An abrupt exit at Mediaweek as James Manning is 'sacked'; Unmade Index fades
Welcome to an end-of-week update from Unmade.
Today, an unceremonious ending for James Manning’s 24 years and 11 months at the helm of Mediaweek. And the Unmade Index goes negative again.
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Manning’s Mediaweek anniversary party is cancelled
It was not the type of departure James Manning expected. Having covered hundreds, or perhaps thousands of media arrivals and exits during his quarter century running Mediaweek, his own ending was sudden.
Sitting at his desk at Mediaweek’s office in The Commons co-working space on George Street in Sydney yesterday morning, Manning conducted what was to be his final interview, with Foxtel Group bigwig Julian Ogrin. After getting off the call, he opened an email from Joel King, chief operating officer at Mediaweek’s new owner Vinyl Group, telling him that after today his editorial services would be no longer required.
Manning announced to the handful of staff in the office at the time “I’ve been sacked”, gathered up his belongings, and left the office.
Manning is perhaps the best known journalist inside the media industry. He’s certainly the longest serving on the same media trade title. It’s a rare TV upfront where Manning is not to be spotted. He can usually be seen talking to the executives, not huddled in the corner where the other trade journos gossip amongst themselves.
After a decade editing Smash Hits magazine, Manning bought Mediaweek from founder Philip Luker at the end of 1999, and began his stint as proprietor and editor at the beginning of 2000. His quarter century anniversary would have been just a few days away.
When Manning took ownership of Mediaweek, it was the only trade title covering the media business in any depth, although AdNews and B&T later expanded their coverage.
Mediaweek, originally a paid subscription magazine which was in print until 2017, was also the first local trade title in the niche to launch a daily digital newsletter around 2004.
Manning stayed with the title as editor-in-chief, and then editor-at-large after staffer Trent Thomas purchased the business in a management buyout. When Thomas was forced to sell to Vinyl Group earlier this year after damaging allegations about his behaviour, Manning stepped up again as acting editor.
Last month Vinyl Group announced it had appointed former PacMags editor Frances Sheen as head of content, and former Mumbrella journalist Emma Shepherd as editor-in-chief.
Manning was retained on a monthly contract which he had anticipated would continue.
He tells Unmade: “I’m just a bit shocked. I assumed it would just roll over.”
Manning doesn’t have a copy of the message which ended his relationship with Mediaweek. By the time he got home, he had been locked out of his email.
He recalls the note from King told him that he would not be needed during the quieter period of December and January. “It then said something like, ‘we're pretty well catered for from February onwards with the team’.
Instead the email suggested he might be paid a fee to show up at meetings with potential advertisers.
Says Manning: “Because I was shocked, I just blurted out to the room, ‘I've been sacked’ and packed up my stuff.”
Vinyl Group had appeared to assume Manning would work through until the end of today, the last working day of November. “I thought, I'm not bloody doing another moment’s work. Yes, there's one day left in November. But I’d done so much overtime. There's no point in working anymore, if that's it.”
Vinyl Group declined to comment on yesterday’s exit, but argues that he was not sacked.
Manning can be reached at jamesrmanning@gmail.com. And he will continue with his long running TV Gold podcast, presented with Andrew Mercado.
Asked about his imminent quarter century anniversary with Mediaweek, Manning wryly observes: “I’m guessing the fucking party has been cancelled.”
Anyone wanting to acknowledge Manning’s contribution to the media industry over the last 25 years is welcome to do so in the comment thread here
Unmade Index rally fades
The midweek rally in the Unmade Index faltered yesterday, with a drop of 1.16% to 446.4 points.
Seven West Media had the worst of it, losing 3.1%. Vinyl Group had the best day, gaining 4.4%.
Time to leave you to your Friday.
I’ll be back with Best of the Week tomorrow.
Have a great day.
Toodlepip…
Tim Burrowes
Publisher - Unmade
tim@unmade.media
I have know James for more than 30 years. What James does not know about the media industry isn't worth knowing, and his reporting is always accurate, fair and insightful. He is also the world's nicest bloke. What a disgraceful way to be treated and Mediaweek will be worse off without James's influence and knowledge. Shame on you Vinyl Group.
James is an industry legend and deserves to be treated better. We all understand the economics of the business at the moment, but have some forgotten the humanity? I wrote about this very thing last week. https://morningmusely.substack.com/p/youre-not-redundant-your-job-is?r=ujeyp