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.
MultiQuote
.I can honestly say that i identify Sky News as you(why didnt they get rid of Mangos nobody like him 
).
