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Redundancies hit Nine News dept

There are redundancies at Nine in News and Current Affairs, including veteran newsman John Westacott.

There are redundancies at Nine in News and Current Affairs according to The Australian today.

Veteran newsman John Westacott, who has been a consultant to 60 Minutes, will exit at the end of the year. ‘Westie’ has more than 25 years with Nine, including 16 years as 60 Minutes exec producer, plus as a former head of news and current affairs. He retired in mid 2009 but soon returned as a part-time consultant.

He was infamously drawn into Christine Spiteri’s anti-discrimination claim against the network in which he is reported to have said, “To make it in this game, women have to be f***ble.” He denied the allegation.

The newspaper also reports a producer and a unit manager on A Current Affair were recently told their contracts would not be renewed and the program also has let go some reporters.

Nine sources claim the redundancies were the result of general budget cuts and not a reflection on the people affected.

Seven is also expected to make cost-savings in News and Current Affairs soon.

11 Responses

  1. All they need is a once weekly Current Affairs Quality Show which they have in 60 minutes Sunday.Let the others apart from the 11am and 6pm News die and give the 4 to 5pm Hour back to the Children’s shows

  2. Here we go!!!!! this is just the start. 9 will be sacking staff on a constant basis for a long time to come. all because of the money they forked out for to the NRL tv rights. Gyngell, Brown and all associated with the NRL tv rights will be feeling alot of heat from the top brass at CVC. I am sure there will be more sackings to come. i am sure TV Tonight will be all over when it happens.

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