News Breakfast

JPA · September 30, 2024, 11:02pm

He has been on Fox in the past.

Also, the AFL apparently has put a diversity clause in the new contract, saying that they have to have a diversity in their line-up’s, so he may be sought after.

TV.Cynic · September 30, 2024, 11:18pm

That was mentioned on Media Watch last night. I wondered if it was a mistake based on that being his last day on NB and stating that he has a 2025 project for ABC.

TV.Cynic · October 2, 2024, 8:30am

Statement by ABC Director, News Justin Stevens: Racist attacks on ABC staff

Yesterday the ABC released an independent report that included calling out the racism ABC employees are subjected to and looking at how we defend them in the face of external attacks on them and their work. This is an industry-wide issue, and all media should take responsibility and ownership for what they choose to platform, elevate and legitimise when focusing on the work of individuals.

I am dismayed that within 24 hours of that important report I’m issuing a statement to publicly call out more racist abuse by members of the public directed at one of the ABC’s highly valued staff members, who also happens to be Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.

Tony Armstrong is one of the ABC’s best and most talented presenters. This week he has again been targeted on social media and in public comments on news websites in a despicable way.

The ABC stands by Tony and will not tolerate any racist abuse. The ABC has logged the details of the abusive social media posts and made a complaint regarding the moderation of the comments. A previous incident involving a message sent to Tony was referred to police and resulted in an individual pleading guilty to using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence.

This sort of behaviour in the community is often fed by the inflammatory nature of mainstream media coverage. The prominence of stories, tone of headlines and copy, photos run and selection of story angles can foster division and outright hate.

The ABC belongs to the public and is rightly subject to appropriate scrutiny and feedback. However, at times the nature of the scrutiny on particular ABC employees is unsettling, and the incessant coverage targeting them has real impacts.

As the ABC strives to ensure our workplaces are safe and inclusive we also call on all media organisations to reflect on whether their own behaviour is meeting the highest standards.

fournews · October 2, 2024, 2:59pm

The Project for Tony?

The ABC News Breakfast sports presenter to Project pipeline has occurred before.

Vidiot · October 3, 2024, 3:26am

And he’s been on there a few times as a guest. Same with Fox Footy.

Lots of options post ABC.

Jack_Laverty · October 3, 2024, 4:32am

Isn’t Tony freelance? So, couldn’t he just keep doing what he’s doing? Just not go on the ABC anymore.

JPA · October 3, 2024, 5:04am

He’s on a contact with ABC, which presumably allows him to appear on Project, Fox etc.

The Guardian has reported that they are still negotiating on a new deal.

killy06 · October 3, 2024, 5:07am

His contract reportedly ends this week, I thought?

The new deal is for a new show I believe, not a network contract. It’s pretty clear Tony wants to explore other opportunities elsewhere as well.

JPA · October 3, 2024, 5:08am

It does - the article says a new deal would keep him at the broadcaster, so it sounds like they may be trying to negotiate some sort of network deal (i.e. he does 2 projects for a number of years, etc)