My colleagues have been embarrassed by the revelations about the behaviour of Darren Wick, former head honcho of news at Nine. It’s the avalanche of allegations, of sexual harassment, of bullying, of ghosting, the desperate remnants of alpha maleness of it all which embarrasses the women – and a few good men – with whom I work.

So, a couple of questions. Who knew what and when? How is it remotely possible that former MD Hugh Marks claims to have known nothing? Look, I believe he believes that about himself. But then he was busy with other issues, wasn’t he?

And here’s the one I know you’re all asking yourself: how could a bunch of smart, educated, powerful women put up with this terrifying behaviour for so long?

Let me answer this for you. We are still telling women not to make trouble, not to complain, just in case it ruins our careers. We are still telling women to be compliant and courteous. It hasn’t worked in my case, but then I’ve had to pay for that. The truth is, our careers are set to be ruined whether we comply or whether we don’t. If we try to tell our bosses what’s going on, we are sent on our way. Or, in the interim, we are all told to go to human resources, the place where the hopes, dreams and ambitions of many a woman have gone to die.

It is true of at least the media that the power of women at work has soared over the decades since I started my journalism cadetship at The Sydney Morning Herald in 1982, but it is also true that the power of men remains ascendant. It’s true in both industries I’ve worked in – media and universities – despite the heavily feminised workforce. It’s true of nearly every sector I’ve written about, from finance to the arts to the law.

Loading

Powerful men can choose to behave ethically and well. Unfortunately, they can also behave like bulldozers. For these men, it’s ultimately rewarding because they build a kingdom in which they are both admired and feared. Woe betide anyone unfortunate enough to be in their paths.

We are set to be saved. All set to be saved. But it will take time. This is where we are now. I’d like to believe that Nine management on the TV side acted out of a desire to protect the woman brave enough to make the complaint. But really, the government made them do it.

The end of these men is coming through legislation. And it’s accelerating because of the alleged behaviour of men like Wick. Men like Peter Fray and Chris Dore. Men like Mark Forbes. Men like the pathetic child of journalism royalty who used his connections to protect his behaviour. Men like the former ABC child genius who was forced to leave before it all came undone. Now Adrian Foo, Nine’s former publicity boss of Stan, is in the queue.