TELEVISION news journalist Melissa Mallet is running out of network options after finding herself sacked for a second time in less than 12 months.
Mallet was one of the reporters whose heads rolled over last year's Choppergate scandal, but picked up a new job with Seven Queensland in Townsville.

Yesterday she was sacked by that network for disobedience.

The Courier-Mail understands Mallet sought permission from Seven Queensland to take last Friday off work to go to Melbourne for the announcement of the Australian Olympic basketball team.

Her boyfriend, Peter Crawford, was named in the squad that day.

Seven Queensland didn't grant her leave but Mallet decided to go anyway.She defended her decision to go without approval, despite finding herself unemployed less than a year into her new role.

"I felt that it was something that I needed to do," she said.

Mallet said she was keen to remain in Townsville, where Crawford, 32, plays for the Townsville Crocs, but may be forced to relocate in order to find new employment.

Mallet was sacked from Channel 9 last year alongside Cameron Price, who now works for Sky News, and Aaron Wakely, after faked live news crosses from the Channel 9 helicopter to the search for Daniel Morcombe's remains in Beerwah.

They were in fact still in Brisbane.

Nine's news director Lee Anderson, who was on leave at the time, resigned over the saga and now heads the State Government media unit under Premier Campbell Newman. Wakely also works for the unit.

Mallet sued Nine for unfair dismissal and the network settled out of court for an undisclosed sum, believed to be about $200,000.

yes, suing an employer for $200 K

Any future possible employer might look at that and say "No, thanks."

I would be very reserved about her.