A leaked letter has revealed ABC Radio staff are furious at management for leaving them in the dark after not renewing the contracts of two beloved presenters.
In a letter sent to the ABC board, staff in Sydney said they were ‘bewildered and concerned’ after Sarah Macdonald and Simon Marnie were given the boot.
Journalists said management did not consult or give an explanation as to why the pair were axed from the morning shift other than the show needed a ‘refresh’.
Macdonald has been on stress leave since announcing live on air that The ABC would not be renewing her contract after two years hosting the morning shift.
The national broadcaster has not yet announced Macdonald’s replacement, however it is understood to be former Q+A host Hamish Macdonald, The Guardian reported.
Hamish Macdonald is the co-host of ABC Radio National’s Global Roaming program and is as a panelist for Channel Ten’s The Project.
‘We have a unique relationship with our audience who fund us to provide information, entertainment and company,’ the letter read.
‘Sarah McDonald announced that “ABC Management would not be renewing her contract”. This is a public relations disaster on many levels.
‘We are not reacting to Sarah’s distress. We are reacting to an audience outpouring of confusion and disbelief, the like and amount of which we have never seen.
‘We believe that recent actions have trampled on this relationship of trust. We believe this is a mistake and undermines what has been achieved here in a century of broadcasting.’
The letter acknowledged management’s responsibility to improve ratings, but claims staff had doubts with the current commercial management style of leadership.
Without naming them, the letter points towards current leadership including the head of capital city network and sport Mike Fitzpatrick and director of audio Ben Latimer.
‘We note a significant shift towards senior management who have a commercial media/radio background,’ the letter read.
‘We are yet to see evidence of a true understanding and belief in the vital role and responsibility of the public broadcaster in these senior roles.
‘None of them truly understand public broadcasting and they have made little effort to comprehend the nature of [ABC] Local Radio.’
Staff claimed to ‘feel unheard’ and were ‘deeply disappointed’, before requesting a meeting with ABC chair Kim Williams or another board member to discuss the current situation.
Macdonald announced she was let go from the morning show just weeks after beloved radio presenter Richard Glover, 66, announced his retirement live on air.
Glover retired from his post after hosting the 3.30pm to 6.30pm slot on ABC’s Drive Program for the past 26 years.
Meanwhile, Sydney presenter Simon Marnie was dropped from ABC Radio Sydney’s weekend show after a meeting with management.
Mr Marnie told listeners at his last show from Government House earlier this month that he had met with management who told him ‘there was no place on weekends’ for him anymore.
The ABC declined to comment when contacted by Daily Mail .