PUBLIC BROADCASTING – AUSTRALIA

ABC boss busy playing politics

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Original article by Lilly Vitorovich
The Australian – Page: 4 : 8-May-19

The ABC’s MD David Anderson recently rejected claims of political bias at the public broadcaster. However, former chairman Maurice Newman says it was inappropriate for Anderson to use his first interview in his new role to suggest that if electors care for the ABC, they should not vote for the Coalition on 18 May. Anderson warned that the ABC will need to reduce its services due to the funding freeze in the May 2019 Budget.

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AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

New ABC boss warns job cuts inevitable

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Original article by Andrew White
The Australian – Page: 2 : 7-May-19

The ABC’s MD David Anderson says the public broadcaster will need to retrench workers and reduce its services due to the Coalition’s funding freeze. He adds that cost efficiencies will be necessary even if the three-year freeze were to be scrapped. Anderson was recently confirmed as the permanent successor to former MD Michelle Guthrie. He had been acting MD since her sacking. Meanwhile, Anderson rejects suggestions of bias at the ABC.

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AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION

Ita Buttrose names David Anderson as managing director of the ABC

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Original article by
abc.net.au – Page: Online : 3-May-19

ABC chair Ita Buttrose announced on 3 May that David Anderson had been appointed as its MD. Anderson had been acting in the role since September, following the sacking of Michelle Guthrie. Buttrose said that the ABC board was unanimous in its choice of Anderson, with his appointment having followed an extensive local and national search. Anderson, who has been with the ABC for almost three decades, said it was "a privilege to be appointed to the role". His appointment is for five years.

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AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION

Return to radio: Trioli to replace Faine

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Original article by Lilly Vitorovich
The Australian – Page: 2 : 2-May-19

ABC TV presenter Virginia Trioli says it was "impossible" for her to reject an offer to succeed Jon Faine as the host of the public broadcaster’s morning radio program in Melbourne. Trioli has been co-host of the ABC’s ‘News Breakfast’ show since 2008, having previously been a radio presenter. There had been speculation that she could replace Tony Jones as host of ‘Q&A’. A spokeswoman for the ABC says no announcements are pending with regard to other unfilled air-on roles at the broadcaster.

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AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, RADIO NATIONAL, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED

Fifield demands more efficiency from Aunty

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Original article by Lilly Vitorovich
The Australian – Page: 5 : 5-Apr-19

The ABC was given a modest funding increase in the April 2019 Budget, to allow the public broadcaster to increase its newsgathering capacity in regional and rural areas. Acting MD David Anderson has welcomed the increased funding for the Enhanced News initiative, but he has criticised the decision to retain a freeze on overall funding for the next three years. He says this will require some difficult decisions regarding staffing and services, but Communications Minister Mitch Fifield argues that the ABC has greater funding certainty than any other Australian media organisation.

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AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC SECTOR UNION, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Guthrie’s pay day: $1.64m to go away

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Original article by Lilly Vitorovich, Zoe Samios
The Australian – Page: 3 : 7-Mar-19

The ABC’s acting David Anderson has told a Senate committee that former MD Michelle Guthrie was paid $730,000 gross to settle her adverse action claim. He said the public broadcaster agreed to a confidential settlement after legal advice suggested that it could have incurred costs of up to $2m if the case had gone to court. Labor and the Community & Public Sector Union have criticised the size of the payout. Guthrie also received a $911,117 severance package following her dismissal in September.

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AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC SECTOR UNION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, ABC ALUMNI

ABC paid Michelle Guthrie $500,000 to drop lawsuit

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Original article by Aaron Patrick
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 6 : 5-Mar-19

Sources have indicated that investment banker and former ABC director Simon Mordant helped to negotiate a settlement with former MD Michelle Guthrie. Mordant has declined to comment on claims that he was asked to intervene in Guthrie’s dispute with the public broadcaster over her sacking in September. The settlement is said to include a payment of around $500,000 to discontinue her unfair dismissal claim, as well as a ‘nondisparagement clause’ that prevents all parties to the case from discussing the matter in the media.

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AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM

ABC rebuked over settlement

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Original article by Jennifer Duke
The Age – Page: 12 : 4-Mar-19

Communications Minister Mitch Fifield says the federal government has been given no details of the ABC’s confidential settlement with former MD Michelle Guthrie. A spokesman for Fifield says the government would prefer complete transparency regarding any portion of the settlement that will be funded by taxpayers. The Australia Institute, the Institute of Public Affairs and advocacy group ABC Alumni have also urged transparency, but a spokesman for shadow communications minister Michelle Rowland has indicated that it is a matter for the ABC.

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AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, THE AUSTRALIA INSTITUTE LIMITED, INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS LIMITED, ABC ALUMNI, ABC AND FRIENDS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Mission for Ita: deliver ABC back to the people

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Original article by Simon Benson, Joe Kelly
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 1-Mar-19

The ABC’s incoming chair Ita Buttrose notes that the majority of Australians do not think the public broadcaster is biased and that it is the nation’s most trusted source of news. Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the media industry veteran is the ideal person to protect the ABC’s audiences and make sure that its focus is on them. Labor leader Bill Shorten says he does not have any objections to Buttrose’s appointment, but he says the selection process should have been politically impartial. Morrison has attracted scrutiny for ignoring the recommendations of an independent selection panel, which did not consider Buttrose for the role.

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AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, GILBERT AND TOBIN LAWYERS, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, HOLDING REDLICH

Buttrose move clears way for new ABC MD

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 28-Feb-19

Media industry veteran Ita Buttrose has declined to comment on reports that she is set to succeed Justin Milne as the ABC’s chair. However, former ABC presenter Quentin Dempster says a new chair should not be appointed until the Senate concludes its inquiry into allegations of political interference at the public broadcaster. Centre for Media Transition director Peter Fray says Buttrose’s expected appointment means the ABC’s acting MD David Anderson is likely to be given the role permanently.

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AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, CENTRE FOR MEDIA TRANSITION, WALKLEY FOUNDATION FOR JOURNALISM, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET