Nine Network boss David Gyngell has called his own news boss "a f...ing idiot" for telling dumped reporter Christine Spiteri she would be better off at SBS.
Sources quoted in News Limited confirmed that Gyngell pulled News Chief John Westacott over the coals for instructing Spiteri – who is Maltese - that "with a surname like Spiteri you should try SBS".
The slur was alleged to have been made as Westacott told the veteran news reporter her contract would not be renewed – while she was on maternity leave.
It is understood Spiteri has been offered either her former role as Nine’s Los Angeles correspondent – a position she vacated for Gyngell’s wife Leila McKinnon - or a role in the Sydney newsroom.
Her contract runs out in March, but it is not known when she returns from leave.
Spiteri has refused to comment, but her lawyer John Laxon said he would be "communicating with Channel Nine in the very near future".
Spiteri is the latest casualty in a raft of contract disputes between broadcasters and high profile female television journalists.
In a similar case, Ten's Tracey Spicer has alleged discrimination over her sacking after returning from maternity leave last year.
Former SBS news presenter Mary Kostakidis also agreed to terms with her former employer last week. The respected journalist had a much publicised falling out with the National multicultural broadcaster after she staged a walk out over a “dumbing down” of news content, and an alleged preference for allowing co-host Stan Grant to read the hard news items.
