News Breakfast

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.

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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.

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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.

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The Project for Tony?

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

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

Lots of options post ABC.

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

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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.

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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.

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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)

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He’d be silly to sign exclusively to ABC.

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Why? If the money’s good or it’s what he’d like to do then he’ll not be hard out of a job when it expires.

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Friday (04.10.2024): Stephanie Ferrier is co-hosting with Michael this morning.

Tony’s final day today.

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“I’m not out of the building yet”.

Sounds to me like he’s left the ABC completely.

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I think we may see him picked up by Seven.

He could work on the AFL coverage (new sports panel shows) and even the Great Outdoors.

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Charles Brice will be presenting sport next week.

Stephanie Ferrier will also be doing Monday weather, and co-hosting with Michael on Thursday and Friday.

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Bridget Brennan is on the cover of Sunday Life magazine, inside The Sun-Herald and Sunday Age today.

(paywall article)

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Monday October 14 - Friday October 18

Stephanie Ferrier (Monday-Thursday), and Catherine Murphy (Friday) will be filling in for Bridget Brennan.

Charles Brice again presenting sport all week.

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