‘The Four Corners program backfired’: Seven’s Kerry Stokes slams ABC for ‘hypocrisy and entrenched cultural problems’
Kerry Stokes launched an attack on the ABC during Seven West Media’s annual general meeting on Thursday morning, accusing the national broadcaster of hypocrisy and unfair reporting.
Stokes took aim at the ABC’s Four Corners report, ‘Don’t Speak’, which aired in August and took aim at Channel Seven’s workplace culture , in which complaints of workplace bullying, sexual harassment, and whistleblowers not being listened to, were laid bare.
Stokes called the report “an egregious and unfair assault on our business and the reputation of our good people” and noted the hypocrisy of the network’s own recent controversies, including the insertion of gunfire into helmet-cam footage from Australian troops.
Crying foul because you got called tf out..
Well thank goodness that Seven have never made an error. What saviours of Australia media!
What a tone-deaf response – staff would not be feeling great if they can’t even acknowledge they have a problem (sure they do, as those featured in the story appear to be very genuine with their concerns about the culture within Seven.
Interesting take from the Chairman. Criticising ‘entrenched cultural problems’ while backing figures like Ben Roberts-Smith and Bruce Lehrmann gives new meaning to ‘irony.’ If media organisations should be accountable for their values, maybe it’s time to buckle up, Kerry.