Senior Sky News executive James Birtles has left News Corp to return to the Nine Network as the executive producer of A Current Affair. This decision comes after a controversial incident during the broadcast of the show Freya Fires Up, which faced backlash for featuring an Islamophobic guest. Birtles’ transition was announced to Sky staff on September 21, 2023.
Birtles, who served as deputy head of programs at Sky News, was on duty when a guest draped in bacon made inflammatory remarks during a live segment of Freya Fires Up. Although Sky’s vetting process did not flag the guest, Birtles acted swiftly to instruct the control room to cut the segment once it was underway. Despite this, the incident triggered significant criticism and ultimately led to the show’s cancellation after just six weeks on air.
The decision to terminate the show was finalized by Mark Calvert, head of programs at Sky, who was on leave during the airing of the controversial episode. Birtles’ predecessor at A Current Affair, Amy McCarthy, resigned earlier this year following scrutiny over inappropriate social media posts made during the Logie Awards. Her posts included inappropriate comments about getting drunk and suggestions regarding Australian rock musician Jimmy Barnes.
Birtles had been in discussions to rejoin Nine before the final broadcast of Freya Fires Up. He previously worked at Nine as managing editor and executive producer of the Today show, and has extensive experience in the industry, holding senior positions at Sky News UK and ITV News, the largest commercial free-to-air broadcaster in the UK.
In a note sent to Nine News staff on the morning of the announcement, Fiona Dear, the network’s top executive, confirmed Birtles’ appointment and highlighted his management of 14 programs at Sky, along with overseeing the investigations team.
The fallout from the Freya Fires Up episode was significant, leading to the dismissal of its sole producer just two days before the show was cancelled. The incident has sparked discussions about the broader cultural transformation occurring within Nine, particularly following a review initiated by former director of news and current affairs Darren Wick.
As Birtles steps into his new role at Nine, he brings a wealth of experience and faces the challenge of navigating the evolving media landscape while upholding the network’s standards amidst ongoing scrutiny.
