Journalists at Nine were 'really angry' with the content of Karl Stefanovic's independent podcast well before his embrace of far-right activist Tommy Robinson led to a rebuke from management, sources say. The Today host 'panicked' after being called out by executives, according to multiple staff members who spoke to Guardian Australia.
Disquiet over guest roster
Guardian Australia understands there has been 'huge disquiet' about Stefanovic's roster of anti-immigration guests since he launched the Karl Stefanovic Show in February. There was widespread confusion about why Nine's biggest star was given so much latitude by management, despite being paid millions to host the Today show. Stefanovic ignored feedback from Nine executives.
That latitude ended on Friday when Nine announced that Stefanovic would no longer host Today alongside his independent podcast. The statement closed a chapter of almost 21 years of Stefanovic hosting the breakfast show and fronting major news events as the face of Channel Nine News.
Warnings ignored
Sources said Stefanovic had been warned multiple times about his outside activity courting trouble, but he ignored Nine's feedback and travelled to the UK to interview Robinson, the anti-Islamic activist key to actions like the 'Unite the Kingdom' march in London last year. When contacted by Nine executives who said 'you've gone too far', Stefanovic 'panicked' and took the content down from YouTube and streaming platforms, despite Nine not ordering him to do so.
'They would have said to him, “You’ve crossed the line here, we’re calling you in for discussion,”' one senior Nine journalist, who asked not to be named, said. Stefanovic gave Robinson almost an hour of uninterrupted airtime, allowing him to repeat falsehoods, including lies for which he has previously been found in contempt of court. Stefanovic laughed along with him and embraced him, saying he admired his tenacity and courage.
Two sets of rules
'Staff are really, really angry,' another senior Nine journalist, also anonymous, told Guardian Australia. 'Because it’s like there’s two sets of rules: there’s one set of rules for the richest guy in the business who is mates with the former CEO [Mike Sneesby]. But the rest of us have to abide by normal, common decency and work within the rules.'
Stefanovic's claim in a farewell video that he was finally 'free' stoked more anger at Nine because he had repeatedly undermined the reporting of his colleagues. Sneesby stepped down as CEO in late 2024 and was replaced by Matt Stanton. Stefanovic's final contract was for just one year, and it was agreed he could host an independent podcast. However, management was unaware Stefanovic would take a sharp turn to the right in his choice of guests. His first interviewee was One Nation leader Pauline Hanson.
Megaphone for extremists
Multiple staff have privately accused Stefanovic of giving extremists a 'megaphone'. His most popular YouTube videos feature guests with strong anti-immigration views. 'The amount of hate that he’s stoking … We spend a lot of time pushing against extremism … and he’s given them a megaphone,' one reporter not authorised to speak publicly said.
Guardian Australia understands staff made multiple complaints to management about Stefanovic undermining their journalism and flirting with the far-right, which they say put them at risk from extremists. 'Stefanovic just ignored it totally, so there’s been anger for months,' a source said.
Network response
Nine's news and current affairs chief, Fiona Dear, pointedly said in a staff email that the network believed in protecting freedom of speech but upholding the Nine brand 'built on trust and respect' was vital. 'As journalists, we play a critical role in society to question, challenge, and hold people to account regardless of where they come from or which political party or views they represent,' Dear said. 'Protecting freedom of speech is at the core of 9News and Current Affairs. We have a rich history of interviewing controversial figures, and journalists have an obligation to ask difficult questions.'
It remains unclear what Stefanovic told Nine about the proposed content of his podcast when he was given approval late last year, but many staff say it is 'embarrassing' in its approach to contentious guests. 'What everybody at Nine in the papers and television say is how utterly dull that podcast is,' a source said. 'It doesn’t actually ask any interesting questions, and he just throws softballs, and it’s embarrassing and boring.'
Sponsor support
Stefanovic has a number of sponsors and called on them in a farewell video to keep supporting him. One sponsor, Queensland clothing brand Ringers Western, said Stefanovic was 'giving a voice to people from all spectrums and freedom of speech is essential to any free and fair democracy'. 'The motto of Ringers Western is Stickin’ Together and we live by it. We support and stand by the Karl Stefanovic Show and will be continuing our sponsorship of the Show.'
Stefanovic has been approached for comment.
– Additional reporting by Jordyn Beazley
