Well they get to slacken off further with the funding increase the Coalition say they will deliver, which is nothing more than political pandering.
One think I would like to see from the ABC is an increased presents in regional area - more so with television news coverage.
Iâve always supported the idea of expanding the local state bulletins to one hour with an increased presence on local news stories happening around that state.
And move 7.30 to 8.00pm.
Iâd say a smart regional investment would be reducing networking on ABC Local Radio, itâs where I think you could make the biggest value for the public for a given investment.
The radio content is something you can then easily transcribe into articles for the web, carry snips in news bulletins, etc.
Radio is able to be more significantly local then a few stories a day in a TV bulletin, as the ABCâs certainly never going to get back to a point where it could run local regional TV news, itâd just need such a mammoth investment in additional feeds that would eat into the funds of actually delivering the content.
Local radio is in place and ready to scale.
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Decentralisation works if it is done properly. BBCâs sports coverage has been produced at MediaCityUK in Salford (west of Manchester CBD) since 2011.
Childrenâs news show Behind the News has been produced at ABC Adelaide for many years now. If another ABC current affairs show moves to Adelaide, I am sure many crew members who work on BTN will be keen to be involved as well.
Splitting stuff up into Manchester and London was a daft idea, it just means people are traveling between the two (and Glasgow now too) for work. Also doesnât change jack shit with coverage.
âŠAustralia trust the ABC to deliver balanced, accurate and reliable news.
having lived in country NSW the ABC was our lifeline. everything from stock prices to rainfall to just having company and the cricket on when ploughing fields of mustering stock, and when natural disasters came it was the ABC giving us up to date info whilst the commercials played music. sure we had commercial stations but the ABC told us what we needed to know and they understand bush life
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Use of ABC Content in Political Advertising
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983 (Cth) requires the ABC to maintain its independence and integrity. These principles have been in place from the inception of the ABC as a public broadcaster in 1932 and are reflected in the ABCâs Editorial Policies.
To preserve and protect the ABCâs independence and integrity, the ABC does not permit any of its content, logos, or intellectual property to be reproduced for political purposes. This includes all content and intellectual property which the ABC broadcasts on radio or television or publishes online.
The ABCâs rights in relation to its content, logos, or intellectual property are protected under Australian copyright law, and so any intended use of ABC content or logos or any other intellectual property by political parties, candidates, or third party groups, requires the ABCâs approval.
Approval will not be granted for any use of ABC content or logos or any other intellectual property in political advertising or political messaging. This includes broadcast advertising, print advertising, other forms of advertising including websites, and any and all social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and other digital platforms.
There is no restriction on linking to ABC content hosted on ABC platforms - but political parties, other organisations, or individuals repurposing ABC content or intellectual property on non-ABC platforms for political advertising or political messaging will be requested to immediately remove the ABC material, including from social networks or websites.
ABC NEWS finished 2021 as the number one digital news brand in Australia with more than 63% of Australians connected with ABC NEWS platforms.
The ABC is the leading Australian radio network with the highest reach and share of listening.
ABC iview was the number one Broadcast Video on Demand Service.
Importantly, 78% of Australians trusted the information provided by the ABC, which is significantly higher than all other media institutions and information providers.
Australia benefits from major expansion of regional and rural coverage
The ABC has significantly expanded its regional and rural coverage following its recruitment of 55 regionally-based journalists, which is anticipated will boost the number of its employees working outside capital cities to more than 600.
The new regional roles were made possible through commercial deals struck with Facebook and Google in November last year, following the passage of the Federal Governmentâs News Media Bargaining Code earlier in 2021.
The ABC committed that any net revenues resulting from an agreement with Google and Facebook would be invested in supporting regional and rural public interest journalism.
Speaking at the opening of the ABCâs first-ever bureau in Charleville in South West Queensland, Managing Director David Anderson said the ABC had moved fast over the summer to advertise and recruit in every state and in the Northern Territory.
Mr Anderson said there had been strong interest in the roles, with more than 580 applications received.
âMost of those who have applied are already living and working in regional Australia, although several applicants were looking to relocate from the city,â he said.
He said the successful applicants came from a range of experiences and backgrounds.
âI canât think of a better way to start our 90th year than increasing and expanding our coverage in regional and rural Australia, particularly in areas where to date the ABC has not had a presence.
These 55 positions will have a big impact on our ability to cover regional issues, from the larger regional centres to remoter communities. It will mean a more stories, better coverage and specialist reporting on the issues that matter to people living in the regions and important insights into regional and rural Australia for people residing in Australiaâs capital cities.
Charleville is one of ten new locations for the ABC along with Batemans Bay, Warragul, Carnarvon, Hervey Bay, Gladstone, Whyalla, Northam, Swan Hill and Victor Harbor.
The ABC has boosted the number of journalists in nine existing bureaux in Horsham, Burnie, Dubbo, Wagga Wagga, Katherine, Esperance, Karratha, Longreach and Toowoomba.
From this month, the ABC now has journalists in 58 locations across the country.
ABC and CBC announce the Kindred Animation Collaboration
Call for submissions will be open to animation creators and producers in Australia and Canada beginning March 28 until May 16 at abc.net.au/kindred
National public broadcasters ABC and CBC today announced the KINDRED ABC/CBC ANIMATION COLLABORATION , a joint initiative designed to nurture and support the kidsâ production industry by funding new childrenâs animated projects in Australia and Canada. Building on ABC and CBCâs existing creative and commercial collaboration to enhance the reach and impact of their content, the two public broadcasters are now partnering in the search for world-class, unique, creatively ambitious animation ideas to develop, with the potential for a future co-commission. Canadian and Australian creators and producers can apply beginning March 28, 2022 until May 16, 2022 , with full details about the application process and eligibility criteria available here.
âKidsâ content is essential to public service media. At CBC/Radio-Canada, weâre committed to finding and nurturing exceptional programming for children and youth, and the Kindred Animation Collaboration with ABC will help us do just that. In a world where content is exploding, these kinds of collaborations are essential to public broadcastersâ ability to compete.â
â Catherine Tait, President and CEO, CBC/Radio-CanadaâThe Kindred Animation Collaboration is an exciting opportunity to further the ABCâs outstanding reputation for delivering engaging content for children and young people. In an increasingly crowded market, the ABC is committed to ensuring our world-class programming is not lost in the mix. Weâre delighted to be partnering with the CBC in this important initiative which will undoubtedly deliver creative ideas aligned to our shared values and relevant to all our audiences.â
â David Anderson, ABC Managing DirectorThrough this collaboration, ABC and CBC are looking for projects that feature a fresh, innovative and artistic animation style, and will appeal to Australian and Canadian audiences alike. Core to any idea that will be considered by ABC and CBC are strong, unique and demonstrable senses of voice, story, setting and character. Given their shared commitments to inclusivity, diversity, and gender equity, ABC and CBC expect the diversity of the story world and characters to be reflected in the creative team and that integrated and meaningful collaboration will occur throughout the creative process.
ABC and CBC are looking for two distinct types of animated projects: (1) those appealing to a tween audience (10-14 years old), with a female character-driven narrative or compelling ensemble cast, featuring ideas that speak to this age group with a focus on comedy, surrealism, fantasy quests and/or identity; and (2) preschool projects that explore an aspect of early childhood development that is not well represented in the current landscape, with core values including comedy, kindness and empathy. The source IP must originate from either Canada or Australia to qualify. Shortlisted ideas will receive funding for an initial stage of development. Projects that proceed beyond the initial stage will be eligible for further development from the ABC and CBC to be confirmed at that time.
Submissions are open to teams from Australia and Canada, including professionals over the age of 18 years, sole creators, collectives, animation studios, production companies, and artists from aligned disciplines. Projects may be submitted by Australian/Canadian teams who have long-standing professional and creative relationships; however, individual Australian or Canadian teams and sole creators (unfamiliar with partners in the reciprocal territory) are encouraged to apply and successful candidates will be provided with support by ABC/CBC in their search for a production partner.
In June 2019, ABC and CBC first announced a creative and commercial collaboration to enhance the reach and impact of their content across both countries, including childrenâs programming. Outcomes of the collaboration include ABCâs acquisition of CBC Kidsâ original commission Big Blue as well as CBC co-productions Kiri and Lou and Endlings , and CBC Kidsâ acquisition of ABC titles First Day , How To Do Stuff Good , and The Wonder Gang .
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ABC response to Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) report
The ABC rejects assumptions made in the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission report released today (Tuesday 15 March 2022) and calls on the Commission to detail the steps it took to draw its conclusions.
The LECC did not approach the ABC before making its claims.
The LECC report raises more questions. The central point of the reporting was whether former NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller had declared his racehorse ownership to the State Government.
The ABC stands by its reporting that Mr Fuller did not declare his racehorse ownership to the Government as he was required to under the NSW Police policies and procedures.
Under those policies and procedures Mr Fuller was required to declare any actual, perceived or potential conflicts of interest to the Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC) at least annually.
The LECC did not contradict the ABCâs reporting that Mr Fuller did not declare his racehorse ownership to the DPC.
Mr Fuller told the ABC he was not required to do so. He said he had âcomplied with all government policiesâ and âit has not been established I have breached any policyâ. However, the LECCâs report notes Mr Fuller âaccepted he may not have compliedâ with the protocol.
A freedom of information request to the DPC showed the department had no record of any declaration before 2021, by which time Mr Fuller had sold his racehorse shares.
The LECCâs report stated that: âBecause betting can lead to illegal activities, care needs to be taken but nothing in this investigation shows any lack of care or any actual conflict of interests with his duties as Police Commissioner.â
The ABC notes that the NSW Police policies and procedures requires all NSW Police Force (NSWPF) employees to declare not only actual conflicts of interest, but also potential or perceived conflicts of interest. That is, NSWPF employees must disclose private interests â including shareholdings, social and sporting activities â which could have the potential to, or could be perceived by a reasonable person to, interfere with or influence their public duties.
The ABCâs investigation was initiated in September 2021, well before Mr Fuller applied to join the board of Racing NSW. The ABC was not aware of Mr Fullerâs application to join the board of Racing NSW until the day before it published the story, when this was revealed in the Sydney Morning Herald.
Mr Fuller had told the ABC he was not negotiating any potential positions with any entities headed by Racing NSW boss Peter VâLandys, who had headhunted him in 2020 for a board position with the Australian Rugby League Commission, which Mr VâLandys also chairs.
The LECC report says that the ABCâs investigation was driven by âmalevolent attempts to cause [Mr Fuller] harmâ. It says âit would appear that it is probably one or more ⊠disaffected officers who have mounted a campaign to harm the reputation of Mr Fuller as the Police Commissionerâ.
This assumption is incorrect.
In their investigation, the reporters worked for months to obtain information from potential sources who were resistant to becoming involved, stating that they believed little would be done about the horse ownership issue given the matters had been raised multiple times in complaints, in Parliament and to the LECC over several years.
The ABCs reporting was accurate, fair and thorough and brought to light potential issues around transparency and public trust, about which citizens have a right to be informed.
It is unfortunate that the LECC did not approach the ABC before making its claims, so we could explain they were demonstrably false.
The findings have been made less than a month after the ABC published its report about Mr Fuller.
The ABC calls on the LECC to detail the steps it took â including who it interviewed â in order to gather evidence and draw its conclusions.
ABC Chair Ita Buttrose to deliver 2022 Andrew Olle Media Lecture
ABC Chair Ita Buttrose AC OBE will deliver the 2022 Andrew Olle Media Lecture marking the national broadcasterâs 90th anniversary year.
The lecture, which has been in hiatus for two years due to COVID-19, will be held in Sydney on Friday 17 June.
Ita Buttrose is one of Australiaâs best known and most influential media executives and the countryâs most celebrated female journalist.
Ita came from a media background. Her father, Charles, was a distinguished editor and war correspondent, who later became the ABCâs Deputy Manager.
Ita started as a copygirl at the age of 15, for The Australian Womenâs Weekly â the magazine she later edited. She was the founding editor of Cleo Magazine in 1972 and was the first woman to be appointed editor of Sydneyâs Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph newspapers in the 1980s. She was named Australian of the Year in 2013 and was inducted into the Australian Media Hall of Fame in 2017.
She is a founding member and former president of Chief Executive Women and is patron of Dementia Australia and the Macular Disease Foundation as well as Emeritus Director of Arthritis Australia.
âAndrew Olle was for many Australians the gold standard of broadcasting, a trusted and much-loved journalist whose programs and broadcasts were not to be missed,â Ita said.
âI was proud to call him a friend and I am honoured to deliver the lecture that not only carries his name but that also celebrates the journalism he stood by. This has extra significance given the ABCâs own 90th anniversary celebrations.â
Managing Director of the ABC, David Anderson, said there was no-one more fitting to deliver the Andrew Olle Media Lecture in the ABCâs 90th year than one of the greats of the Australian media industry.
âIta is synonymous with success in the Australian media, having held some of the most senior roles in newspapers, television, radio and magazines. She has made a huge contribution to the evolution of media in this country and as Chair of the ABC, continues to provide unparalleled leadership.
âI have no doubt that Itaâs 2022 Andrew Olle Media Lecture will be an insightful, revealing, thought-provoking and personal look at the role the fourth estate plays in Australia and where its heading.â
Previous Andrew Olle Media Lecture speakers include Peter FitzSimons , Lisa Wilkinson, Caroline Wilson, Joseph Kahn, Waleed Aly, Helen McCabe, Kate McClymont, Mark Colvin, Laurie Oakes, Ray Martin AM, John Hartigan, John Doyle AM, Lachlan Murdoch, Kerry Stokes AC and Jana Wendt.
The lecture is held in honour of one of the ABCâs iconic broadcasters, Andrew Olle. It will be delivered at a black-tie dinner at The Ivy Ballroom in Sydney on Friday 17 June. The evening will be hosted by ABC Radio Sydney Drive presenter Richard Glover.
Tickets are available at: andrewolle2022.eventbrite.com.au .
The Andrew Olle Media Lecture will be broadcast nationally on Nightlife on Friday 17 June from 11.00pm on ABC Radio. The lecture will also be available on the ABC NEWS channel and ABC iview, with times to be announced.
The Australian is reporting that 7:30 executive producer Justin Stevens has emerged as the potential person whoâll become the ABCâs new Director of News.
An announcement on whoâll succeed Gaven Morris could be made as early as this weekend because the corporation wants the new director to be named in time for the calling of the federal election.
The Audience & Consumer Affairs report investigating a complaint over ABC reporting on Australian special forces in Afghanistan has been published here
Audience and Consumer Affairs Report on ABC Investigations story about Australian Special Forces in Afghanistan
Justin Stevens appointed Director, ABC News, Analysis and Investigations
The ABC is pleased to announce Justin Stevens has been appointed Director, ABC News, Analysis and Investigations.
Justin brings extensive journalism experience and editorial leadership to the position built across two decades and senior editorial positions in current affairs.
In his former role as 7.30 Executive Producer, Justin has for four years been responsible for leading and managing the ABCâs agenda-setting flagship daily current affairs program.
His appointment as Director follows a comprehensive recruitment process involving both internal and external applicants.
The appointment is effective from Monday 4 April.
ABC Managing Director David Anderson:
âJustin has a proven track record in editorial leadership across complex issues and events. Together with the ABC News Executive team, Justin will lead the next stage of the ABC News strategy to be more accessible, valuable and relevant to Australians across all platforms, with the highest quality journalism always at the core.
âJustin fully understands the challenges and opportunities the ABC faces as an essential public service in the digital media era.
âI want to thank the members of the ABC News Executive for their support during this recruitment process, especially Gavin Fang, who has done an exceptional job acting in the News Director role and who will continue to play a crucial role in the work of ABC News into the future.
âThis is a key appointment for the ABC and it comes amid major news events â the continuing effects of the COVID pandemic, the war in Ukraine, domestic issues such as the rising cost of living, and the upcoming federal election.
âItâs a position that requires exceptional editorial leadership, and Justin will be outstanding in the role.â
Justin Stevens:
âIâm incredibly proud to be part of ABC News and itâs an honour to be given the opportunity to lead this great team.
âThe ABC celebrates 90 years this year and ABC News is a huge part of its proud heritage.
âAustralians trust ABC News to deliver the quality public interest journalism and services they need and which are a key part of a healthy democracy. That job is more vital than ever.â
About Justin Stevens
Justinâs first job in the media was in 2005 as a researcher for the Nine Network on Sunday and for Geoffrey Robertsonâs Hypotheticals.
He joined the ABC in December 2006 and worked as a producer and a supervising producer on 7.30 until 2014. His work there included producing key Australian political and feature interviews for presenters Kerry OâBrien and Leigh Sales, including with Barack Obama, Tony Blair, Sir David Attenborough, Woody Allen and the Dalai Lama, and working on breaking news coverage.
In 2013 he was a producer on the four-part ABC series â Keating: the Interviews â with Kerry OâBrien.
In 2014-2015 he was a producer on the three-part series â The Killing Season â with Sarah Ferguson, which won an AACTA Award for Best Documentary and a Logie Award for outstanding public affairs report.
From 2015-2017 Justin worked on Four Corners , producing programs including the Hillary Clinton interview special; a money laundering investigation; the âLeadersâ election special; profiles of Clive Palmer and Bill Shorten; and a program on territorial disputes in the South China Sea. He produced âThe Siegeâ, the two-part special on Sydneyâs Lindt CafĂ© siege which won the 2018 Logie Award for outstanding news coverage.
In 2018 Justin was appointed Executive Producer of national nightly current affairs flagship 7.30, leading a team that sets the news agenda, goes in-depth on the biggest stories of the day and investigates and breaks stories of national significance.
Night after night, 7.30 delivers the key interviews with the top politicians, public figures and newsmakers from Australia and around the world. Its extensive record of public interest journalism includes long-running investigations on topics such as the Centrelink ârobodebtâ scheme and Melbourneâs quarantine hotel inquiry; breaking stories on decisions in grant allocations by former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian; in-depth reporting on Indigenous issues; and extensive reporting out of regional and rural Australia.
Under Justinâs watch 7.30 has grown its broadcast and digital audience. In 2021 its national audience averaged 980,000 viewers a night with an audience share of almost 13% in metro markets and 12.5% in regional areas.
ABC statement on Heston Russell complaint
The ABCâs Audience & Consumer Affairs unit has responded to a complaint received from Heston Russell concerning a 21 October 2020 story by Mark Willacy, âUS marine says Australian special forces soldiers made âdeliberate decision to break the rules of warââ.
No breach of the ABCâs editorial standards was found and the story remains online unchanged.
A&CA found that a clarification note would make one aspect of the story clearer and that has been added at the bottom of the story.
The length of time between the story being published and the complaint being resolved was primarily due to Mr Russell not submitting a complaint until approximately a year after publication.
While the window for accepting complaints is usually six weeks, an exception was made in this case. Given the serious and complex issues raised, the time elapsed since the story was published, and the availability of key staff, the investigation took considerable time.
The full investigation report can be read here.
In light of the conclusions of A&CAâs investigation of the 2020 story, the unit revisited its finding in relation to a complaint about a separate story published on 19 November 2021, âDefence confirms criminal investigation into conduct of Australian commando platoon in Afghanistanâ.
An aspect of this complaint was subsequently upheld for inaccuracy. ABC News has explained that an error in the story and an alternate headline arose in the production phase for the story. These have been amended and a correction has been published at the bottom of the story.