wounds, but it’s looking increasingly likely the company cheque book will need to play a significant role, too.
Early election hypocrisy?
The rumour is that Albo plans to call the election for April 12.
Early enough to avoid handing down a nasty Budget, late enough to enjoy an interest rate cut before votes are cast.
Could the planned timing of said election be a case of history repeating itself?
It was none other than Albo himself who mocked Malcolm Turnbull about plans to rush to the polls early to avoid having to hand down a bad Budget back in 2016.
One-time Today show co-hosts Karl Stefanovic and Lisa Wilkinson
He told Channel Nine’s Today program (hosted by Karl Stefanovic and Lisa Wilkinson – ah weren’t those the days!): ‘This is a government every time it’s brought down a Budget, it’s dived in the polls. They might well want to avoid that scrutiny.’
Sound advice from the man himself…
Max Markson’s latest reputation rescue
Publicist Max Markson knows better than most that showbiz is all about timing.
So we noted with interest his bold declaration last Thursday that walking cautionary tale Andrew O’Keefe not only could – but would – resurrect his shattered career and get himself ‘back in the limelight’.
And lo and behold, the prescient agent’s words came true the very next day when O’Keefe indeed found himself back in the limelight – though perhaps not in the way Markson had expected, with Inside Mail’s colleague Stephen Gibbs revealing the one-time game show host had been arrested, yet again, for drug driving.
Ever-positive Markson still believes he can rehabilitate the disgraced former Weekend Sunrise presenter, who has a string of convictions for domestic violence and drug-related offences, and spends more time in court than Judge Judy – in between rub downs at backstreet massage parlours.
Deal or no deal? Andrew O’Keefe investigates the services on offer at Miss Massage in Bondi (left), and at the Logie Awards with Sam Armytage before his career went off the rails (right)
It seems a stretch to us, but the eternal optimist is undeterred.
‘I still sincerely believe Andrew will bounce back. He will make a come back and he has a great future ahead of him,’ Markson told us.
And while he doesn’t have AOK on the books (yet!) the original super agent said he was more than happy to weave his personal brand of magic on the one-time star’s shattered reputation.
‘Of course I’m happy to work with him … I think there’s a lot of potential there and, if he wanted me to help him, I would.’
Sign him up, AOK.
Publicity supremo Max Markson (pictured) boldly declared former Deal or No Deal host Andrew O’Keefe’s career is not over yet
After all, when it comes to reputation rescues, the irrepressible spruiker is without doubt one of the best in the business.
Just take a look at his amazing results when convicted drug mule, former call girl and serial revisionist Cassie Sainsbury decided to flog a book about the real story behind her ill-fated 5.8kg cocaine-smuggling run in the Colombian capital of Bogota…
Which, perhaps unsurprisingly, was different from all the other real stories she’d sold to Nine’s 60 Minutes and Seven’s Spotlight programs since being banged up in the notorious El Buen Pastor women’s prison in April 2017.
Markson helped tee up sympathetic interviews with news shows across all the free-to-air networks, as well as spots on breakfast staples Sunrise and Today, along with The Project.
Even the ABC and Sky News got in on the act.
Not one of them quizzed Sainsbury about her ever-evolving narrative, changing cast of characters and self-serving claims of victimhood – though there were plenty of plugs for her books and oversized graphics showcasing its cover.
Proceeds of crime and truth be damned – there are ratings to win!
Besides, if you can’t trust a convicted drug mule to tell you the truth on the seventh attempt, who can you trust in this crazy, mixed-up world? If Sainsbury says she’s the real victim, then she’s the real victim.
Now, Markson doesn’t make up the stories, he just sells them – and he’s proven he’s quite the salesman.
If anyone can turn O’Keefe’s tragic trajectory around, it’s him.
News Corp begs, borrows and steals for lowlights reel
Talk about going from one extreme to the other. Inside Mail last week revealed Nine’s Brisbane-based promo producer Leon ‘Alfred Hitchcock’ Cull had cast himself in some fake news vision he then inserted in a network promo.
Meanwhile, over at News Corp’s Holt St HQ, the company’s Head of National Vision Eleni Paneras has done the exact opposite with her year-in-review video highlights package and wisely resisted the temptation to play a starring role in the clip.
The only problem? It doesn’t feature any of News Corp’s other reporters either.
Instead, the almost two-minute-long package, which she shared on LinkedIn over the summer break, begins with a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it montage of the stable’s metropolitan mastheads.
And once all that’s out of the way after about six seconds?
Well, the rest of the clip focuses on vision largely sourced from Seven and Nine, as well as rival outlets from around the globe.
News Corp’s Head of National Vision Eleni Paneras’s end-of-year highlights reel had everyone at Holt St talking… about how little News Corp’s vision features in it
Nine News promo producer Leon ‘Alfred Hitchcock’ Cull appears in his own promo – pretending to be bounced by one of the network’s reporters – only for the fake news vision to be, er, culled
If the highlights reel was supposed to capture the imagination of the media company’s thousands of employees, it certainly accomplished that – they’ve all been left to imagine what it would’ve been like to be included in it.
Because the only journalist to appear in the extended News Corp clip is… Nine News Sydney anchor and former 60 Minutes star Peter Overton.
Pete’s a great journo and even better bloke, there’s no denying that, but he’s not a News Corp man. Truly bizarre.
Nine newsman Peter Overton makes the cut in the News Corp clip… even though none of the company’s own reporters did
And we’re not the only ones who are confused. We’re reliably informed the promo hasn’t gone down too well with the company’s top brass nor its hard-working troops.
‘This video has created a big stir inside News Corp,’ one insider revealed. ‘Everyone is taking the piss out of it.
‘It’s great that the National Head of Video for News Corp is sharing a ‘highlights reel’ of all the amazing stories from 2024.
‘But it’s full of footage ripped from Nine, Seven and others… which is a big no-no internally with us now because we have so many video resources.
‘It’s actually embarrassing for everyone at News.
‘We’ve made thousands of exclusive videos this year – with our own equipment, our own reporters – and she gets her staff to make one featuring someone from the opposition.’
We can’t argue with that – it’s definitely a bitter pill for the company’s dedicated staffers to swallow.
Of course, there could be some sort of logical explanation we’re simply failing to grasp… but if so, News Corp don’t want to tell us what it is.
Stars align at the SCG for action-packed series clincher
There’s no denying the team at the Sydney Cricket Ground know how to put on a show.
The final Test against India at the Harbour City’s historic sporting stadium this week was arguably the most enthralling of the summer – our only complaint? It was over all too soon.
And if the on-field action wasn’t enough to capture your attention, there was plenty of star-gazing to do at the SCG throughout the match too – with the ground’s exclusive Sheridan Suite playing host to some of the nation’s heaviest hitters.
The first XI celebrities on day one included former Australia skipper Steve Waugh, India Test great Ajit Agarkar, Wallabies legend and Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh, Fox Sports presenter Yvonne Sampson and her recently retired talkback host hubby Chris O’Keefe, one-time world No. 1 tennis ace Jim Courier, former prime minister John Howard, Hollywood starlet Rose Byrne, Seven news anchor Mark Ferguson, his Nine rival Peter Overton and NSW police commissioner Karen Webb.
Rose Byrne was one of the star attractions at the Sydney Cricket Ground at the weekend
Day two was a bit of a family affair with Josh Hazlewood‘s parents Trevor and Anne, Pat Cumming‘s father Peter and Alyssa Healy‘s dad Greg joining Sydney Swans champ Adam Goodes, actor Brendan Cowell, author Thomas Keneally, philanthropist Basel Sellers and Federal sports minister Annika Wells in the suite.
And on the third and final day…. (deep breath… are you ready?) the SCG chairman David Gallop expended his legendary hospitality to funnyman Mikey Robins, sports presenter Tony Squires, Sunday Tele sports legend Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield, The Australian’s editor-in-chief Michelle Gunn, one-time NSW Liberal leader Kerry Chikarovski and her daughter Lisa Chikarovski, local Wentworth MP Dave Sharma, Puberty Blues scribe Kathy Lette, footy great Ian Roberts and his partner Daniel, sports commentator Stephanie Brantz, Nine finance guru Deb Knight, Seven News star and all-round nice guy Chris Reason, the late Richie Benaud‘s beloved wife Daphne, former state and federal pollie (and father of one-time premier Mike Baird and journo Julia Baird) Bruce Baird, retired cricketers Geoff Lawson and Phil Emery, Hoodoo Gurus bassist Rick Grossman… and the fashionably late and ever-enchanting Jackie ‘O’ Henderson.
Westfields Bondi Junction hero Inspector Amy Scott on duty at the Sydney Cricket Ground
However, not all the stars at the SCG were sipping champagne – with one notable exception at the ground hard at work: Bondi Junction hero cop Amy Scott, who saved countless lives during the tragic stabbing incident at Westfields shopping centre last year.
Inside Mail spotted the dedicated officer keeping a close eye over proceedings while patrolling through the Members section of the stadium throughout the weekend – where she proved a huge hit with spectators.
Still, Inspector Scott did get the chance to see plenty of first-class cricket, and was all smiles while high-fiving a young fan after Indian all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy‘s wicket fell late on day two.
What an absolute legend!
Former Studio 10 EP lashes out mystery colleague
Now there are cryptic crosswords and not-so-cryptic cross words…
And we’ve little doubt which one Channel Seven promos man and part-time Spotlight producer Rob McKnight was going for when he took to social media for a rant last week.
‘I always laugh at the people who do a bit of charity work and think they’re a good person, yet will treat co-workers like s***,’ McKnight fumed.
‘I genuinely don’t get how their minds work.’
How mysterious…
A not-so-cryptic social media post by TV’s ‘Mr Everywhere’ Rob McKnight (pictured) had the industry speculating about who he could have been referring to
Those who have worked with the one-time Studio 10 executive producer – and that’s about half the industry given he has plied his trade at Seven, Nine and Ten over the years – know he’s a rather light-hearted and happy-go-lucky chap.
So, who could he possibly be talking about?
Well, we’ve certainly got our suspicions but it’s impossible to know for sure… because the usually loquacious McKnight isn’t telling.
Newly minted news director already attracting ire
The wars drums have been rumbling in at Nine’s St Georges Terrace bunker in Perth this week amid a flurry of speculation newly appointed news boss Michael Genovese has fallen in love with one of the station’s summer news anchors…
Himself.
Some sections of the city’s newsroom have been somewhat miffed the jack-of-all-trades has been presenting the channel’s flagship 6pm bulletin over the festive break – despite moving into a purely managerial role last month.
‘These summer fill-in spots are the first rung on the ladder for us to show our bosses what we can do and try to stake a claim on a full-time gig somewhere down the track – but instead it’s the boss who’s taken the role!’ one newsroom staffer said.
‘We’ve got a lot of great reporters who would really shine if given the opportunity – people like Erin Harwood, Brooke Comerford and Michael Stamp – but instead, Genovese is doing 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 stars Brooke Comerford, Erin Harwood and Michael Stamp
What’s more, network insiders reckon Genovese should be more conscious of the disquiet wearing two hats like this can cause after his wife and one-time Nine News reporter Jerrie Demasi defected to rival Seven little more than a year ago.
‘He really should know better given what happened with Jerrie,’ one said.
‘She is absolutely amazing but got tired of waiting in the wings so went somewhere where they appreciate her skills and she’s given the right opportunities.’
They need not worry though.
Nine assures us Genovese hasn’t been trying to steal the show: he’d been locked in to read the bulletins over the hectic holiday period long before he was elevated to the newsroom’s top job. So standby for more opportunities in the future.
Sky News host’s former lover finds love, actually
Love is in the air, everywhere we look around… provided we’re looking at Rosie Waterland‘s Instagram page, that is.
Inside Mail last week revealed Waterland’s former flame, Sky News Australia host and certified old soul Caleb Bond, was romancing Clare Rowe – a child psychologist 15 years his senior, whom he met during her appearances on the right-wing channel.
But Waterland will be far from brokenhearted by the news – because she hasn’t wasted any time moving on either. The feminist columnist has been seeing her new boyfriend, van-life enthusiast James Asciak, for almost a year now.
Despite dealing with a few health scares and some devastating developments on the home front over the past 12 months, we’re pleased to report Waterland spent much of 2024 blissfully road-tripping around Australia with her new beau.
Inside Mail last week revealed Sky News Australia host Caleb Bond was romancing Clare Rowe – a child psychologist 15 years his senior whom he met during her appearances on the station
Bond’s ex Rosie Waterland hasn’t wasted time moving on either. She has been seeing her new boyfriend, van-life enthusiast James Asciak (pictured together), for almost a year now
They’ve been documenting their ‘Big Aussie Lap’ on Instagram, taking in scenic highlights such as the Big Prawn in Ballina’s Bunnings car park, the sensational seashell museum in Lakes Entrance, and Caboolture’s famed KFC outlet.
And despite all that, they‘re still together.
In fact, Waterland credits their wonderful, fun-loving romance with helping her contend with all life has thrown at her over the past year.
‘This could have been the worst year of my life (first week: mum kills herself, last week: emergency anal surgery),’ she shared online.
‘But 2024 has been the best year I’ve ever had. Because I fell in love with this guy.’
Good on you, Rosie and James, we can’t wait to see where you travel to next.
Nine closes in on new comms boss
Well, come in spinner!
Inside Mail can reveal the head honchos at Nine’s Denison St headquarters have whittled down a shortlist of candidates to replace chief spinner Victoria Buchan – and that an announcement is imminent.
The media giant made Buchan, its long, long-serving master of the dark arts, redundant back in October in the lead-up to the release of the company’s well-documented review into its toxic newsroom culture (Inside Mails passim).
The head honchos at Nine’s North Sydney headquarters have whittled down a shortlist of candidates to replace chief spinner Victoria Buchan (pictured)
Of course, given Nine abolished her position as director of communications and public relations, they can’t simply parachute someone into her old job.
But as luck would have it, the network has been adverting for the radically different and totally unrelated role of director of regulatory, public affairs and communications.
According to the listing initially placed on LinkedIn, applications for the newly created post close on ‘November 11, 2025’… which we thought was a somewhat relaxed timeframe given the network’s ongoing scandals surely warrant a greater sense of urgency.
Of course, perhaps it was a typo… because those who thought they still had a good 11 months to trick up their CV are out of time: we hear the final round of interviews are set down for later this month (let’s just hope Nine’s HR team don’t repeat the blunder that saw them list all the confidential candidates in the running for the Sydney news director job onscreen while quizzing them via Zoom last month).
We’re reliably informed Nine’s short-list for the top comms job includes a ‘Who’s Who’ of the nation’s best-known spinners. But then… the best spinners are often the ones you’ve never even heard of.
And the Dummy of the Week goes to…
You know, you love him… we can’t get enough of him – ladies and gentlemen… please offer a round of applause to the Dummy of the Week: Anthony Albanese.
Proving that foot in mouth disease doesn’t only affect cows, the PM fell foul of the affliction this week when he condemned anyone and everyone who makes their way from the inland suburbs to beachside Australia to set up a cabana.
It turns out Albo is no fan of the temporary build, whether that’s because it’s an eye sore from the cliffs of Copacabana or simply because it’s a space-taker-upper on sandy shorelines.
‘That’s not on… to think that you can reserve a little spot as just yours’, the PM declared on Tuesday.
How dare the masses act in such a way! Who can afford a cabana these days anyway, giving the cost of living crisis.
But it turns out Albo’s carefully crafted insult aimed at average mums and dads trying to shield their kids from harsh UV rays was also a poke in the eye of Australian entrepreneurialism.
Albo’s carefully crafted insult aimed at average mums and dads trying to shield their kids from harsh UV rays was also a poke in the eye of Australian entrepreneurialism
Because guess who invented the beachside cabana, or at least refined it into the beautiful shade maker it is today?
None other than Cool Cabanas, a Queensland based company that partners with the Melanoma Institute of Australia.
An Australian entrepreneurial success story – founded by a Queensland architect with a good idea and a bit of ambition.
Perhaps Albo can drop in and visit them while campaigning up north this month.
Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636
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