Channel Nine has reportedly cracked down on staffers after dropping the axe on Today presenter Alex Cullen.
Cullen, 44, lost his job at the station on Friday after accepting $50,000 from Block bidder Adrian ‘Mr Lambo’ Portelli.
The network followed the shocking news with a reminder to all employees about their ‘professional obligations’.
Nine’s director of news and current affairs, Fiona Dear, sent the message via email to all staff on Friday, reported Sunday’s Herald Sun.
Quoting from the note to staff from Dear, the publication said the network boss wanted to remind ‘broadcast journalists and on-air talent’ that how they conducted themselves was ‘vital’ in maintaining trust with the viewing public.
‘Accordingly, we acknowledge that commercial arrangements, sponsorships and endorsements exist at most media companies, including Nine,’ Dear said in the email.
Channel Nine has cracked down on staffers after dropping the axe on Today presenter Alex Cullen. (Pictured)
Cullen, 44, lost his job at the station on Friday after accepting $50,000 from Block bidder Adrian ‘Mr Lambo’ Portelli (pictured). The network followed the shocking news with a reminder to all employees about their ‘professional obligations’.
‘In line with our professional obligations, as well as Nine’s legal and regulatory obligations, these arrangements are permitted in certain circumstances, provided the appropriate disclosure occurs and that they are conducted in accordance with Nine’s policies and procedures.’
Dear also wrote that all staffers were obliged to conduct themselves along professional and ethical guidelines as set out by the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice, and Nine’s Social Media Guidelines and Gift Policy.
‘All Nine Group employees are required to adhere to these policies and remain up to date with any developments,’ she wrote.
Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Nine for comment.
It comes after Today host Karl Stefanovic made the announcement that Cullen had left the network live on-air on Friday morning.
The presenter, who has been on Today for five years, was given the sizeable sum by the Block billionaire after he was the first media personality to use Portelli’s self-proclaimed nickname ‘McLaren Man’ live on-air last week.
‘As most of you are well aware, our colleague Alex Cullen has not been on air with us this past week,’ a solemn Stefanovic told viewers.
‘There has been widespread reporting on the circumstances surrounding this, what I can say is that last night, Alex and Nine agreed that he would finish with the network.
The network followed the shocking news with a reminder to all employees about their ‘professional obligations’. Nine’s director of news and current affairs, Fiona Dear, sent the message via email to all staff on Friday reported Sunday’s Herald Sun
Today host Karl Stefanovic made the announcement that Cullen had left the network live on-air on Friday morning. Pictured: Today co-hosts Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo
‘Alex has, of course, been part of the Today family for five years now, he’s always ready with a smile and a laugh and without hesitation speaking for all of us here, we can say that we are going to miss him terribly, that’s for sure.
‘Alex is a terrific fella, what you see is what you get and he has been a great mate to all of us over these years and we wish Alex, his wife Bonnie and his beautiful kids all the very best for the future.’
A Nine spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia: ‘Nine has agreed with Today presenter and journalist Alex Cullen that he will finish with the network following a review into a recent incident.’
The scandal kicked off when Portelli had grown tired of his long-used nickname ‘Mr Lambo’ and offered the cash reward to the first person to use his new moniker on air, with Cullen obliging on the Today show last Friday.
The Block entrepreneur then posted what appeared to be a bank transfer of $50,000 to the presenter on Instagram.
Accepting cash, gifts or benefits to undermine journalistic independence, and improperly using a journalistic position for personal gain, are both breaches of the journalism code of ethics as defined by the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance union.
The ill-advised stunt led to Cullen being suspended by Nine and he did not appear on the show while the network investigated the payment. The sum has been donated to charity by Portelli.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Adrian Portelli for comment.
On Tuesday, Cullen resurfaced on social media to share a birthday tribute to his daughters on Instagram.
He posted an array of sweet pictures of his twin daughters Audrey and Evie celebrating their sixth birthday.
Alex – who shares three children with his wife Bonnie – also shared pictures of his son Max, three, as he enjoyed some low-key family time on the special day.
Nine’s parting of ways with Cullen went ahead despite Portelli’s claim that Cullen intended the money to be paid to charity all along
In a caption, he gushed: ‘Happy birthday to my darling girls Audrey and Evie.’
While he made no mention of the Portelli scandal, he did get support from his followers, who took to the comments to share their hopes he will soon return to air.
One wrote: ‘Happy birthday not watching channel nine till your back,’ while another said: ‘Missing you! You are just the best! Wake up Channel 9.’
A third commented: ‘Gorgeous girls. Can’t believe they’re 6 already! Just heard about all the work drama. Hope it gets resolved quickly.’
While a fourth penned: ‘Boycotting 9 until you’re back!’ and another added: ‘Happy birthday young ladies – hoping to see you back home on 9 really soon.’
His Nine co-stars Karl and Belinda Russell also sent birthday messages to his two daughters.
During his absence from the Today show, Cullen was replaced by Clint Stanaway, who is reporting live from Melbourne for Nine’s coverage of the Australian Open tennis.
Nine’s parting of ways with Cullen went ahead despite Portelli’s claim that Cullen intended the money to be paid to charity all along.
Portelli posted details of $25,000 payments made on his behalf to both the Salvation Army and the RSPCA.
‘Alex Cullen… on behalf of you, mate, $25,000 to the Salvation Army and $25,000 to the RSPCA,’ Portelli wrote on Instagram.
‘I’ve kept pretty quiet about what unfolded with Alex, but even before he’d heard from Ch9, we had a conversation where he expressed his desire to donate the money.
‘That speaks volumes about his character. Alex, you’re an absolute gentleman.
‘If Ch9 let you go (though I really hope they don’t!), I’d be more than happy to collaborate with you on something. True class, mate!’
Portelli first received the unwanted nickname ‘Mr Lambo’ after turning up to a 2022 auction of popular house makeover show The Block in a yellow Lamborghini.
Cullen joined Today for its relaunch five years ago. He was initially solely the sports presenter, but took over news when Tracy Vo quit the show and returned to 9News Perth.
