Q+A

TV News and Current Affairs ABC and SBS News
453

ABC Managing Director statement on Q&A episode of 4 November

Monday night’s episode of Q&A was presented in conjunction with The Wheeler Centre’s feminist ideas festival, ‘Broadside’. The intention of the program was to present challenging ideas from high-profile feminists whose expertise ranges across ageism, disability, Indigenous and domestic violence issues.

The ABC acknowledges that the program was provocative in regard to the language used and some of the views presented.

Q&A has always sought to tackle difficult issues and present challenging and thought-provoking content. However, I can understand why some viewers found elements of this episode confronting or offensive.

We have received audience complaints about the program, are assessing the concerns raised and will investigate whether the program met the ABC’s editorial standards.

1 Like
454

This has just been identified as only 50% true
Hamish has been named full time host.

So the sources in the above appeared to have been off the mark about David.

5 Likes
455

SMH adds Tony Jones will host this year’s final episode of Q&A on December 9.

2 Likes
456

Screenshot_20191107-161627~2
Screenshot_20191107-161627~2.jpeg480×563 49.4 KB

3 Likes
457

Hamish Macdonald to present Q&A

We are delighted to announce that Hamish Macdonald will join the ABC as the new host of weekly flagship discussion program Q&A and as a senior presenter across television and radio.

Macdonald will take over at Q&A from the start of the 2020 season in February. He will also become a regular member of the RN Breakfast on-air team and will be reporting internationally with Foreign Correspondent .

“I’m so passionate about telling the big stories of our time through Australian eyes, for an Australian audience,” said Macdonald.

“This role will be a huge opportunity to make the most complicated issues accessible, engaging and exciting for all Australians, no matter where you live, no matter what you believe.

“I’m proud to join this great Australian institution and can’t wait to serve the audience by continuing the big and important conversations each week.”

Director, News Gaven Morris said Macdonald was one of the brightest talents in Australian journalism.

“Hosting Q&A requires a special set of skills,” he said. “It needs someone who is articulate and also a great listener, well connected, interested in everything and fully across news and current events at home and abroad.

“Hamish can do all of that – and also brings his own brand of warmth and energy that audiences love. He is a terrific communicator, and an experienced and accomplished broadcaster.

“He is an integral part of our plans to continue to evolve Q&A alongside new Executive Producer Erin Vincent and the program team.”

ABC Head of Investigative and In-Depth Journalism John Lyons said: “Hamish’s energy and ability to draw from people their real concerns will further strengthen Q&A as a forum for reflecting the views of Australians and seeking ideas for the future.”

Macdonald replaces founding presenter Tony Jones, who departs Q&A at the end of this year after 12 years with the show.

Hamish Macdonald

Hamish Macdonald comes from Jindabyne in country NSW. He began his media career covering politics in Canberra with regional broadcaster WIN before embarking on an international broadcasting career, first with UK’s Channel 4 News, then Al Jazeera English, before joining US ABC as International Affairs Correspondent.

In Australia, Hamish is a host of The Project on Network Ten, where he previously hosted The Late News . He has won a Walkley award for current affairs journalism and was named Young Journalist of the Year by Britain’s Royal Television Society in 2008. In 2016 he was awarded a Nieman Fellowship at Harvard University.

Hamish has covered conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Ukraine, the nuclear disaster in Japan, uprisings in Hong Kong and Egypt, the London bombings and the rise of ISIS.

He is also a familiar figure to ABC audiences, having done work for Foreign Correspondent , RN Breakfast and as fill-in host of Q&A .

6 Likes
458

Do we know if he is leaving the project. It sounds as though he will be working with ABC exclusively

459

He’s staying with The Project.

6 Likes
460

So is the show still moving to Melbourne next year? Or was that never confirmed?

461

I believe it was only ever assumed/rumored because David Speers is based in Melbourne

462

Hamish may be good at what he does, but to add another angle for a complete view of the bloke, he did reportedly cause ‘waves’.

It was said he fell out with 10 management in his initial contract stint, following his 2013 show which flopped, though was credited with the re-vamped Late News.

It was also reported in the media that he used to waltz around 10 HQ like he was above everyone else, like wearing jogging attire that quote “not even the sports reporters would wear”.

He was also panned including by Chris Reason (husband of former long time 10 presenter Kath Robinson) whom was one of many who lost their jobs at the network (one of a few rounds of redundancies over a couple of years), as he was captured by media partying/having drinks that same night as he (along with photograohed colleagues Sandra Sully, Hermione Kristin and Magdalena Roze) kept their jobs.

But eh, might mean zero. Just sayin.

463

LOL. And you believe everythning you are told? That is pure conjecture and there is no basis for that whatsoever.

464

Monday 11 November-

With Tony Jones back hosting.Screenshot_20191108-050853~2 IMG_20191108_051229

465

You’re a funny chap. But isn’t it being split between Sydney & Melbourne next year? ( A bit like yourself)

1 Like
466

ABC chairwoman Ita Buttrose has told The Australian that she supported managing director David Anderson’s decision to launch an investigation into Monday’s episode, and the episode would be pulled from all ABC platforms. She said:

“We can’t do much more than issue the statement that we have, and we won’t be repeating the program. The plan is to take it off.”

467

Screenshot_20191108-150755~2

2 Likes
468
469
471

Monday 18 November 2019 at 9:35pm

Q&A is live from the Regal Theatre in Subiaco WA

image

  • Christian Porter, has been Australia’s Attorney-General since December 2017.

  • Anne Aly, Dr Anne Aly is the Labor MP for the Perth metropolitan seat of Cowan, which she won in the 2016 election

  • Hannah McGlade, , a Noongar woman, is a human rights lawyer living in Perth.

  • Lanai Scarr is the federal political editor for The West Australian newspaper.

  • Dylan Storer, People’s Panellist. Dylan Storer impressed the nation with his appearance on the Q&A High School Panel in September, 2018.

472

Why did they have to pick Hamish McDonald for hosting next year? I would have a preferred a real abc journalist to host it. Dare I say Leigh Sales would have been a better choice or even an indeginous host. They need a voice on the panel some times.

1 Like
473

Monday 25 November at 9:35pm

image

Live from Sydney - International relations

  • Samantha Power, served as the 28th U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, as well as a member of President Obama’s cabinet, from 2013 - 2017.

  • Tanya Plibersek, is the Shadow Minister for Education and Training and Federal Member for Sydney

  • Tamar Zandberg, is a leading voice for human rights and social justice in Israel.

  • Greg Sheridan, Foreign Editor, The Australian Greg Sheridan is one of Australia’s most respected and influential analysts of domestic and international politics.

  • James Brown, is a Fellow at the United States Studies Centre and an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Sydney.