Former employees of Channel Nine have come forward with allegations of inappropriate behavior by former head of news and current affairs Darren Wick. One reporter stated that she felt used by Wick and feared harming her career by speaking out. Another woman described Wick’s behavior at public functions such as staff Christmas parties, the Logies, and TV ratings celebrations as “sneaky arse-rubbing” and close lingering hugs. A male reporter mentioned that Wick’s inappropriate behavior was a known issue at events like the Logies.
The culture of fear and cutthroat competition in the television news industry prevented staff from speaking out about Wick’s behavior. A third woman described Wick as a “rotten drunk” who made advances towards her and other female colleagues at the Logies, causing embarrassment and discomfort. She felt trapped because Wick held the power over her future career at the network. It was rumored among female colleagues to avoid sitting near Wick at events with alcohol, indicating a pervasive awareness of his inappropriate actions.
Despite the allegations, no action was taken against Wick until a formal complaint was made in January. The network initiated an external review, and Wick was asked to step aside. However, the complaint was not substantiated as the complainant declined to be interviewed. Despite the lack of evidence, Nine management decided there was no way back for Wick. He announced his departure from the network in March after taking a few weeks off to consider his future. The complainant is reportedly taking legal action against the network.
Following reports of the allegations against Wick, Nine’s CEO Mike Sneesby stated that the network does not tolerate inappropriate behavior and encouraged staff to report any such incidents promptly. However, many employees were angered by management’s handling of the situation, feeling that it was widely known within the network and that Wick’s behavior had not been addressed sooner. Some staff members criticized management for not being transparent about the reasons for Wick’s departure, feeling as though they had been misled about the situation.
Sneesby expressed distress over the historic behavior issues that caused distress to women in the business and emphasized the importance of establishing a culture of respect within the network. He also stated that complaints are taken seriously and followed up with a fair process. Sneesby is returning early from a planned holiday to address the crisis. Responses from Wick regarding the allegations were not provided in the report, highlighting the ongoing issues of workplace misconduct and the need for transparency and accountability in addressing such behavior.
