Crikey editor-in-chief on indefinite leave after journalism awards incident
The editor-in-chief of independent publication Crikey will take leave from his position and seek assistance for his behaviour after heckling the winners of the top gong at Australia’s most coveted journalism awards.
ABC journalists Anne Connolly, Stephanie Zillman and Ali Russell won the Gold Walkley at the annual Walkley Awards on Thursday night, but their speech was interrupted by Crikey editor Peter Fray shouting “what about Crikey” from his table at the International Convention Centre in Sydney.
ABC journalist Anne Connolly and Crikey editor-in-chief Peter Fray.
The incident prompted a formal complaint from ABC’s director of news and investigations, Justin Stevens. Fray, who is also the managing editor of Private Media, said in a statement that he deeply regretted his actions and apologised to the winners.
“I will use the period of leave to deeply reflect on my actions and seek appropriate assistance. I can’t undo my actions on that evening, as much I wish to do so,” Fray said. “It was wrong for me to question the veracity of ABC’s work and the excellence of its journalism. For me to act the way I did was totally unwarranted, inappropriate and out of character.”
Connolly, Zillman and Russell were recognised at the Walkley Awards for their investigation that examined the public guardian and trustee agencies controlling the lives of more than 50,000 Australians. The investigation, which was a year in the making, went to air in early March. Connolly first became aware of the issues in 2018, during her reporting on aged care. The ABC went to two Supreme Courts – in WA and Queensland – to get access to documents.
Crikey journalist Amber Schultz published a series of articles on the same matter in Crikey in September 2021 and March 2022 as part of an investigation called “Kidnapped by the State”.
After the ABC journalists were awarded the top gong, an intoxicated Fray interrupted the speech to vent his frustration at Crikey’s lack of recognition. He then fired off a series of tweets including “Crikey wins gold Walkley for ABC #walkley” and “Dear ABC, you are a fraud”. The tweets were later deleted.
Peter Fray’s tweets after the ABC’s win by Anne Connolly.
Private Media chief executive Will Hayward said Fray would be on indefinite leave and that his behaviour was “unacceptable”.
“I would like to take the opportunity to apologise on behalf of Private Media to Anne Connolly, Stephanie Zillman and Ali Russell and the ABC, and congratulate them on their well-deserved win,” Hayward said.
The timing of Fray’s exit is less than ideal for the company. News Corp co-chairman Lachlan Murdoch is suing Fray, reporter Bernard Keane and Crikey’s parent company, Private Media, for an article that named his family as “unindicted co-conspirators” of former US president Donald Trump following the deadly 2021 US Capitol riots.
Most Viewed in Business
Source: Read Full Article