ABC News Content and Appearance

There’s no ABC Late news on weekends is there? None listed this weekend at least.

On the ABC news channel there are late bulletins that are produced and made out of Sydney.

Yes, but they’re separate bulletins to ABC Late News on the main channel. Melbourne is doing the News Channel bulletins on weekdays (before handing over to Perth) whilst Perth do the shorter main channel.

3 Likes

Watched ABC News Tasmania on Thursday night… only 2 local packages, both Hobart based, during the whole bulletin. Is this typical with most editions?

Most of the time, yes.

Statement from ABC Managing Director David Anderson: Craig McMurtrie

Craig McMurtrie has made an enormous contribution to the ABC and to journalism for more than three decades.

A highly accomplished and respected journalist, he reported from the front lines of many major news events during those years, including as the ABC’s US correspondent and Washington Bureau Chief for almost a decade.

Craig came off the road to become one of ABC News’ most senior editorial executives, bringing his enormous talent, experience and integrity to leading news teams and shaping our coverage.

In his most recent role as the ABC’s Editorial Director he has been integral in supporting and defending public interest journalism and ensuring what we do meets the highest standards.

The ABC and the public owe much to his dedication and commitment over more than three decades.

He has our deep appreciation and thanks, and our congratulations on such a distinguished career.

1 Like

Last night was the last 40 minute Sunday bulletin with the bulletin reverting to 30 minutes from next Sunday to align with the rest of the week.

According to the SMH article that was linked on the “ABC Operations” thread (see post), ABC News NSW will be produced out of its new Parramatta office from early 2024.

1 Like

ABC joins the Trusted News Initiative

The ABC has joined the Trusted News Initiative, a global collaboration of major international news and tech organisations, led by the BBC, working together to stop the spread of disinformation.

Other Asia-Pacific news organisations joining the partnership are SBS, Indian Express, Dawn (Pakistan), Kompas (Indonesia), NDTV (India) and NHK (Japan).

The news orgs receive training funded by the Google News Initiative to help their journalists navigate the disinformation environment.

The creation of the Asia-Pacific network will enable the TNI’s regional partners to share insights and best practices to tackle disinformation, discuss trends in the region and alert each other to the most dangerous forms of disinformation through the TNI cooperative framework.

ABC Director, News Justin Stevens said: “The rapidly increasing spread of disinformation – information that is deliberately misleading and dangerous – weakens our society and is a threat that must be addressed.

“As Australia’s most trusted media organisation the ABC has an important role to play in tackling this problem. We’re pleased to join the Trusted News Initiative and, in the process, provide Australian audiences with a deeper and better-informed view of our region and the world.”

The partnership is entirely separate from, and does not in any way affect, the editorial independence of any partner organisation.

Current TNI partners include AP, AFP, BBC, CBC/Radio-Canada, European Broadcasting Union (EBU), Financial Times, Google/YouTube, The Hindu, Information Futures Lab, Meta (Facebook/Instagram), Microsoft, The Nation Media Group, Reuters, Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, Twitter and The Washington Post.

The TNI partnership works collectively in four main areas:

  • Fast Alert: creating a system so organisations can alert each other rapidly when they discover disinformation which threatens human life or disrupts democracy
  • Intelligence sharing: real-time conversation of equals between news organisations and tech platforms about the evolving nature of harmful disinformation
  • Media education: sharing insights and research on how audiences and users react to disinformation, thus informing best practice and supporting better digital literacy
  • Engineering solutions: sharing information on engineering solutions for authentication of trusted news sources and improving the information environment

Read the TNI media release here.

1 Like

Bulletins last night -

3 Likes

Suzanne Dredge appointed ABC NEWS Head, Indigenous News

image

ABC NEWS has announced the appointment of award-winning journalist Suzanne Dredge to the new role of Head, Indigenous News.

Dredge, a Wiradjuri woman, will build and lead a stand-alone Indigenous Reporting Team, with a remit to expand and amplify coverage of Indigenous Affairs across the ABC’s news teams.

Suzanne Dredge: “It is a privilege to lead the ABC’s Indigenous Affairs coverage at such an important time for truth-telling in our country.

“The media plays an important role commissioning and reporting stories that contribute to our views of the world, which is why First Nations people need to be part of the storytelling and decision-making at a senior level.

“In the ABC’s 90-year history there has been no First Nations staff member on the News Executive team. Until now. I am proud to be part of the change.”

ABC Indigenous Affairs Editor Bridget Brennan will be a key member of the new Indigenous Reporting Team.

Bridget Brennan: “Suzanne is one of the most gifted journalists and editorial leaders I’ve ever worked with. She’s a fearless investigator and she cares deeply about uncovering systemic injustices here in Australia, and across the globe.

“As a Wiradjuri woman she has an innate understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and stories. This is an historic appointment and ABC Indigenous staff are so proud of her.”

ABC Director, News Justin Stevens said creating the role and the new team was a natural next step for the ABC in providing the deepest, best-informed and most multi-faceted coverage of Indigenous Affairs.

“The upcoming referendum is a crucial moment for us to get this right and Suzanne Dredge and the Indigenous Reporting Team will be pivotal,” he said.

“It creates a framework for our Indigenous journalists to guide us in how best to give Indigenous people a voice in our journalism. And it helps ensure the ABC’s coverage of Indigenous communities and issues is constructive, accurate and representative.

“This team will also provide a touch point for all Indigenous journalists, helping the ABC attract and retain the best talent in Australian media.”

About Suzanne Dredge

Suzanne Dredge began her media career at Koori Radio in Sydney, producing and presenting flagship program Blackchat.

She joined the ABC in 2011 as a News intern and a year later became a researcher with the National Reporting Team. Her other roles have included being Supervising Producer of nightly current affairs flagship 7.30, which included overseeing the program’s Indigenous Affairs coverage, and a producer with the ABC Investigations team.

Suzanne has won three Walkley Awards, for her work with Four Corners, 7.30 and ABC Investigations.

Her work has taken her to the Middle East, reporting on the end of ISIS and investigating the Australians who travelled to Syria and Iraq to fight with al Qaeda-linked groups. In 2019 she produced the Walkley Award-winning film ‘Orphans of ISIS’.

She received a Kennedy Award for her work on ‘Meet the Scammers’, investigating international drug syndicates targeting romance scam victims.

Most recently, Suzanne produced ‘How Many More?’, a ground-breaking Four Corners investigation into Australia’s murdered and missing Indigenous women.

3 Likes

Not sure if this should go in this thread or the news channel thread.

Surely ABC News is due for a graphics refresh. Their supers, ticker, full frame gfx and OTS are boring and tired. Surely they could better reflect modern Australian Tv and culture.

3 Likes

Yes please. It really needs some life breathed into it

1 Like

I agree !

Agree. Its now looking very drab and lifeless on screen. But this is a big investment as the ABC News graphics are integrated in a number of ABC news platforms.

Yeh. Has anyone heard that they might be doing a refresh? When did they launch the current package?

Spend money enhancing and improving content. Graphics are fine imho.

1 Like