An online petition calling for the reversal of a decision to axe NBN news reader Paul Lobb has been gaining traction.
The change.org petition was created on Thursday 16 December and reached more than 1,500 signatures within hours of being launched.
By 11am on Friday (17 December) the 1,500 target had been increased to 2,500.
The action follows his sudden release from the network after 20 years of service.
An outpouring of support has followed after Lobb was noticeably missing from the 6pm broadcast on Monday 13 December.
An email detailing his departure was circulated to staff earlier in the day, together with the announcement that weatherman Gavin Morris would transition to the news desk to present with Natasha Beyersdorf from Monday, 31 January, 2022.
It seems the Newcastle community was not ready to let go of the experienced broadcaster just yet.
To demand that NBN News rescind the decision to axe Paul Lobb as the NBN evening news reader is the title of an online petition created by Victoria Rey.
“It has been announced that Paul Lobb is to be axed in January 2022 from presenting the NBN evening news broadcast, to be replaced by the weatherman Gavin Morris as the evening newsreader along with Natasha Beyersdorf.
“Local viewers hold great respect for Paul, who has continued to display a very professional presentation each evening.
“I am asking you to sign this petition to try and have this decision reversed.”
Aside from offering an online signature, more than 50 people left messages of support for the much-loved presenter.
“This man is Newcastle, our news presenter, our family every night. He cannot be dropped, he cannot be replaced.” – Simone O’Grady
“Paul is not only a newsreader but an ambassador for your company.” – Malcolm Young
“This is such a waste of such a talented caring person – although if a company treats staff so poorly with such disrespect would you really want to return to work under that type of management.” – Donna Butler
“We need relatable humans on our television. Lobby is one of them.” – Cameron Upcroft
“Corporate, they don’t care.” – Craig Palmer
“Very, very sad. First Andy, now Paul. Awful after all their years of loyal service.” – Rebecca Skinner
“Nine is just another partisan hack-squad these days,” wrote Greg Ray, to which John Fowler replied “Unfortunately it also has taken over what used to be a reasonably independent media – the Fairfax group.”
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