TV pundits have initiated “cold” and “brutal” layoffs following a week of massive staff cuts and redundancies.
The revolving door continues to turn at Seven News studios in Brisbane, just days after 150 Seven West Media staff opened the door.
In a letter to staff, veteran operations manager Craig Dyer announced his immediate resignation after more than 20 years with the chain.
The news comes as Nine Entertainment also announced 200 jobs will be cut across Australia.
Dyer’s sudden departure came in the wake of forced redundancies at Channel 7’s Mount Coot-Tha studios in Brisbane, including staff under Dyer’s supervision, the outlet reported. courier mail.
Among those who saw the door were two cameramen, a long-serving technical employee, a news producer and other behind-the-scenes staff.
One of the cameramen was told that he would be fired while he was working.
In the middle of filming, the cameraman was ordered to return to the station, where he was informed that he would be let go.
One Seven News Brisbane cameraman was sacked while on assignment. Pictured: Channel 7’s Mount Coot-Tha studios
Popular Brisbane weatherman Paul Burt (pictured) was made redundant in the job cuts, with staff only finding out about it through the media.
Staff whose jobs were secure were informed of the cuts at a meeting on Wednesday.
A source close to the event described the Brisbane layoffs as “brutal” and “cold”, leaving a sombre mood at the Mount Coot-Tha studios.
The source also said that staff only learned about the firing of popular meteorologist Paul Burt in the media, which was not mentioned in internal communications.
Nine Entertainment also announced last week that 200 jobs would be cut across Australia, with worried staff still waiting to hear whether their jobs are safe.
Only 38 jobs are expected to be cut across national television news and current affairs teams, with Brisbane favourites at the network likely to avoid the latest wave of redundancies.
The remainder of the job losses are expected to impact digital and front office roles.
There have been calls for top earners at the Nine Network to take a pay cut, including Love Island presenter Sophie Monk (pictured).
Nine high-profile talents are also in the firing line, but not from network bosses.
The announcement of the job cuts led to calls on social media for Nine’s highest-earning workers to take a pay cut or be made redundant so that other jobs across the network can be saved.
Among the top earners is Today show host Karl Stefanovic, who reportedly earns $1.5 million a year.
Love Island Australia host Sophie Monk has also been criticised for her high earnings of around $800,000 a year.