60 Minutes “fall guy” was Hugh Marks’ decision

Media reaction to Nine’s outcome in the 60 Minutes saga has not been good.

Many have described Stephen Rice as “the fall guy…scapegoat…patsy” for a series of mistakes made by many, including those senior to him.

The @60Mins soundman gets a formal warning, but senior show executives get off scott free for #childabduction fiasco. Bizarre @Channel9

— Hugh Riminton (@hughriminton) May 27, 2016

The @60Mins soundman gets a formal warning, but senior show executives get off scott free for #childabduction fiasco. Bizarre @Channel9

— Hugh Riminton (@hughriminton) May 27, 2016

Hung out to dry- #60Minutes producer scapegoat for Beirut kidnapping scandal. #TenNewshttps://t.co/8CtoOOSJal pic.twitter.com/lPf8xeZkI5

— Sandra Sully 📺🎧📲🏑🌺 (@Sandra_Sully) May 27, 2016

A range of media articles have taken aim at Nine’s actions yesterday.

And in what is clearly an admission of sacking, CEO Hugh Marks tells The Australian, the decision to part company with ­experienced producer Rice was “ultimately my judgment call”.

“There were a number of ­people involved in the story, and there were a number of mistakes. For me, the producer at 60 Minutes has carriage of stories, and ­receives autonomy in how they produce that story,” he said.

“Stephen had the carriage through the process and therefore the highest degree of involvement, and in terms of the various errors of judgment that were made through the process.

“There are a number of people who have made mistakes and we’ve certainly pointed out and had quite strong conversations about those mistakes.”

Many observers were looking to Marks to see what action he would take, as a test of his leadership.

Intriguingly, the Independent report into the @60Mins mess did not recommend that #StephenRice be sacked. That was announced by management.

— Hugh Riminton (@hughriminton) May 27, 2016

The dismissal comes despite the story being commissioned by former executive producer Tom Malone, who did not consult with News boss Darren Wick on the story. Malone has since taken charge of Nine’s Sport division.

This week the NRL Footy Show, which he oversees, issued an apology to Cameron Smith following a 60 Minutes story he also oversaw. Today News Corp reports Liz Hayes is “said to be seething the sports program, which Malone now oversees, orchestrated the make-up session with Smith; without acknowledging her own vigorous attempts to include his right of reply in the original broadcast.”

Tomorrow night 60 Minutes will turn the saga into one of its own feature stories.