- Veteran TV presenter seen crying as she leaves meeting with news chief
- Perth’s Channel 9 stands firm as new national news boss arrives
- Do you know anything else? Email: candace.sutton@mailonline.com
A veteran Channel Nine presenter was seen breaking down in tears after meeting her boss, as tensions mount at the network as it prepares to lay off 38 staff from its news division.
Monika Kos, the much-loved Perth presenter who has worked at Seven, then Channel Ten and now Nine since 1990, was seen in tears after meeting Nine News Perth news director Gareth Parker on Tuesday.
The meeting coincided with a whirlwind visit to the state by Fiona Dear, Nine’s newly appointed national director of news and current affairs. This sparked fears among observers that Kos’s dismissal could be the first in a wave of redundancies.
Although Nine has denied Ms Dear was at the Kos meeting, staff are understood to be “walking on eggshells” with Ms Dear’s arrival and the announced job cuts at the broadcaster.
Monika Kos was seen leaving a meeting with the head of news at Channel Nine Perth in tears, sparking fears the much-loved veteran news presenter could be the first to be axed in upcoming redundancies at the network.
Monika Kos and 6pm newsreader Michael “Thommo” Thomson are part of Nine’s evening news team. Nine staff are “walking on eggshells” as the network prepares to lay off 38 news staff
When Daily Mail Australia contacted Nine about Kos’s tears, the network denied she had been fired.
A spokeswoman insisted the 56-year-old news anchor was simply “sad” about a matter involving a colleague.
Known to viewers as ‘Mon’, Kos’ poise and warm voice have seen her star in award shows, sporting events and charity programmes.
He previously fronted local versions of Seven’s Today Tonight and now-cancelled Ten News First.
Kos now fronts Nine’s 4pm newscast, followed by top-rated quiz show The Tipping Point, which provides a handy ratings primer before the 6pm bulletin.
Presented by Michael ‘Thommo’ Thomson, 63, Nine News in Perth has, however, fallen behind Seven’s nightly newscast, which traditionally wins its slot.
The arrival in Perth of Fiona Dear, Nine’s new director of news and current affairs, has sparked fears in the newsroom.
Monika Kos, 56 (left), is also a Perth personality who presents sporting and awards events, and there were fears of parallels between her and Brisbane news presenter Shayrn Ghidella, 57, who was just axed by the Seven Network in Brisbane.
The drama comes amid bloodshed at rival broadcaster Channel Seven, where veteran presenters including Brisbane news anchor Sharyn Ghidella, Gold Coast weatherman Paul Burt and Sydney police reporter Robert Ovadia have been axed.
Monika Kos is married to Australian media royalty.
Her husband, Grant Willessee, is the son and nephew of former national team legends Terry Willessee and Mike Willessee.