Seven’s Anthony De Ceglie Calls for Cultural Reform and Tax Relief in Media
Anthony De Ceglie, Seven West Media’s Director of News and Current Affairs and Editor-in-Chief, has committed to a straightforward strategy aimed at addressing reported workplace toxicity within Seven and other media outlets.
Speaking at the Melbourne Press Club on Tuesday, De Ceglie outlined his vision for a healthier work environment and emphasised the need for a more competitive and innovative approach in news media.
In his speech, De Ceglie stated that he intends to uphold a simple standard to foster a constructive culture, asserting,
“I am a strong believer that as a leader, you also need to enforce a no d*heads policy, it only ever takes one person to disrupt an entire team, and if they’re not dealt with, then they can become a cancer that infects the whole staff.”
Highlighting the influence of Ryan Stokes, Seven Group CEO, De Ceglie credited Stokes’ leadership framework known as the ‘Owner’s Mindset’, which he has adopted in his own team.
“Its ten guiding principles are also on my whiteboard,”
De Ceglie shared. Among these are mandates to;
“prioritise doers over delegators, value pace over analysis-paralysis, and be crystal clear on drivers.”
One guiding principle De Ceglie described as personally resonant was that “everything in leadership is personal.” Reflecting on his relatively young team, he noted that some industry insiders have questioned its youth, with one commentator labelling it the “Romper Room.”
“If the biggest criticism we face is our age, then I’ll take that any day of the week,”
Turning his attention to innovation, De Ceglie underscored the importance of risk-taking in news media to better engage audiences, particularly as platforms such as TikTok and Instagram continue to reshape how people access news.
“Put as plainly and as simply as I can, we cannot rest on our laurels,”
he said, underscoring his support for initiatives like introducing horoscopes in the 6pm news segment to broaden appeal. Recently, he also added a satirical segment, delivered by Mark Humphries, that airs at 6:57pm.
“We actually need more risk-taking in our industry, not less, if we want to compete,”
he said, noting the positive ratings impact from these changes. De Ceglie credited additional regional initiatives, including a popular Good News segment in Melbourne, launched under News Director Chris Salter, and praised Shaun Power, Sydney’s News Director, for his fresh perspectives on news content.
A significant portion of De Ceglie’s address centred on a longstanding financial concern for commercial broadcasters: the “broadcast tax,” which dates back six decades. De Ceglie described it as an outdated levy, placing undue strain on contemporary newsrooms.
“The Government acts like newsrooms are still bathing in the rivers of gold,”
The tax is currently costing the three main commercial networks — Seven, Nine, and Ten — approximately $45 million annually.
“At a time when a viewer can access to 10 hours of news on our Seven on any given day … the so-called Commercial Broadcast Tax is actually just a tax on journalism. Even more so, it’s a tax on the truth and it’s a tax on facts,”
Stressing the potential impact on journalism jobs if these expenses are not addressed.
De Ceglie further challenged the Albanese Government to consider the implications of the tax, pointing out that comparable international markets do not impose such financial burdens on broadcasters.
“I ask the Albanese Government how many journalism jobs do they think that is? How many TV newsroom shifts will disappear so we can pay it? How many regional reporters will be let go?”
De Ceglie asked, framing the tax as a direct threat to journalistic resources in Australia.
De Ceglie’s remarks highlight a call for both cultural and financial reform within Australian media, aligning his outlook with a push for sustainability and adaptability as the industry navigates digital disruption and shifting viewer habits.
