‘One of the most soul-crushing places you can work’: ABC Four Corners investigates Seven’s workplace
ABC will be taking aim at Seven’s workplace culture in a new Four Corners set to air next Monday.
Titled ‘Don’t Speak’, a thirty-second trailer released this week by the ABC features former employees, including Amber Harrison – whose affair with former CEO Tim Worner was made public after she was fired from Seven – with the network claiming it was for credit card misuse.
“Silence for life,” she says of the fallout.
“They shouldn’t be in business if that’s what they’re doing to young women,” one commentator says in the trailer. “How do they sleep at night?”
Reporter Louise Milligan and the Four Corners team spoke to more than 200 people for the story, including current staff who “believe there is a desperate need for change at both Seven and the broader commercial television industry”.
ABC’s synopsis reads: “Channel Seven bills itself as a family network, but a Four Corners investigation finds it to be a ‘second chance club’ for senior men, described as a ‘degrading, soul-crushing’ workplace.
“Allegations of sexism, exploitation and extreme bullying at the network are rife and staff have been left hospitalised. In some extreme cases, they are unable to work or been suicidal.
”Many staff have made legal claims against the network and many past staff have been gagged with non-disclosure agreements.”
Mumbrella has contacted Seven for comment.
Don’t Speak airs Monday 12 August at 8:30pm on ABC TV and ABC iview.
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Nathan Jolly is the Features Editor at Mumbrella. He joined the team in July, 2023.
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I’m surprised the elephant in the room – the Board – have not been held to account for this shit show. Let’s face it – Stokes Snr and Jnr have been overseeing this rancid pile for way too long. The stench of the Spotlight saga should have been flushed quickly, and wasn’t, which leads one to believe Seven had Sweet FA of an idea how to manage a crisis, or the ‘expert’ comms agency they employed were out of their depth or their advice not listened to. At least Nine’s Chair Costello fell on his sword for his public (however confected) indiscretion. Unfortunately, the Stokes’ seem immune from the same sound judgement.
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Having worked at media companies my entire career – including both 7 and the ABC, I can honestly say 7 was in a league of it’s own. The culture of blokes at the top, bullying, partying and misogyny was decades out of date. I have never felt as stressed and anxious as when I worked there. Louise Milligan is incredibly brave for taking them on, I’m sure this story will take a heavy personal toll on her.
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The entire TV industry is heading for / starting a massive reset.
Careers built around lunches and dinner, flogging TARPs on a single terrestrial signal, fighting for share from 2 competitors, can only last so long.
We are starting to see the change – smart, data literate leaders will end up taking these businesses forward, but not before a broom goes through the SLTs.
Next 12 months will be fascinating to see who takes the lead across the networks – grab the popcorn!
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Pot, kettle, black when it comes to toxic media workplaces and the ABC pointing the finger at any othr3r media outlets. The ABC is Australia’s absolute home for activist journalism and journalists and anyone that doesn’t push the same Socialist agenda doesn’t last very long.
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Will be watching for the truth
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As someone who worked in the Ch7 sales team a long time ago I can say without a doubt this was one of the most toxic places I’ve worked. The leadership who is still there today were responsible for bullying, shaming, and inappropriate behaviours that I’ve heard are still happening. These people have continued to be promoted within the business and leadership change needs to happen for there to be any hope of progress… Just look at anyone that’s been there more than 10+ years, they either were part of the problem or aware of it…
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Many of us will be watching for the truth at last.
Fish rot from the head down.
Thanks, Louise.
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Excellent. Seven and Stokes are cancer and I can only hope this is the beginning of their downfall
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I worked at Mobbs Lane in the 90’s in the stagehand and lighting departments. If you weren’t able to get into the “in crowd” you were definitely bullied and ostracized. Fellow workers would step on your head to get ahead with encouragement from others. It was a great place to work other than the treatment from other collegues. I can completely understand people speaking of a toxic climate and mental destroying conditions. How happy I would be to name names but this doesn’t seem to be the platform. Some of the guilty people are still at 7 to this day.
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What a shame it was such a great place to work between 74 -90 and still wasn’t to bad between 2000 -2009 but seemed to be on the decline.
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Funny, I’ve heard the same thing about the ABC.
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I couldn’t agree more. Having spent over five years in the newsroom, I have witnessed some truly appalling stories. The toxic workplace culture and bullying tactics that were perpetuated from the top created an environment that was deeply troubling. The constant turnover of staff during my tenure highlighted who could endure the toxicity the longest, before being betrayed by colleagues desperate to save their own jobs. It was truly a dog-eat-dog world.
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What a load of garbage. I work there and it’s nothing like that at all. Funny how a rival station asks sacked employees their opinions. Completely unbiased
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A total reboot of this company is needed. But in the meantime, those deck chairs need rearranging.
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Amazed so many people know how to run a TV business. We are truly blessed.
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How do I delete this unwanted segment from my WhatsApp app.
It does not delete as it should.
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Funnily enough I’ve heard about and seen lots of shonky stuff happen at our national broadcaster too.
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