Senior Channel 7 journalist Robert Ovadia has been sacked by the commercial broadcaster following an internal investigation into allegations of improper conduct.
Ovadia, who is based in Sydney and has worked at the network for 23 years, revealed on Friday he had been let go by management.
‘Yes I’ve been sacked and there will be more to say about that in the appropriate forum at the appropriate time,’ Ovadia told The n.
Ovadia was first stood down by the broadcaster on June 7 while the investigation took place.
The network said: ‘Seven is conducting an investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour by Robert Ovadia.’
It was reported a few days later that the allegations concerned emails exchanged between Ovadia and a former Seven colleague four years ago, the content of which has not been revealed.
There is no suggestion the allegations are proven and Ovadia has previously said they were unfounded and he would defend himself.
It is understood he has hired legal representation.
Anthony De Ceglie, who recently became Channel Seven’s director of news, told staff he has a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to bad behaviour in the newsroom after a number of senior male employees, including his predecessor Craig McPherson, left the network amid the fallout from the Bruce Lehrmann Spotlight scandal.
Taylor Auerbach, a former senior producer at Spotlight alleged in documents tendered to the Federal Court that they took drugs and partied with sex workers, and more than $10,000 was charged back to Seven, which the network has denied.
The court also heard that company expenses had been spent on expensive meals, golf trips and a year’s worth of accommodation for Lehrmann that allegedly cost more than $100,000.
Rival network Channel 9 has also been battling a scandal after The n revealed former news boss Darren Wick left the station following a complaint by a female employee.
Other staff has since made allegations of bullying and sexual harassment at the network, prompting Nine to conduct its own investigation.