The peak body for Australia's media and entertainment industry has urged that the next leader of Nine Entertainment renew the media company's commitment to journalism in the wake of a series of scandals that have led to a loss of public trust in the country's largest media company.

The Acting Director of the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA), Michelle Rae said the recent strike by journalists in Nine’s publishing division had been effectively a vote of no confidence in the direction outgoing CEO Mike Sneesby had taken the company over the past few years.

"Journalists went on strike because they were sick and tired of Nine putting the interests of high returns to shareholders ahead of investment in the editorial frontline staff upon whom the company’s reputation for independent quality journalism depends," said Rae.

Rae also criticised Nine for a range of issues, including cover-ups, large payouts for executive misconduct, overseas junkets, and significant job cuts. "They want an end to the cover ups and big pay outs for bad behaviour by Nine executives. They want an end to the overseas junkets to the Paris Olympics and other events. And they want an end to the mindless cuts that included up to 90 print editorial jobs announced in the middle of an enterprise bargaining campaign," she said.

The MEAA is urging the next managing director of Nine to prioritise investment in journalism in order to regain public trust. Rae believes this could be a turning point for the company. "The next managing director of Nine will have an opportunity to turn a fresh page and reset the company with a focus on its most valuable assets, its editorial staff, including aligning the publishing, broadcasting and digital operations to get the most out of its journalistic strengths," she said.

Rae emphasised the importance of a strong journalistic frontline for the company's financial bottom line. "Nine management must understand that there is no financial bottom line without a strong journalistic frontline."

The MEAA has expressed its willingness to work constructively with the next managing director to achieve these outcomes. "MEAA members are willing to work constructively with the next managing director to achieve those outcomes. This opportunity must not be lost," Rae said.