Nine publishing boss James Chessell to depart
Nine Entertainment managing director of publishing James Chessell will leave his role overseeing The Australian Financial Review, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age early next year but will continue to work with the company.
Chessell, who previously was executive editor of the two capital-city newspapers, backed the mastheads as they published a series of high-profile investigations including on disgraced soldier Ben Roberts-Smith.
Nine’s outgoing managing director of publishing, James Chessell, addresses the media after Ben Roberts-Smith lost his defamation case against the outlet’s journalism. James Brickwood
“It has been an absolute thrill to work in and around our newsrooms for the best part of two decades,” Chessell told staff in an internal note.
“Even on the not-so-good days, it’s the best job in the world.
“The business of journalism can be a little self-serving, but it’s undeniable our mastheads are pumping out more meaningful stories, taking more risks on matters of public interest and reaching more Australians than any other media outlet.”
Under Chessell, the number of subscribers across the Nine mastheads rose and newsroom staff increased. A former political staffer and journalist, Chessell could not hide his enthusiasm for a punchy story or frustration with a poorly written piece, even as he ascended the executive ranks.
Nick McKenzie, an investigative reporter on The Age, said his work uncovering criminal conduct at some of the largest companies in the country and covering allegations of war crimes committed in Afghanistan could not have happened without Chessell’s support.
“James was instrumental in allowing my team to expose Ben Roberts-Smith, to take on Crown Resorts and Star, and to expose corruption in both major parties,” McKenzie said.
Mr Roberts-Smith is appealing the loss of his defamation case, in which the Federal Court found reporting that he was a war criminal and murderer was true.
Nine chief executive Mike Sneesby said Chessell would continue to work with Nine on government and digital platform issues. Deals with technology giants struck in 2021 by local publishing companies, including Nine, providing for them to be paid for the use of their journalism are up for renewal soon.
“James’ experience and extensive knowledge of the media landscape will be invaluable as we navigate the developing regulatory and commercial environments,” Mr Sneesby said.
He said Tory Maguire, the executive editor of the Herald and The Age, would succeed Chessell as the acting managing director of publishing.
Maguire said Chessell’s departure marked the end of an era and urged staff to keep doing the same “brilliant” reporting they had under his leadership.
“We all owe James a huge debt of gratitude for leaving us mastheads that are in such a position of strength, and I’m sure everyone will miss him, and his 5am [messages about stories], immensely,” she said.
Chessell, who began his career as a reporter at The Age, said he was looking forward to continuing to work with Nine – but he would miss daily public-interest journalism. “There’s nothing like it,” he said.
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