Sacked Choppergate journos take to Twitter to criticise ‘misinformation’ and flag up legal action
Mallet
Price: "Clear conscience"
The sacked journalists in Nine’s Choppergate scandal have taken to Twitter to put their side of the affair.
As Mumbrella reported last night, reporters Cameron Price and Melissa Mallet, and producer Aaron Wakeley were fired over faked live crosses from the Nine News chopper. Nine’s director of news Lee Anderson resigned.
Mallet was in the chopper on Saturday night and Price on Sunday when viewers were told they were hovering “near Beerwah”, where police were hunting for the body of murdered teenager Daniel Morcombe. In one case the chopper was still on the Nine helipad and in the other case it was close by.
It led to an on air apology to Queensland viewers.
After the firings, Price took to Twitter to tell followers that he was contemplating legal action. He said: “Thanks for all the support. I believe what happened today is completely unfair .. And I am seeking advice on the matter.”
He also updated his Twitter profile to read: “”Walkey and Clarion nominated Journo. With a clear conscience.”
Wakeley: "Misinformation"
Wakeley posted three messages:
“Thanks for all the support. It has been a trying week. I’m stunned by what’s been allowed to happen, and all the misinformation. (cont…)”
“(2/2) I’m seeking legal advice over the matter.”
“I wish @lando9999, @MelissaMallet9 and @CamPriceBris all the best. They are fantastic journos. Good luck to 9 news also. Keep smashing them.”
Mallet said in her Twitter message:
“will miss the team dearly.. Thank you for the support, a very difficult day to fathom”
Anderson: "resigned in protest"
Anderson, on Twitter as @lando9999, is the only one of the four who hasn’t yet said anything on Twitter.
Meanwile, Hugh Riminton, Ten’s political editor, said on Twitter that the reason that Anderson resigned was because he did not want the journalists to be sacked. Riminton tweeted:
“Lee Anderson was away at time of Nine Brisbane helicopter scam. Has quit in protest I’m told after three staffers were sacked tonight.”
Tim Burrowes founded Mumbrella in 2008. He worked on Mumbrella until 2021. At various points he was editor, content director and editor-at-large.
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Cameron Price
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I understand that Nine might have taken this action to ensure that it will not tolerate such behaviour, arguing that if viewers can’t trust it to tell the truth about where its journo are, then what other facts are bent to suit the day’s news agenda. However, I think that it is a bit harsh on the reporters who, I am sure, would have been told to shut up if they had protested at the fakery. It’s probably right that the news director had to go, as the buck stops with him but Nine’s reaction smacks of being seen to be doing the right thing.
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Oops, looks like Nine has turned a storm in a teacup into Hurricane Irene by sacking the poor reporters. A reprimand of the director and a public mea culpa was all that was required, and it would have disappeared. Now, looks like unfair dismissal claims et al are on the table. Nine could use some crisis management assistance.
On the upside, I wager Nine will be hiding in the Mt Coot-tha forest with cameras waiting for Seven to slip up.
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Where was Jeffrey Browne the MD of Channel 9 Melbourne when they faked the footage of money being stuffed in the bin of the staff toilet? Would be appropriate for him to resign or be sacked to show that accountability is also demanded from the top.
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Gary, I know that Hurricane Irene is topical given the current weather in the Bahamas, but it’s an odd name for a hurricane when ‘Irene’ derives from the old Greek for ‘peace’.
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Nice one JG 🙂
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How unfortunate it is to see qualified journalists compromising the quality of news.
We must assume that these journalists are products of the current news climate, that sacrifices the facts to secure the next BREAKING NEWS story. The Australian media should be continuously questioned & held accountable by the public to ensure honesty. The dominate Media ownership within this country allows for our news corporations to cut corners.
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