ABC operations

Television ABC
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The ABC responds to claims in Fairfax Media today about the ABC NEWS Specialist Reporting Team.

ABC NEWS Specialist Reporting Team

In Fairfax Media today columnist Jenna Price writes that “(the ABC’s) Specialist Reporting team is now being set targets for the number of readers each story gets. The inside story is that this is a pilot for a rollout across the institution. The key performance indicator is being set as an average of 80,000 page views across the team’s output. At least one reporter says that in the middle of a month, if page views are down, they are being discouraged from writing stories that might not get high impact.”

The ABC would like to respond to and correct these claims.

The ABC’s Specialist Reporting Team was formed in October last year to do important stories of national interest and with impact.

The team is a multiplatform unit which files most stories not just for online, but to Radio and TV programs.

There is a commissioning process to help decide how best to invest limited resources and time.

Reporters are not discouraged from doing stories solely on the basis of page views.

There is no “key performance indicator … set as an average of 80,000 page views”.

All ABC network reporting teams use a broad range of measures to understand how audiences respond to stories, including reach, journalistic impact, engagement time, page views and other metrics.

This is part of the ABC’s commitment to serving audiences and is not new or unusual – in fact it is standard industry best practice.

Our aim is to do meaningful, editorially important stories in the most interesting and relevant way.

Some recent examples of the great reporting by the Specialist Reporting Team include:

Santa Teresa residents are suing the NT Government over ‘decrepit’ housing, but it’s countersuing

Insurer tells grieving woman not to seek mental health treatment for two years or void cover

Reef company altered scientist’s report on crown-of-thorns program — even though he told them not to

Superannuation changes could leave young Australians with no insurance cover

Arts Minister admits funds redirected t o Sydney Symphony Orchestra

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Michelle Guthrie being questioned by the Senate, Environment and Communications References Committee (Allegations of political interference in the Australian Broadcasting Corporation).

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It’s also live on Sky News Extra, channel 604

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More on Higgins’ resignation:

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The full response to Richard Ferguson’s article in The Australian

It is striking that in The Australian ‘s approximately 420-word article today accusing RN Breakfast of lack of balance it chose to publish just three words of the response the ABC provided.

Here it is in full:

These raw figures on their own and out of context give a very incomplete picture of the range and number of interviews conducted with different parties and individuals.

Editorial decisions about interviews are based on current policy debate, legislation before the Parliament and the relevant policy positions of the parties and independents.

During the period in question, nine of the 10 members of the Greens party room were in the Senate, therefore the overwhelming majority of interviews with the Greens were with Senators. Interviews with the Government and Opposition were spread between Senators and Members.

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It appears that mediation between Michelle Guthrie and the ABC regarding her complaint to the Fair Work Commission has not resolved the issue, so it has now moved to the Federal Court.

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I wonder if Ita will introduce the television equivalent of the Cleo sealed section to the ABC? Is there a demand to see Tony Jones, Tom Gleeson, Charlie Pickering, Leigh Sales or Costa from Gardening Australia present their shows naked?

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Brussel sprouts will be banned in the ABC cafeteria.

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Craig McMurtrie appointed ABC Editorial Director

Craig McMurtrie, one of the ABC’s most experienced journalists and senior news executives, has been appointed as Editorial Director of the ABC. McMurtrie takes over from Alan Sunderland, who is retiring after a long and distinguished career with the national public broadcaster.

Acting ABC Managing Director David Anderson paid tribute to Sunderland and welcomed McMurtrie to the crucial role.

“We’ve been incredibly fortunate to have a person of the calibre of Alan Sunderland holding this position at the ABC in recent years,” Anderson said.

“I’m delighted to announce as his successor Craig McMurtrie, a distinguished journalist and one of the ABC’s most respected editorial leaders.”

McMurtrie said: “The ABC’s role as Australia’s trusted national voice is more vital than ever, and it’s an honour and also humbling to be given such a responsibility.

“My most important task is to support and defend fearless, independent public interest journalism and conversations, and freedom of expression, as well as ensuring all ABC output is consistent with our high editorial standards.”

Craig McMurtrie

Craig McMurtrie, 56, has been a journalist for almost four decades, starting as a cadet on Radio New Zealand in 1980.

He has worked for the ABC since 1991, with his roles including daily news and current affairs reporting based in Sydney and two stints in the Canberra Press Gallery, with more than five years as Parliament House Bureau Chief.

He spent almost a decade as the ABC’s US correspondent and Washington Bureau Chief, with major assignments including reporting from New York in the aftermath of the September 11 terror attacks and in Haiti following the 2010 earthquake.

Since 2012 he has been a senior member of the ABC NEWS leadership team, most recently as Deputy Director and Executive Editor.

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I’ve never seen them in the ABC cafe.

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Check the vego menu. :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

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The Australian is claiming that the Federal cabinet has approved Ita Buttrose as the next chair of the ABC, with an announcement expected later this week.

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Prime Minister Scott Morrison made the announcement this morning.


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ABC welcomes new Chair, Ita Buttrose AO OBE

The ABC today welcomed the appointment of Ita Buttrose AO OBE as the Corporation’s new Chair.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced that the Government will recommend Ms Buttrose’s appointment to the Governor-General.

Ms Buttrose said: “The ABC is one of the most important cultural and information organisations in Australia and I am honoured to be given the opportunity to lead it.”

Acting ABC Managing Director David Anderson said Ms Buttrose would provide valuable strategic leadership at an important time for the national public broadcaster.

“I join with all ABC employees in welcoming Ita Buttrose to this important role,” Mr Anderson said. “Ms Buttrose is an eminent Australian with vast experience as an editor and media executive. Her leadership of the ABC, a highly valued and trusted cultural institution, is welcomed.

“In an era of globalised commercial media, a strong independent ABC is vital. We remain committed to outstanding news and current affairs, hosting conversations that inform the public, and delivering compelling content that is distinctive, high-quality and Australian.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Dr Kirstin Ferguson for her strong commitment to an independent ABC and the ongoing leadership and governance she has provided during her tenure as Acting Chair.”

Dr Kirstin Ferguson, who will continue as Deputy Chair, said the ABC Board looked forward to working with Ms Buttrose.

“Ita Buttrose is one of the greats of Australian media – and an iconic, widely admired Australian,” Dr Ferguson said.

“She will bring valuable experience to the ABC Board at a time when we will need to make significant strategic and leadership decisions, including the appointment of the new Managing Director, in coming months.

“I am honoured to work with her in my capacity as Deputy Chair and I know the entire Board looks forward to working with Ms Buttrose on critical issues facing the ABC.”

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Buttrose needs to be made a Dame.