Journo Stephen Rice Gets The Sack Over 60 Mins Botch As Review Handed Down

The findings of an internal review into the botched ’60 Minutes’ child ‘recovery’ operation that saw four seasoned journos locked up in a Beirut prison for two weeks are in.
Reporter Tara Brown, cameraman Ben Williamson, and sound recordist David Ballment have received formal cautions after being part of the crew arrested in the Lebanon capital, while veteran producer Stephen Rice has got the sack effective immediately.
The Nine Network put founder and former producer of 60 Mins, Gerald Stone, in charge of the review alongside former producer and senior exec David Hurley, and general counsel Rachel Launders.

The review found that it was “inappropriate” for 60 Minutes to pay the Child Abduction Recovery International an alleged $115,000 to retrieve the two belonging to Brisbane mum Sally Faulkner, who asked for the program’s help in her family battle with ex-husband Ali Elamine.
“The manner in which we produced Sally Faulkner’s story exposed our crew to serious risks, and exposed 60 Minutes and Nine to significant reputational damage. We got too close to the story and suffered damaging consequences,” said Nine chief exec Hugh Marks in a statement.
“Amongst other elements of the execution of this story it was inappropriate, and at odds with our standard procedure, for a payment to be made directly by 60 Minutes to the recovery agency that had been independently contracted by Sally Faulkner. It was also inappropriate, with the risks involved for our crew, not to have consulted with Nine’s security advisers before the story was finalised.”
He added that stricter risk management procedures will be put in place to avoid a repeat of the incident any time soon.
“As a result of the review, we are expanding and upgrading our processes related to story selection and approval, how we approve contracts and payments and the way we conduct risk assessments. We have an obligation to our staff, our shareholders and our viewers to operate in ways that enhance our reputation as a leading producer of news and current affairs.” 
Stone went in harder still, calling the incident the “gravest misadventure in the program’s history.”
“It’s clear from our findings that inexcusable errors were made. I still believe, however, that 60 Minutes – lessons learned – can continue to earn the respect and attention of the viewing public for years to come,” he said.
A Lebanese court is still considering criminal charges against the crew over their role in the ‘child recovery mission’.
Founder and CEO of Child Abduction Recovery International, former Aussie soldier Adam Whittington, remains locked up in a Tripoli prison facing the possibility of jail time. 
Source: Nine Network.

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