Final word from “news babes” sets the record straight on working in TV

Four female journalists are the latest to respond to Geoffrey Barker’s article on “News babes” in what is hopefully the final word on the subject.

Seven reporter Sarah Coates, Nine crime reporter Dimity Clancey, TEN’s Natasha Exelby and SKY News political reporter Laura Jayes were all interviewed in a Sunday Telegraph piece today.

Sarah Coates often works a 14-hour shift that could see her covering anything from natural disasters to daylight robbery.

“It’s not glamorous,” she said. “My day often involves sitting in the gutter, sometimes in the rain, trying to write a script or interview people when they’re at their most vulnerable.”

Laura Jayes agreed, saying: “You travel for a week and I reckon you might get 20 hours of sleep in that whole week.

“My days start at 5.30 and I read every paper and listen to the radio and that’s before I get to work. When a story breaks I don’t have time to read about it. I have to know it.

“I’m sure that like in every industry there are a few girls, and guys as well, who aren’t experienced but are good sorts – they don’t last.”

Clancey added: “I’ve had men threaten to rape me and say ‘I want to f … you for breakfast’.

“I see it all in my day-to-day coverage of crime.

“You really need to have your wits about you and be able to hold yourself and not let that fear that automatically comes over you kick in. You’ve got to be brave and tough,” she said.

TEN’s Natasha Exelby (pictured) was a federal political reporter for three years before moving to Sydney as a senior reporter

“I wanted to sit down and have a talk to this guy and tell him that for him to say females were out of touch, I can’t recall reading an article that was more out of touch,” she said.

Hopefully the points have now been adequately made and we can all move on now.