Dr Mumbo

Where honourable journalism goes to die

Even as Nine’s 60 Minutes crew were in their final hours of detention in Beirut yesterday after kidnap charges were dropped, Dr Mumbo notes it was tabloid television as usual in the newsroom of Nine News Melbourne.

Nine and Seven were both chasing the story of Chris Woods, who was allegedly shoved onto tracks as a train approached.

Of course, there’s one journalistic tradition when dealing with the subject of stories – use whatever means are necessary to persuade them not to speak to your rival.

paul dowsley

Dowsley: “Dodgy”

McGrath:

McGrath: “nasty”

But it’s usually best not to do it in a permanent way – otherwise they may get to see it.

Which led to an outraged tweet from Seven’s Paul Dowsley last night, labelling Nine News’ chief of staff Kate McGrath “a desperate and nasty competitor”.

It came after she messaged Mr Woods, warning him that Dowsley was “the worst journalist in Melbourne” and “sneaky and dodgy”. Dowsley labelled the tactic “shameful”.

nine news paul dowsley tweet 1 nine news paul dowsley tweet

For the record, they both got the story:

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