INSEST FACT

Tuesday,Feb 10,2009

Incest story withheld vital fact




THE credibility of 60 Minutes has been rocked by an admission by Channel Nine's news and current affairs boss that last Sunday's controversial story - about a father-and-daughter couple who had a child - cheated viewers of the full picture.

News chief John Westacott said "on balance'' the flagship news show should have included the fact that the father and daughter couple from Adelaide had a previous son, Jackson, in 2001, who died of a heart defect at four days.

The couple has a healthy nine-month-old daughter, Celeste.

The report, by journalist Peter Overton, who is believed to earn around $650,000 a year, has reignited industry criticism of the once prestigious show.

Critics claim it has gone soft, lacks direction and is a "longer version of A Current Affair''.

"60 Minutes knew about the birth of the first child and doctors believe it wasn't because of the father-daughter relationship (that the baby died) but, on balance, it would have been better to include that fact,'' Mr Westacott said yesterday.

"In my opinion, on balance, it would have been better to have included that fact - but all those issues will be canvassed in this week's follow-up.

"As well, the Deaves (family) have done an extensive blog, where they will explain the birth of their two children and their relationship. There'll be no stone left unturned, by the end of this week's show.''

The main criticism of the show was unloaded by former 60 Minutes reporter George Negus and former Nine Network CEO Sam Chisholm.

It follows reports of a private outburst about the quality of the show by on-air star Liam Bartlett at a farewell party for another 60 Minutes stalwart, Ray Martin.

South Australian police are investigating the payment of money by the show to father/daughter couple John and Jenny Deaves for the interview. John Deaves admitted being paid.

Police charged the couple with incest and South Australian courts placed them on a three-year good-behaviour bond, which stipulates they not have sex.

Overton has been attacked all week, most notably by 2GB's Ray Hadley, for failing to report that the couple's first child died.

Negus said 60 Minutes had become a ``long version of A Current Affair''.

"I've felt they lost not the plot, but the sense of direction and sense of purpose,'' he said.

"It's the story selection, but also the approach to the story - when they get it - has become voyeuristic rather than journalistic. It sure is different to my day.''

Mr Chisholm said 60 Minutes and Channel Nine had lost dominance of news and current affairs.

"Sadly, Nine's enormous credibility in the marketplace has disappeared,'' he said.

"The Seven Network and the ABC have now captured this ground.''

60 Minutes often had audiences of 2.5 million-plus in the 1980s, but now averages 1.2 million national viewers.

The former heavy-hitting current affairs program has this year featured reports on cannibalism and freakish physical augmentations, among others.

It has also indulged in blatant cross-promotion, with reports on Sea Patrol actor Lisa McCune and AFL Footy Show host Sam Newman's prostate operation.

By comparison, Nine's Sunday program broke the "Butcher of Bega'' story, Four Corners explored John Howard's ousting and Australia's current debt crisis, while the ABC's Enough Rope with Andrew Denton secured the Wayne Carey interview - free.

Liam Bartlett's comment at Martin's farewell - that the Newman story, presented by Eddie McGuire, was ``not a story'' - was supported by a source close to the program, who spoke of growing unrest among the team.

"Things are pretty grim and, yeah, there's a fair amount of unease,'' he said.

The source claimed that much of the derision was aimed at Mr Westacott's decision to employ Hamish Thompson as the program's executive producer.

"Hamish has no people skills - he's obsessed with buying documentaries and turning them into stories that can be cheaply produced by 60 Minutes and he's lost sight of the main game.

"He's a `yes' man for Westy.''

Overton is under scrutiny after poorly handling the grilling by Hadley and his soft interview style.

"We presented their story,'' Overton told Hadley.

"They told me the baby was stillborn and we then pursued the line of questioning on Celeste and the risk she faced.''