[interested observer]

what do they have for him to do?
seem's an odd move....
I'd have cleared out some of the dead-wood, not one of their best

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
clearing out the 'dead wood' (who r you thinking on that as a matter of interest ?) may not have freed up enough cash required for jimbo

[MelbourneTV]

What will Waley be doing? Surely not just newsreading?

Maybe they've got some changes on the way? I'd say throw Waley in on his own for a few hours each night - 10pm - Midnight maybe.
England sits down for News at 10pm on BBC1 and ITV1. Sky should target an audience that miss the local evening news, and get in before the late night bulletins.
As others have mentioned, they'd need to alter that set though - it isn't that great for interviewing.

[KICK-IT]

What will Waley be doing? Surely not just newsreading?

Maybe they've got some changes on the way? I'd say throw Waley in on his own for a few hours each night - 10pm - Midnight maybe.
England sits down for News at 10pm on BBC1 and ITV1. Sky should target an audience that miss the local evening news, and get in before the late night bulletins.
As others have mentioned, they'd need to alter that set though - it isn't that great for interviewing.

yeah what exactly is sky doing to grow their audience?

all they ever do is add newsreaders.

where is the actual programming and show formats, to actually get people to sit down and watch Sky for more than 6 minutes.

With a focus on personality and format driven primetime programming, MSNBC is the US has grown their aud by about 400% in the last 2 years.

I doubt Sky has grown it's audience at all (when subscriber growth is taken out) over the same period......because they DO NOTHING!

[John Gatfield]

Well it doesn't take long for word to get around, does it?
I heard I was being mentioned on here, so I thought I might as well dispel any rumours and at least ensure the word is accurate.

Yes, when I came off air at 6pm on Wednesday, Angelos Frangopoulos called me into his office and told me my services were no longer required, because of a change in direction and a new focus for Sky News. And I was to be the first of several people he was sacking. He also said he couldn't afford me any longer - although I did ask if that was the case, why had he hired Jim Waley and Ian Cook.

So after almost 14 years, that's it. That's what it means to have worked harder than I was ever asked to do. That's what it means to have cancelled annual leave to go to Melbourne for the bushfires. That's what it means to have volunteered to work on a day off on ANZAC Day to provide live coverage - without a dollar or a day in lieu. That's what it means to have done my best to support my colleagues and especially to give some guidance to younger journalists. That's what it means to have spent all those years trying to lift and maintain standards in simple things like spelling, grammar, and accuracy.

There have been some good times and I'm proud of my record at Sky. I'm also happy to see so many people go on and achieve success elsewhere, helped, I hope, by the grounding they received at Sky News. A few who come readily to mind - even if they rarely acknowledge they got their start in television at Sky News - are Adam Boland, Robert Ovadia, Kath Robinson, Sam Armytage, Michael Pell, Mel McLaughlin.... There will be many more to follow because Sky News is a tough place to work and any employer knows that someone who can last the distance at Sky is worth hiring.

So there are the facts.

Funnily enough the only other time I've ever posted here was a couple of years ago when I registered and wrote a message defending one of my co-presenters and demanding (successfully) that the moderators remove a thoroughly despicable piece of personal abuse. That's what loyalty is about - even if the colleague is someone you're not particularly close to. Loyalty these days is in short supply.

[Tranquility]

Sky News Australia has sacked one of its longest-serving presenters, John Gatfield after almost 14 years.

Gatfield, who primarily presented the News Day bulletins, told the MediaSpy forums he was sacked to make way for former National Nine News anchor Jim Waley.

Yes, when I came off air at 6pm on Wednesday, Angelos Frangopoulos (Sky News CEO) called me into his office and told me my services were no longer required, because of a change in direction and a new focus for Sky News. And I was to be the first of several people he was sacking. He also said he couldn't afford me any longer - although I did ask if that was the case, why had he hired Jim Waley and Ian Cook.

You can read Gatfield's post in its entirety and discuss this move in our Sky News thread.

[SA TV]

Yes, when I came off air at 6pm on Wednesday, Angelos Frangopoulos called me into his office and told me my services were no longer required, because of a change in direction and a new focus for Sky News. And I was to be the first of several people he was sacking. He also said he couldn't afford me any longer - although I did ask if that was the case, why had he hired Jim Waley and Ian Cook.
So after almost 14 years, that's it. That's what it means to have worked harder than I was ever asked to do. That's what it means to have cancelled annual leave to go to Melbourne for the bushfires. That's what it means to have volunteered to work on a day off on ANZAC Day to provide live coverage - without a dollar or a day in lieu. That's what it means to have done my best to support my colleagues and especially to give some guidance to younger journalists. That's what it means to have spent all those years trying to lift and maintain standards in simple things like spelling, grammar, and accuracy.
There have been some good times and I'm proud of my record at Sky. I'm also happy to see so many people go on and achieve success elsewhere, helped, I hope, by the grounding they received at Sky News. A few who come readily to mind - even if they rarely acknowledge they got their start in television at Sky News - are Adam Boland, Robert Ovadia, Kath Robinson, Sam Armytage, Michael Pell, Mel McLaughlin.... There will be many more to follow because Sky News is a tough place to work and any employer knows that someone who can last the distance at Sky is worth hiring.
Funnily enough the only other time I've ever posted here was a couple of years ago when I registered and wrote a message defending one of my co-presenters and demanding (successfully) that the moderators remove a thoroughly despicable piece of personal abuse. That's what loyalty is about - even if the colleague is someone you're not particularly close to. Loyalty these days is in short supply.

Well said and nice to read. Goes to show that showing loyalty doesn't always mean you'll get it in return.

clearing out the 'dead wood' (who r you thinking on that as a matter of interest ?)

Michael and Susanne spring to mind, neither are very good and could be dispensed with. that Paul Murrary crap could get the chop and nobody would shed any tears.

Seriously, Jim is well past retirement so what use do they have for him? seems like strange move.

[craigiej]

I doubt Sky has grown it's audience at all (when subscriber growth is taken out) over the same period......because they DO NOTHING!

I couldnt agree more, I cant remember the last time I watched sky for more than the headlines..

- Weather - No - there is a weather channel for that

- Business - No - there is a business channel for that

- Sport - No - there are multiple sports channels for that..

they badly need to freshen up, having two presenters sitting behind a desk reading what are often Channel 7 or 9 stories is just really boring!

Saying that, to their credit, their political coverage is excellent, David Speers and Kieran Gilbert do a great job

[Lucy]

All I can say John is you can hold your head up high knowing that you always gave your best you helped launch the channel and having your name when the channel launched 14 years ago gave Sky News instant credability.
Your a true professional and to have lasted in the industry aslong as you have and am sure will continue is a credit to you.

[TENFAN]

John Gatfield is one of the greatest newsreaders ever! Hopefully a network will snap him up!

This post has been edited by TENFAN: 07 May 2009 - 08:39 AM

[Travis]

John Gatfield is one of the greatest newsreaders ever! Hopefully a network will snap him up!

All the networks could use him, but Nine News could use him the most to improve their news service.

[Moe]

I wonder if Sky will slowly start to zoom out when Waley is on?

[MelbourneTV]

Shame that Sky sacked John Gatfield. He really was one of their best, and possibly one of the best TV journos in commercial TV. I really enjoyed his coverage of the Tsunami and his relatively recent reporting from Sudan.

I hope you can find a new on air role John!

[Mike]

Here is a perfect opportunity for Nine to get a decent male newsreader. They barely have any, plenty of females though.

[Mike]

The Daily Tele has picked it up referencing MS.

[Fyturis]

Well done John on having your own say .I can honestly say that i identify Sky News as you(why didnt they get rid of Mangos nobody like him ).
Thanks for your dedication to Australia's only (hopefully not for long) 24 hr news channel.
I wish you well on your future endevours,maybe a commercial network as some others have suggested?

[newtaste]

Clive Robertson interviewed John on 2UE's Sunday afternoon program a couple of months ago. They discussed the poor grammar and spelling in commercial television news and John said he impressed on his colleagues at Sky the importance of grammar and spelling, and that news must be well written. He said most commercial television news was poorly written.

Would be nice if he returned to his old home at Nine. He could be a credible senior reporter like Peter Harvey.

[Travis]

Would be nice if he returned to his old home at Nine. He could be a credible senior reporter like Peter Harvey.

I would prefer him to be a new national newsreader as they currently only have 2/3 male national newsreaders

[jimbo]

ooo big coup for Media Spy. big name comes and vents his exclusive opinion on this site!!

This post has been edited by jimbo: 07 May 2009 - 04:03 PM

[damian]

What a load of crap. They have barely any male presenters as is it, he is the best and longest serving... Jacinta could go?

[PZ.]

The Daily Tele has picked it up referencing MS.

Yes, complete with a few B.S. comments from readers as well.

The only one of any real value was from "WM" who said "It doesn't matter if you have been there for 14yrs or 40yrs you are expendable unless you own the company. Many years ago employers used to value their employees but that is a very, very long gone concept."

Not a truer word spoken unfortunately.