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Seven workplace culture: “This sort of behaviour needs to be called out, and it needs to be changed.”

Explosive claims reported by Four Corners paint a brutal workplace picture of bullying, sexism, and exploitation but Seven insists, "unacceptable behaviour is not tolerated."

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Allegations of bullying, sexism, assault and exploitation were levelled against Seven Network last night in an explosive Four Corners report by Louise Milligan.

They included interviews from both past and present staff naming news executives who have since departed the network.

At their most serious level were claims that some staff had attempted suicide and been hospitalised.

Some of the 200 people who spoke to Milligan had been forced to sign Non-Disclosure Agreements (one of those, Anber Harrison, did not appear in the final edit). Four Corners criticised the media company for operating in news and journalism yet silencing its own staff from whistle-blowing.

Amongst the key allegations raised were:

  • A young Queensland journalist who became so distressed at her workplace treatment, she ran in front of a car outside a Seven office before tumbling into Mt Coot-tha bushland.
  • Former Seven presenter Mark Gibson was one of several Perth staffers complaining about news boss Shaun Menegola. He claims he was followed by private investigators, while Menegola stayed on.
  • Current Seven Sunrise producer Matthew McGrane lodged a workers compensation claim after an accident with his wheelchair whilst returning home. It was rejected when the network said it had no formal agreement for him to spend some of his working hours at home. McGrane is suing Seven for disability discrimination.
  • Claims of ‘anti-semitic’ and offensive texts sent by former Spotlight executive producer Mark Llewellyn to producer Taylor Auerbach.
  • An investigation into former Seven reporter Robert Ovadia following alleged unprofessional conduct. He denies the claims and is suing Seven for unfair dismissal.
  • Current Seven Toowoomba reporter Olivia Babb claimed harassment and bullying and complaints around salary.
  • A former Human Resources staffer who claimed she was instructed to go through emails to construct false or misleading cases against staff in order to terminate their contracts.
  • A journalist on  Spotlight, suing the network for sexual discrimination, describes it as a profoundly sexist workplace. Her legal claim cites one example in 2022 of entering an edit suite and seeing a pornographic picture on the wall (She does not suggest that the executive producer was aware of it).

The Queensland journalist who was working extremely long hours for a base salary and was suffering from crippling anxiety told Seven that she was leaving, but was told she would have to remain at the network for another six months.

“The only way I can describe it is I felt like I had a noose around my neck,” she told Four Corners. She said she felt like she was “in a committed domestic violence relationship with [Seven News]”.

“I just spiralled,” she said, “I saw a car driving towards me up the road, I ran in front of it and hoped it would hit me. It stopped. I kept running to find another car. I saw the edge of the cliff at Mt Coot-tha and I jumped. I tumbled down the hill, through the bush.”

One Spotlight journalist said,”I got to the point where I was suicidal, and I remember in one particularly dark moment where I’d worked all weekend.

“I rang Lifeline, and I made a doctor’s appointment because I knew I was so close to taking my own life. And I had a child that I couldn’t do that to because I was a single parent.”

Reporter Olivia Babb, currently earning less than $60,000, said, “It is one of the most degrading, soul-crushing places you can work….We did a story the other day and one of my [interview subjects] said, ‘We’re all one or two pay cheques away from homelessness.’ That’s me.”


Mark Gibson, now employed by ABC, said, “It often uses the phrase, ‘It’s the Sunrise family, it’s the Telethon family, it’s the Seven News family…It’s a very dysfunctional family.”

He said he was speaking out now because “I don’t want to be the person who stays silently complicit in this sort of behaviour. This sort of behaviour in a workplace needs to be called out and it needs to be changed.”

Four Corners only made a fleeting reference to Nine newsroom and ABC allegations (in June 97 ABC News staff reported having experienced sexual harassment and 25% had personally experienced bullying).

According to the Daily Telegraph Mark Llewellyn denied the racism claims.

In response to the claims a Seven statement said:

“Seven West Media (SWM) notes the issues raised by the ABC’s Four Corners program in tonight’s episode. While we are clearly concerned about allegations of poor behaviour and any mistreatment of employees, a number of matters raised represent old issues that have been well aired and dealt with, in some cases many years ago.

“A number of people who have displayed behaviour not reflective of SWM’s values have already been removed from the organisation.

“We encourage all Seven West Media team members to call out any behaviour that does not reflect our values. Whistle-blower protections are in place and are regularly re-emphasised with all staff.

“We have a great team at SWM and the actions of some individuals do not reflect the values, behaviour and attitude of the business as a whole, which is home to some of the best, hardest working and most passionate media professionals in Australia. Our focus is to build a stronger culture that enables our great people to thrive, and where unacceptable behaviour is not tolerated.”

Last month Seven West Media was announced in the Workplace Gender Equality Agency’s cohort of WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality  citation holders, for a second time.

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Updated.

13 Responses

  1. I too had Sunrise on today to see if they covered the story. My daughter came out and changed the channel. It made her sick to even have Seven on

  2. I’m friendly with a former Seven News employee, so I’ve known stories of this ilk for the last 5 .. 6 years. Glad they got out when they did and it’s all — at long last — coming out.

    Not suggesting anything untoward or that Louise Milligan might have an axe to grind, but I always found her departure from Seven abrupt and ill-explained. I know this story isn’t about her, but it just feels … off. Guess we’ll wait and see.

  3. So they won a gender equality award but treat one gender poorly. That is not gender equality. Tuned into Sunrise this morning to see if they covered the story on the 8 am new but nothing. They did cover the problems at Nine a few month ago. Have always watched 7 news but the 4 Corners report has really opened my eyes. I am pretty disgusted at 7 and will be switching. I really hope a high profile 7 person will one day come out with their side of the story. someone like Barr, Koch or Armitage. People who would know what really goes on.

  5. Just to be very clear to those who are not familiar with Mt Coot-tha it is surrounded by a lot of dense bushland (as per GladysK) with walking tracks …it has been for several months lately the subject on the news of sexual attacks on women to the point where safety cameras have been installed…but on another matter….is it true according to another tv source as stated “according to the Courier Mail”..another Seven presenter has been sacked or decided to jump ship after 18 years.. that being Shane Webcke to “concentrate on his agricultural interests” because last night Ben Davis was on with Trevor Gillmeister on sport instead. If Max Futcher and Tiny Auden leave I’m done with Seven because that is the only show I watch on Seven..I just cannot be bothered with all the reality they pump out..which IMO is buggering the 3 commercial network it’s more than 20 odd years of it now, reality competitions have no substance for me to even watch judging people on their abilities or getting paid.

  6. Didnt know there was “bushland” to “tumble into at “a seven office”. That’s “Mt Coot-tha bushland” in Brisbane. Up there, on the mountain.
    “was he “returning home” from work, or was he working from home?”. Both.

  7. Interesting article, some seem a bit strange,” A young Queensland journalist who became so distressed at her workplace treatment, she ran in front of a car outside a Seven office before tumbling into Mt Coot-tha bushland.” Didnt know there was “bushland” to “tumble into at “a seven office”
    or “Current Seven Sunrise producer Matthew McGrane lodged a workers compensation claim after an accident with his wheelchair whilst returning home. It was rejected when the network said it had no formal agreement for him to spend some of his working hours at home. McGrane is suing Seven for disability discrimination.” So was he “returning home” from work, or was he working from home?
    or “A journalist on Spotlight, suing the network for sexual discrimination, describes it as a profoundly sexist workplace. Her legal claim cites one example in 2022 of entering an edit suite and seeing a pornographic picture on the wall (She does not suggest that the executive producer was aware of it)define porn

    1. The studios for Seven, Nine & Ten Brisbane are all located on Sir Samuel Griffith Drive near the summit of Mount Coot-tha (it’s not just a suburb name, it’s literally a mountain).

      “Mt Coot-tha is a Brisbane icon forming a backdrop for the city and is Brisbane City Council’s largest natural area. It contains more than 1600 hectares of open eucalypt forest, rainforest gullies and creek lines. ”

      There’s plenty of bushland around there to “tumble into”.

    2. “Didnt know there was “bushland” to “tumble into at “a seven office”

      It was clear from the overhead footage of the 7 Brisbane studios that it’s surrounded by dense bush land. The Nine and Ten studios also on Mt Coot-tha would be same.

      “McGrane is suing Seven for disability discrimination.” So was he “returning home” from work, or was he working from home?”

      He claimed that Seven allowed him to split his shift so he could work half his shift in the office then leave early to catch the last bus home before, and then finish his shift at home.

      “Her legal claim cites one example in 2022 of entering an edit suite and seeing a pornographic picture on the wall (She does not suggest that the executive producer was aware of it)define porn”

      She gave a pretty graphic description to make it clear what it was..

  8. These allegations are disturbing and have completely ruined the image I had in my head of Seven being the family network. The damage this appalling management and culture has done to so many lives will never be undone. The worst part is because of all the non disclosure agreements what was on Four Corners is probably the tip of the iceberg.

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