Kapalos axing is poor but it’s not a sexist move
Former TEN presenter says "It is a real shame that women are the first to get the chop." But she is wrong.
- Published by David Knox
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Former TEN News presenter Jennifer Hansen has commented on TEN’s axing of Helen Kapalos as a sexist move by the network.
But I don’t agree.
News Limited reports she said, “Sexism is rampant in many industries, but I think in particular in TV news it is almost permitted and encouraged by a certain mentality among management.
“As much as I like Mal, and have enormous respect for him, I feel it is a shame there is the thought, ‘Oh, the man is the important one, we better keep him’,” she said.
“If they can’t afford her (Kapalos) then that is a real shame, but I also think it is a real shame that women are the first to get the chop.”
The Age quotes former FOX FM breakfast host Tracy Bartram, in agreement: ”I am so angry that once again a brilliant woman has been treated shabbily by the boys in their suits. Ours is a dirty business but once again, a woman is blamed/removed because of programming that insults most Australians, and results in poor ratings. Yet Bolt still has a job – spare me!”
But we need to look beyond the genders here and beyond the statelines.
In New South Wales, TEN let go Bill Woods and kept Sandra Sully as its 5pm presenter.
In Western Australia it kept Narelda Jacobs and let go Craig Smart.
Similarly, Mal Walden was retained because he has more longevity with the network.
While I don’t support yesterday’s very dark day (except that Breakfast was unsalvageable) TEN retained the news presenter who the audience bonded most with.
Helen Kapalos will be a great loss, but it’s not about genders and she is not the only casualty.
20 Responses
Maybe it’s sexist the other way around? Mal’s the only male evening news host left.
Missing from the hit list of Casualties The Actor who plays Paul Robinson on Stable Mate 11’s Neighbours
Her comment seems to have been made before the announcement that Ron Wilson, Bill Woods and others were fired so I can understand why that was her first reaction. I’m sure it’s based on her own bad experiences in the industry.
The retention of Sandra Sully & the sacking of Bill Woods & Ron Wilson put the ‘sexist’ argument to bed.
If Channel Ten sacks everyone – or nearly everyone – is that sexist?
What’s happening with TEN News Queensland? Apart from 10 senior staff being let go, will they still have Bill McDonald and Georgina Lewis fronting the news?
I was never a fan of Jenifer Hansen but thought Helen Kapalos was as good as any newsreader in the country. To say the decision was sexist is silly. TEN have had stacks of female newsreaders.There really are no facts to back up Jennifers claims. Mal Walden is still reading the news on TEN because he is an institution and possibly the best newsreader in Australia. Helen will be fine, she is way too good not to be back on telly. If 7 Melbourne wants a new presenter for their news she would be a winner.
The sexism angle was very easy, lazy reporting. It is quite clear that it wasn’t about Helen’s gender.
That said, the fact that we are losing familiar faces such as Helen and Bill and Ron because of appalling decisions made by Ten a couple of years ago is a real shame. And while their statements for the more recent announcements are better than the one for Helen, they are hardly very warm are they? Ron has been there for 30 years! Mean.
Well summed-up, Andrew (and David, of course).
I think that Bolt evokes the responses that he does because he and his program were specifically installed at Ten by Reinhart to push a personal and, at times, extreme, agenda.
Bolt claims to be fair and balanced but he uses a range of rhetorical tricks to distort information (or just says things that are not true), cherry-picks data, and quote-mines opponents. He bullies and badgers people that he doesn’t agree with rather than debating them, and repeatedly asks the same questions over and over again like some mantra, even when they have been answered.
I think that is what people object to. His media presence is not great thru his own show but he does have a wider impact via his blog and syndicated newspaper column.
@Andrew….alot of sense mate. A women gets fired and sexism is the cause. Not the fact she brings the least to the party. Soooo over it.
@bettestreep2008: What about Ron Wilson, Bill Woods, Craig Smart? Male newsreaders asked to walk out. Plus any number of reporters that have also left in recent times. And as far as media reports go Paul Henry is heading back to NZ.
Kim Watkins was sacked along with David Reyne when Ten axed 9AM. So how is that sexist?
Ten has also employed Chrissie Swan to front a prime-time program. Do guys run around saying that is sexist?
They gave the Chairman’s wife a job hosting a dance show. Favourtism? Likely. But sexist?
Ten has also appointed a female as its senior program director. Sexist?
People are too quick to slam on the “sexist” tag IMO. Just because someone who happens to lose a job is female does not make something sexist. Lots of guys are being shown the door too.
And enough of the “what about Andrew Bolt” rants. The man occupies one half-hour of airtime a week and it’s buried on a Sunday morning. 99% of the population wouldn’t even know the show is there. Why do people blow his media presence out of all proportion?
Also im really sick of people calling everything sexist. Last time i checked Bill Woods was a guy.
These presents they are sacking are ‘experienced’ but they are also old. They have had their chance. They are not even that good…really.
And while Ten news is one of the channels stronger running shows it still is far from good.
Their ratings are less than two thirds what 7 and Nine get.
No tears here. They are merely killing any dead “wood”
It doesn’t look good that they announced her dumping in a very blunt manner in isolation to the rest of the sackings that came this week.
But to roll out the “sexist” tag is nothing but a knee-jerk reaction.
Out of this round of sackings what is the male:female ratio?
David – totally disagree with you.
The sacking of Helen Kapalos was indeed sexist.
The men in suits have treated female newsreaders appallingly over the years – Jennifer Hansen, Tracey Spicer, Kim Watkins, Helen…
What is surprising – not – is that Andrew Bolt remains.
And I do believe that Paul Henry is also still on the payroll – despite Breakfast being axed (finally).
Is it too much a stretch to guess that Paul will be on The Project very very soon?
The hiring of super PR guru Russell Howcroft is proving to be an absolute fizzer. The Ten network is damaging it’s brand even worse with the firing of all these popular newsreaders.
Tracey Spicer? How far back are we supposed to go? Sorry I am talking latest rounds. ps. Howcroft starts in 2013.
Oh dear Jennifer, spare me. Count the numbers.
Nine has more female than male newsreaders.
At 7 Sydney Ian Ross was replaced by Chris Bath (Mrs. Jim Wilson). She also fronts “Sunday”.
“Lateline” and “7:30” – women. ABC24 presenters and reporters – mostly women.
“Bolt still has a job”-kept in place by a woman – Gina R.
Ridiculous.
So firing someone who happens to have a vagina is sexist?
Amazing.
If Jennifer had said it was a stupid decision by a useless network that is dead in the water, I’d agree.
Missing from the’Hit’ list of casualties.
Murdoch.
Packer.
Rienhhart.
And last but by no means least…Bolt.
Couldn’t agree more David, whilst the treatment of Helen Kapalos was particularly appalling, it didn’t seem a sexist move, just a really bad one. Whilst there is little doubt of the inequalities within the industry, in my opinion Ten is making very balanced, stupid decisions. Except for Breakfast.