MediaWorks boss resignation – anatomy of a PR fail

UPDATE 3.20pm: Another senior public relations source has told Without a Word of a Lie that MediaWorks' failure to provide a reason for chief executive Jason Paris’ resignation was telling.

“Any executive departure, particularly one that has been acrimonious, usually comes with a press release agreed on by both parties. It sounds to me like the reason for this departure couldn't be agreed on - and that’s why there wasn’t one.”

The source said it was well-known Mr Paris and group managing director Sussan Turner had a rocky relationship and Ms Turner had long-eyed direct control of the television business.

“The fact she’s now got her way is pretty indicative that she won that power struggle.”

2pm: MediaWorks’ bungled announcement of chief executive Jason Paris’ resignation yesterday drew heavy criticism from the public relations industry.

Mr Paris’ resignation from the broadcaster, after just a year in the role, was revealed by Without a Word of a Lie yesterday morning.

A brief statement released to the media later in the day gave no reason for Mr Paris’ resignation, triggering suspicion the departure was not amicable.

Communications professionals expressed surprise a media organisation did not manage news of the departure of its own chief executive in a better way.

Lack of leadership could be explained by the broadcaster being on the hunt for a head of corporate affairs, following the departure of Roger Beaumont in late February.

Mediaworks’ publicity manager Rachel Lorimer could not be reached for comment after the statement was released.

And the group’s managing director Sussan Turner, who assumed head of television responsibilities while Mr Paris serves out his six-month notice period, did not return NBR's calls.

The silence gave way to reports of a tense working relationship between Ms Turner and Mr Paris and speculation the financial position of debt-saddled MediaWorks was a reason for the decision by Mr Paris to quit the company.

A MediaWorks insider told NBR Mr Paris resigned over what he considered to be broken promises made by private equity owner Ironbridge. His frustration with a system where he had to report directly to Ms Turner was also reported.

"The gossip fills the spaces they left unspoken,” said one PR professional.

“He was a senior appointment made with great ceremony and excitement and the way the news [of Mr Paris’ departure] came out was not commensurate with a leadership style at all.”

And the lack of explanation for the reason for his departure was a significant oversight.

“It just lacked all the checks and balances that gave the reader room to think it was an unhappy departure.

“With such a great amount of chest-beating when they [MediaWorks] secured him, I would have thought they’d have been a little bit more professional and shown a little bit more leadership in the way they announced his departure.

“Now it looks like there’s unhappiness in the ranks.”