Lisa Wilkinson Unlikely to Return to The Project After Court Ruling on Brittany Higgins Rape Story

Lisa Wilkinson, the veteran journalist and former host of The Project on Channel 10, is unlikely to return to the show after a court found she published a true story about Bruce Lehrmann raping Brittany Higgins. A Channel 10 insider claims that Wilkinson has "burnt everyone" at the network, and her relationship with executives has collapsed spectacularly.

This week, a Federal Court judge dismissed Lehrmann's defamation suit against Wilkinson and Network 10, finding that Wilkinson's story about Lehrmann raping Higgins was true and therefore not defamatory. Despite the court ruling in her favor, Wilkinson was refused an appearance on The Project and the insider says there is "absolutely no chance" she will appear on screen for Ten again.

The insider revealed that Wilkinson's colleagues and executives were hurt by her testimony during the trial, which seemed to put much of the responsibility for producing the Brittany Higgins story onto others. Wilkinson's differing accounts of her role in the story have damaged her relationship with the network.

Months of fighting over who would pay Wilkinson's legal bills saw her once-close relationship with Channel 10 CEO Beverley McGarvey break down, and the two are no longer on speaking terms. Wilkinson has been pushing behind the scenes to resume some kind of on-air presence at Ten, but the network has no interest in allowing her to return.

Why this matters: The fallout from this high-profile case highlights the personal and professional toll that reporting on sensitive stories can take on journalists, even when they have done the right thing. It also underscores the challenges media organizations face in supporting their journalists while managing the legal and reputational risks of investigative reporting.

Wilkinson's previous departure from Nine Network in 2017 over a pay dispute also makes it unlikely for her to return to a commercial network. While the ABC could be an option, the reduced salary package may not be appealing. However, Wilkinson may find success in podcasting and digital media, where she can position herself more as an advocate than a traditional journalist. As one media insider put it, "Lisa's future in television is uncertain, but she has other options to explore, such as book deals, columns, and direct-to-consumer platforms."

Key Takeaways

• Lisa Wilkinson unlikely to return to The Project after court ruling in her favor.
• Wilkinson's relationship with Channel 10 executives has collapsed due to her testimony.
• Wilkinson's legal bills dispute and differing accounts damaged her ties with the network.
• Reporting on sensitive stories can take a personal and professional toll on journalists.
• Wilkinson may find success in podcasting, digital media, or other non-traditional platforms.