Comment from Peter Saxon

Certain sections of the media like nothing more than a good gotcha story that catches a competitor in a compromising position. In this case The Australian’s Sophie Elsworth has caught NINE Radio with its metaphoric pants down in failing to disclose the personal interests – side hustles, if you will –  of some of their talent with commercial entities that they may have mentioned on air. If true, this would put NINE in breach of the Broadcasting Services (Commercial Radio Current Affairs Disclosure) Standard 2022.

The ACMA on its website states: Commercial radio stations with current affairs and talkback programs have to disclose commercial agreements that may impact the content in these programs.

All true. One might even say it’s a solid piece of investigative journalism but, if they were handing out Walkley Awards for making a mountain out of a mole hill of a story, Ms Elsworth would have more Walkley’s on her shelf than Steve Blanda has ACRAs.

From sources within NINE, that are familiar with the matter but wish to remain anonymous as they are not authorised to speak to media on this subject, radioinfo understands that the organisation accepts the fact that it ‘got it wrong’ and intends to co-operate fully with the ACMA’s investigations into several matters across the network.

The ACMA’s main gripe with NINE is in connection with 3AW Melbourne, which has recently announced a major re-shuffle following the news that long-time Morning’s presenter Neil Mitchell will retire at the end of this year. Starting January 24 the new line-up will comprise (as per the main pic, L-R, supplied) Tom Elliott who will take over Mornings, Jacqui Felgate, replacing Elliot as Drive host, and Tony Moclair will step into Afternoons from Overnights.

Ms Felgate, was a regular on the Seven Network before joining 3AW about 18 months ago to do a food review. Before long she was co-hosting Friday Night Footy. Then, a couple of months ago, in July, after Dee Dee Dunleavy’s sudden departure left the Afternoon spot vacant, Ms Felgate took over.

According to sources, it was her swift transition from being listed as a ‘sports commentator’ to a ‘current affairs and talkback presenter,’ that caught management on the hop. As the former there is no official requirement to disclose. As the latter, there is. They should have posted her partnerships, and there are plenty, on the 3AW website before she did her first Talk Show. 

No Cash for Comment, no intent do deceive. I doubt they’d lose their licence over this one.

Peter Saxon