Kerry Stokes turns to reporters for reboot

Morale among Seven staff must be reaching new levels. You could even spare a thought for the network star. Sonia Kruger, the presenter poached rival Nine and wife of the late McPherson. (Our usual disclosure: Nine is the publisher of this newspaper.)

To state the obvious, Seven West Media surely desperately needs a reboot. It is staggered from Ben Roberts-Smith scandal right into the Lehrmann mess, all while the company’s stock price has sunk to 22 cents, where it was before the COVID pandemic.

For repair work, Kerry Stokes has knighted his favorite journalist Antonio DeCegliethe editor of Western Australia newspaper, to take up the role of Seven’s new head of news and current affairs in Sydney.

Look, in a sense the choice is not surprising at all. Stokes thinks a lot about De Ceglie, who he still privately boasts about poaching News Corp tabloids a few years ago. Furthermore, in The Westthe editor’s ability to meet the multiple needs of his boss, whether on political or business issues.

On the other hand, what does this say about what Stokes thinks about his main TV news department if he parachutes in a reporter from Perth? It certainly solidifies influence within the company’s Western operations. And how about that nice, retro feeling it evokes: “Fuck the TV stalwarts, here’s an editor with the total confidence of the great man.”

Buried in the background of the reshuffle was news of the promotion of another once-top journalist within the Stokes media family. Chris Dore was appointed interim editor of Western Australiauntil a permanent replacement can be found.

It is another very clear sign of confidence from Stokes. Dore’s 27 years at News Corp ended abruptly in late 2022, when he stepped down as editor-in-chief of The Australian in circumstances that became more suspicious as the weeks went by. There were final reports that Dore allegedly said something in a Wall Street Journal party in the United States that caused his departure.

Well, that must be practically ancient history by now. Dore has lately been producing lots of writing for Stokes’ new digital product, which involves writing a weekly column called “Front Dore”, inspired by us!

Instead of going with clean skins (or women, gasp) for the reboot, Stokes has opted for a Back to the Future shakeup. Tough boys. Ink stained to the bone. After all, it had always worked very well before.