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Footy Show staff to undergo training

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Following on from the “resting” of Sam Newman, The Footy Show’s staff will now undergo anti-discrimination training.

Nine CEO David Gyngell has indicated he intends enforcing several measures to address concerns, raised in a letter from leading female AFL club board members.

These will include the development of further training and awareness-raising programs for staff of the show, says The Age.

The Women’s Forum Australia lobby group, which had appealed for the show’s sponsors and advertisers to withdraw in protest, yesterday welcomed the decision.

Director Melinda Tankard-Reist said the group would have preferred the network to condemn Newman rather than “framing it in terms of concerns for Newman’s health” but “at least the executives have taken some action”.

The news contradicts what Gary Lyon had said earlier this month in regards to any training: “The last thing I want to say on this is that suggestions that we here at the Footy Show, us, the panel members, Trevor, the crew need to go to some seminar to talk about respect for women. Now that is laughable. Those women do not know me. I’ve not met those women. I don’t accept that I need to go and learn about showing respect for women.”

“We accept that you’ve been critical of us,” he said.

“That is it. It was it three weeks ago. Done and dusted…”

Additional source: The Age

3 Responses

  1. 29/5/08

    Facebook Petition/group started to get Sam back on the air. Close to 3,500 joined in 48 hours.

    Some of the comments..

    “Sam is the best thing about the footy show,
    his funny and i dont get why women are reacting the way they are
    me n my sister dont finnd him offensive in any way i think everyone including the media should leave him alone”

    “i got really pissed off when John Brumby said the mannequin stunt was offensive and I yelled at the TV “I’m a girl and I wasn’t offended!!” i still love the footy show no matter what, especially sam newman”

    “Channel 9 was happy to support Sam until two sponsors of channel 9 threatened to pull out as a result of his remarks against women, I wont name the two sponsors but who do you think sits on the board of these two organisations..”

    “It’s all about feminism these days, and I as a woman am sick and tired of their b**s**t!! Sam wouldn’t of been pulled off the show if it was a male doll would he? Have a think about that one. He wasn’t just pulled off for medical reasons”

    Join us all here!!

    http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=31765456656

  2. ah Mike, Caroline Wilson for one cares, not to mention a number of other high profile women who feel Newmans stunt was vulgar and distasteful, which it was, not surprising really that the only thing that make Channel 9 respond was advertisers threatening to withdraw from the show..hit ’em where it hurts!

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