Channel Seven news presenter Sharyn Ghidella has reportedly been fired from the network because she was paid a much higher salary than her co-presenter Max Futcher.
Anonymous insiders told the Daily Telegraph: Ladle The decision to fire Ghidella, 58, “was a question of money” and the beleaguered network decided Futcher was the cheapest option as part of a series of budget cuts.
The same sources say that Ghidella was preparing to film a promotional video for EKKA’s upcoming show in Brisbane when she learned that she was being fired.
As solo presenter of Seven’s flagship 6pm bulletin on Friday night, Futcher paid tribute to Ghidella, whom he called a “good friend”.
“The first thing she did tonight was not want to say goodbye and she is too humble to want us to make a fuss about it. But we would like to thank Sharyn Ghidella for her wonderful 17 years behind the desk here at Seven News Brisbane,” he said.
“A true professional, a consummate journalist and, to all of us, a friend, a mentor and a good colleague.”
Ghidella, who has been the face of Seven News in Queensland since 2007, confirmed her sacking in an impassioned Facebook post on Friday.
She said her “tap on the shoulder” finally came while she was in the salon, admitting it was something of a “relief” after several anxious weeks over media job cuts.
Insiders say veteran Channel Seven presenter Sharyn Ghidella (pictured) has been axed by the network over her high salary as the network embarks on a cost-cutting mission.
But she was determined not to go quietly and criticised the ailing network for prioritising gimmicks like astrological readings over retaining veteran talent.
“When you work in television for as long as I have, not a day goes by that you don’t expect a tap on the shoulder… After 38 years, I finally got a tap on the shoulder,” Ghidella began.
‘It wasn’t exactly how I expected it to end up at Channel Seven.
‘I was sitting in the salon for work when I got a call telling me that after 17 years at the chain, my time was up.’
Ghidella later said her recent time at the network had been “miserable” and that she was glad to be walking out the door.
“While I am a little saddened by this decision, I also feel a certain relief. As has been widely reported, the past two weeks on television have sadly been a miserable affair,” he wrote.
‘A long list of talented, loyal and dedicated employees have been shown the door, in what seems to have been a never-ending process of slowly ripping off the band-aid when it comes to removing what has been deemed excess stock.
Max Futcher, who now solo presents Seven Queensland’s 6pm news bulletin, paid tribute to Ghidella on Friday, calling her a “good friend”.
“These people are some of the best content creators in the industry. They’re good people and it’s been heartbreaking to watch.”
Ghidella added that he was not happy with the rebranding of the network’s news programming, which will see comedian Mark Humphries doing a comedy sketch at 6:57pm tonight, and ‘Astro Tash’ starting an astrology report next week.
“I’m also not one to like the evening news with humor and horoscopes, so to be honest, it’s time for me to go,” Ghidella joked.
“As I often say, the caravan moves on. There is certainly still a lot of talent in the team and I wish them all the best for the future.”
He ended his post by bluntly thanking the many friends he had made throughout his long career at the network.
Channel Seven has been laying off several big names in journalism from its news division.
“I want to express my sincere thanks to everyone who has made this possible so far, including previous employers such as the Stokes, Packer and Gleeson families and the news directors, executive producers and station managers who saw fit to give a young boy from Babinda (in rural Queensland) a chance. I owe them a lot,” he said.
“Then there are the viewers… They will never know how much their generosity and support means to them. What a privilege it is to be welcomed into their homes to present the news of the day.”
Seven colleagues, Katrina Blowers and Samantha Heathwood, told the Daily Telegraph that Ghidella’s departure came as a shock.
“I’m so sad for Sharyn. She was an amazing colleague and friend. As a budding journalist, watching her on the Today Show and then Seven News made me want to go into television,” Heathwood said.
“Shazzy remained unflappable in the most chaotic and challenging times. She was an icon in our newsroom and everyone loved her. We are all in shock.”
“Sharyn has been a beloved colleague and friend for years, and I am deeply saddened to see her go. Her impact on journalism and broadcasting is inspiring,” Blowers added.
Ghidella (center) said her “tap on the shoulder” finally came while she was in the living room getting ready for work, admitting it was a bit of a “relief” after several weeks of anxiety over media job cuts.
Daily Mail Australia has obtained an email in support of Ghidella’s sacking from Seven Queensland news director Michael Coombes.
“For 17 years, Sharyn has been a welcome guest in salons across Queensland – always professional, always reliable, always warm,” Coombes wrote.
But to all of us, she is much more: a mentor, a colleague, a friend.
‘I regret that the team and our fans will not have the opportunity to give him the send-off he deserves, but I fully respect and understand his wishes.
“I have nothing but admiration and gratitude for Sharyn, and I know you will all join me in wishing her the best for the future.”
Anthony De Ceglie, the controversial newcomer from Seven’s Western Australian newspaper business who now heads the television news division, added: ‘Sharyn has made a significant contribution to Seven over the past 17 years.
“We are grateful for her hard work and are sorry to see her go. She leaves with the sincerest thanks from everyone at Seven and our best wishes for the future.”
Ghidella has worked for Ten, Nine and Seven during her long media career.
The North Queensland native was a news presenter on Nine’s Today show before joining Channel Seven in 2007.
Robert Ovadia (pictured) has announced he will take Seven to the Fair Work Commission for unfair dismissal
In January 2013, Ghidella began presenting Seven News Brisbane from Sunday to Thursday and was also appointed presenter of Today Tonight Queensland before the show’s closure in February 2014.
Her partner is freelance videographer Paul Croll, and the couple share two children.
A cost-cutting bloodbath has begun at Seven as the network’s news division comes under new management.
Three big names to have recently appeared on the network include veterans Robert Ovadia, Andrew Frampton and seasoned Melbourne crime reporter Cameron Baud, known to friends as the “Reaper of Sorrows” for his grim reporting.
On the Sydney front, Ovadia – perhaps the most high-profile figure in all the dismissals until Ghidella’s – has announced he will take Seven to the Fair Work Commission for unfair dismissal.
Daily Mail Australia has revealed that Ovadia allegedly sent a series of bizarre and manipulated images to a young female journalist before he was dumped.