SEN chief executive Craig Hutchison has issued a public apology to journalist Andrew Webster, conceding the network failed to prevent homophobic text messages from repeatedly reaching him on air.
Webster resigned from SEN Sydney 1170AM last week after what he described as repeated inaction by the broadcaster to block an abusive listener. The former Sydney Morning Herald columnist and current contributor to The Australian had been part of SEN since 2020, working across several shows including a Saturday morning program.
Hutchison addressed the matter on his Sounding Board podcast on Tuesday, saying the broadcaster had let Webster down.
“Hugely regrettable and totally unacceptable and no place we won’t stand for it. So I apologise to Andrew,” Hutchison said.
What went wrong
Webster earlier told Buzz Rothfield that he asked SEN to block the listener’s number three times in the space of a week. Despite his requests, the texts kept arriving.
“I didn’t quit because of the bloke who was texting me. I quit because I asked SEN three times last week to block his number and it just didn’t happen,” Webster said.
He explained that the problem resurfaced during his Saturday League Kick-off program, when he discovered the same number still appearing in the studio text system. A staff member he asked for assistance “laughed” at his request, Webster said, prompting him to resign after the show.
Hutchison acknowledged that SEN’s systems were not robust enough to guarantee that the number was fully blocked. He said SEN manages about 70,000 text messages a month, with roughly 50 different text profiles linked to programs across the country. Staff believed the number had been blocked on the profiles Webster used, but the messages later reappeared through another account.
“That appeared to work for four or five days. And then on the Saturday morning … the same text individual had found a way into another profile into that inbox and had text inappropriate homophobic language,” Hutchison said.
Apology and review
Hutchison said SEN had since reviewed its technology, admitting the network should have acted more decisively.
“We shouldn’t have put him in a position where he could see that text, but even more than that, we should have been better in blocking every single possible means of contact that Andrew could receive.”
He added that SEN had an obligation to both protect its on-air talent and shield its audience from offensive messages being broadcast.
“It’s entirely unacceptable. And we don’t want our on-air talent to be subject to seeing things that cause hurt and pain like that, nor do we stand for or tolerate the language and the tone of the messaging,” Hutchison said.
Webster’s stance
Webster, who came out publicly in 2013, said he did not regard his resignation as a setback.
“I’m not a victim. I’m not a snowflake. I’ve had to deal with a lot worse homophobia than that. … They haven’t [worn me down]. I simply wanted a phone number blocked and when SEN couldn’t do that I resigned on principle,” he said.
Looking ahead
Hutchison emphasised his personal admiration for Webster, describing him as “a highly respected, incredibly talented leading journalist in Sydney” and said the network would welcome him back.
“He’s a tremendous journalist, and the door is always open for his return. We’d love to have him back if he ever felt in his heart that he could trust us to provide an environment that suited him.”
