A leaked letter has revealed that ABC Radio staff are furious with management for leaving them in the dark after failing to renew the contracts of two beloved presenters.
In a letter sent to the ABC board, Sydney staff said they were “bewildered and concerned” after Sarah Macdonald and Simon Marnie were sacked.
Reporters said management did not consult or provide an explanation for why the couple was fired from the morning shift, other than that the program needed a “revamp.”
Macdonald has been on stress leave since announcing on air that the ABC would not renew his contract after two years presenting the morning shift.
The national broadcaster is yet to announce Macdonald’s replacement, however it is understood to be former Q&A presenter Hamish Macdonald. the guardian reported.
Hamish Macdonald co-hosts ABC Radio National’s Global Roaming program and is a panelist on Channel Ten’s The Project.
“We have a unique relationship with our audience, which funds us to provide them with information, entertainment and companionship,” the letter said.
‘Sarah McDonald announced that “ABC Management would not renew her contract.” This is a public relations disaster on many levels.
Beloved ABC Radio Sydney presenter Sarah Macdonald banned from national broadcasters’ morning shows
‘We are not reacting to Sarah’s distress. We are reacting to an audience overflowing with confusion and disbelief, the likes of which we have never seen before.
‘We believe recent actions have trampled on this relationship of trust. “We believe this is a mistake and undermines what has been achieved here in a century of broadcasting.”
The letter acknowledged management’s responsibility to improve ratings, but stated that staff had concerns with business management’s current leadership style.
Without naming them, the letter points to current leadership, including Capital City network and sports boss Mike Fitzpatrick and audio director Ben Latimer.
“We are seeing a significant shift toward senior management who have experience in commercial media and radio,” the letter said.
‘We have yet to see evidence of a true understanding and belief in the vital role and responsibility of public broadcasting in these senior positions.
“None of them really understand public broadcasting and have made little effort to understand the nature of Local Radio (ABC).”
Staff claimed to “not feel heard” and were “deeply disappointed”, before requesting a meeting with ABC president Kim Williams or another board member to discuss the current situation.
Macdonald announced she was fired from the morning show just weeks after beloved radio host Richard Glover, 66, announced his retirement on air.
Glover retired from his position after presenting ABC’s Drive show from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm for the past 26 years.
Meanwhile, Sydney presenter Simon Marnie has been removed from ABC Radio Sydney’s weekend show after a meeting with management.
Marnie told listeners on her latest show from Government House earlier this month that she had met with management, who told her there was “no longer any place for him on the weekends.”
The ABC declined to comment when contacted by Daily Mail Australia.