He’s the man responsible for creating the news but editor-in-chief of The Age, Mark Forbes, is himself making headlines after resigning amid shock allegations of sexual harassment.
The Melbourne newspaper’s head honcho – who only took the job eight months ago, before which he was news director – was formally suspended on Friday, after a junior colleague made a formal complaint alleging he “groped her on the bottom” at the Age Music Victoria awards in November.
Fairfax Media‘s group director of news and business media, Sean Aylmer, said the publisher had been conducting a thorough investigation since the complaint was filed two weeks ago.
Mark Forbes
He called the allegations “unsavoury, and it’s disappointing, and it can make you angry”, telling staff of Forbes’ resignation this morning – adding that he won’t even be returning to the office to collect his belongings.
After his suspension on Friday, a second female colleague came forward alleging he made inappropriate comments about her being “busty” at social engagement back in February, when he was still news director.
Forbes – who has been with the paper since 1985 – is expected to make a public statement later today.
Source and photo: The Age.
