First of all, our apologies for a slightly late newsletter this week. We've been working on an investigation we were hoping to bring to you, which may need a bit more time.
Luckily, we've managed to still rustle up some original reporting for you today:
- Is the Honeymoon Over? Inside Hugh Marks' Week from Hell at the ABC — By Scott Mitchell
- The Good Ones: A great read on a journalism scandal, Netflix's new thriller and Os admits his guilty TV pleasure.
We also want to mention how overwhelmed we have been by the response to the live events we're doing in a few weeks. Our end-of-year party and the first ever L's of the Year awards is really shaping up to be Australian media's night-of-nights.
Melbourne has completely sold out, and Sydney tickets are selling fast. We'd love to see any of you who can make it in Sydney, but we do have a capacity limit, so jump on tickets while they're still available.
Is the Honeymoon Over? Inside Hugh Marks' Week from Hell at the ABC
By Scott Mitchell
ABC managing director Hugh Marks' pay offer to ABC staff was rejected on Friday, and now management will be forced back to the bargaining table with unions, and journalists at the broadcaster could go on strike.
It was announced on Friday morning that a resounding 55.9 per cent of ABC staff voted ‘no' on management's latest pay offer, which was 3.5 per cent in the first year, followed by 3.25 per cent in the second and third years that would be covered under the agreement.
Management has argued the offer is above the current inflation rate of 3.2 per cent, while the media union, the MEAA, has argued the offer fails to compensate staff for wages at the public broadcaster growing slower than inflation over the last few years, or keep up with what inflation is projected to rise to by June next year.
It's a significant blow to management and comes at a crucial time for the ABC's leadership, who this week announced the new content slate for 2026.
Every incoming boss at the ABC gets a honeymoon period. There are easy wins when morale is low at the broadcaster: praising the organisation's journalistic excellence or making the case that the broadcaster is still at the centre of Australian life. But inevitably, managing directors begin to make their own decisions and have to own them.
