AdNews journalist Josh McDonnell has been arrested and charged with affray following a scuffle at a media event over the weekend.
Attending a Future of Media Events event in Sydney, McDonnell shoved multiple high-profile members of adland before finally being apprehended after pouring red wine on members of an unnamed TV network's sales team.
The attack was believed to be in relation to McDonnell's application as a contestant for Married at First Sight being rejected for having "too strong a moral compass and common sense".
McDonnell, who currently reports on media and TV for AdNews, was also overheard making statements to both executives from Seven and Ten, claiming, "I can do what Osher does, just give me a shot!" and "No, I can't technically cook but have you seen me around the canapes?".
Witnesses stated the journalist had been acting irritable after it was revealed the event didn't have an open bar.
Accounts also reveal that McDonnell had been approaching media agency bosses harassing them over the identities of the new WPP and Mediabrands CEOs.
"He's always floating around the wait staff, he should be working on his headlines, not his beer gut," one anonymous source told AdNews.
"At one point I'm sure he offered to write a profile on one agency boss if they 'gave him the scoop'. The guy's a menace."
McDonnell has since been sentenced in 'media court' by a panel including UnLtd's Chris Freel, Think TV's Kim Portrate, SCA boss Grant Blackley and Ooh!Media's Brendon Cook.
As part of his sentence, McDonnell is to spend one night in prison on 10 May, taking part in UnLtd's Adland Bail Out.
He will spend the night locked up with a gang of industry leaders, to raise money for Whitelion, one of UnLtd’s charity partners.
In order for him to be released out the next morning, McDonnell will also need to raise $1,000 bail. To donate to McDonnell's cause and help AdNews get their senior reporter back on the newsdesk, DONATE HERE.
The rest of the prisoners for this year’s UnLtd Adland Bail Out have also been revealed, featuring GroupM’s Vanessa Hunt, Wavemaker’s Peter Vogel and Starcom’s Stuart Jaffray.
The event is hosted across Sydney and Melbourne by UnLtd and Whitelion and aims to raise funds to help disadvantaged youth.
The inmates, which this year grew to 150 compared to last year’s 80, will spend a night in prison, cut off from the outside world. In order to be released the next day, each participant must raise $1,000 as their ‘bail’.
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