Report: FIVEaa sacks Anne Stone after 19 years

Former Assistant Editor

Newsreader Anne Stone has reportedly been let go by Adelaide’s FIVEaa.

The Advertiser reports that Stone was sacked last Friday, and was marched out of the radio station without delay.

“It’s certainly the most brutal way I’ve ever been dismissed from a job in my 32 years in the industry,” said the multi ACRA winning newsreader.

“I didn’t even get the chance to say goodbye. I didn’t get the chance to do anything.

Stone was reportedly escorted to the newsroom to get her belongings and then straight out the door.

“I didn’t need that … it was just ridiculous. I could have made my own way out discreetly. I was upset, I wasn’t going to draw attention to myself. At the end of the day, it’s embarrassing.

“It was a devastating way to end my career and my time at FIVEaa.”

“I’ve been in radio 32 years, I’m one of the most experienced people in the country… I’m bloody good at what I do.”

“At the end of the day, you’ve just got to pick yourself up and keep going don’t you.”

A spokesperson for NOVA Entertainment declined to comment Radio Today on the matter.

Anne was recently named in Radio Today‘s list of the Greatest Newsreaders of the Present (AM).

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Thommo
7 Nov 2018 - 10:36 pm

What’s going on at 5AA? They seem to have lost sight of the fact employees are human beings. No wonder everyone is leaving!

ANASTASIA
8 Nov 2018 - 9:24 am

What the he’ll is going on 5aa. You have sacked one of the best news readers of the century. Ann Stone was the only reason I listened to your radio station but NOT anymore. You guys should be ashamed of yourself to treat such a loyal employee like you did. I wish Ann Stone all the very best.

Anthony The Koala
8 Nov 2018 - 12:56 pm

I am from Sydney, so I have never had the opportunity to hear Ms Stone’s bulletins.

However, when you google the following search terms: “Anne Stone” 5aa, you come across in 2016 that her former employer 5aa congratulating her on an ACRA award. Then another occasion she gets unceremoniously marched out without saying goodbye to her colleagues and listeners. Is this congratulations some form of lip service and years of loyalty amount to nothing?

On the other hand her former colleagues say that management had decided to reduce the newsroom from three to four as a cost-cutting measure and that Ms Stone got the short straw. (source 5aa website, 8th November).

Prior to her marching out, wasn’t there an exit interview, did management inform her that there are staff reductions. Whether or not it was a business decision, it goes to the question about loyalty to a company. Why dedicate your life to one company.

But dismissal is not always an employer dismissing an employee.Employees have the capacity to dismiss their employer as Ms Stone did in her 32-year career, 19 with 5aa.

Despite the possible necessity for cost cutting, have management considered the impact she had with her listeners. Radio is so personal, and losing a presenter is like losing a friend, even if the presenter/listener relationship is professional.

The risk of losing a personality may mean losing listeners. A newsreader is like a personality. It has happened before at 2UE when it dismissed one of its presenters only to turn up at 2GB in 2002 who is ‘rating its socks off’. 2UE’s ratings are but a very small fraction from its halcyon days.

I cannot comment on the legal status of the dismissal from either Ms Stone’s or 5aa.

Thank you,
Anthony of exciting Belfield

Joanne
8 Nov 2018 - 7:14 pm

I’m shocked to hear about Ann Stone’s dismissal from 5aa. Why would you get rid of such a fantastic news reader in which i enjoy waking up to every morning. I think 5aa should have a closer look at its other radio presenters, rather than dismissing one of their biggest assets. I for one will no longer be listening to 5aa as it has upset me to hear how she was treated. Short straw or not i think David Penberthy needs to get his facts right, and stop covering up the truth. The real truth will eventually come out! SHAME SHAME 5AA! Very disappointed.

Simon
9 Nov 2018 - 8:40 am

Why is anyone surprised by this? It’s commercial radio and she’s a woman…

JASON ANDREW TOPPIN
10 Nov 2018 - 10:07 am

WHAT HAPPED AT FIVEAA HAPPNED IN MELBURNE IN 2011 WHEN GOLD 104.3 SACKED PETER(GRUBBY) STUBBS & DIANNE(DEE DEE) DUNLEVEY AND LIKE ANN STONE TEY WERE NOT ALLOWEN TI SAY GOODBYE TO THEIR LISTENERS AND LIKE FIVEAA THERE WERE GOLD 104.3 LSUENERS THAT WERE VERY ANGRY WITH THINGS THAT HAPPENED IBN 2012 GRUBBY & DEE DEE WERE SIGNED BY 3AW TYE NOW DO TGE WEEKEND BREAK. HENCE TE REASON U SAY TIO ANN STNE RELOCTATE ACCROS TO MELBOURNE AND BECIME ONE OF GRUBBY & DEE dee’S PRODUICERS STARTING NEXT WEEK.

Darryl
20 Feb 2019 - 4:06 pm

Hoping to find out why

Barbara Harris
13 Oct 2019 - 7:52 am

What a mistake this has been !!! There are no newsreaders on 5AA or any other station for that matter, who come close to her. It is now almost the end of 2019 but still, every time I hear a news bulletin I am reminded how much better she would have done it. Her phrasing showed true understanding of the content, her clear, smooth, impartial tone and moderate speed were just right – very easy to listen to, unlike others on air today. Miss you Ann! You were the BEST !!!

susan smith
6 Apr 2022 - 4:30 pm

where is Leon Byner

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