PUBLIC BROADCASTING – AUSTRALIA

News takes AFP raid fight to High Court

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Original article by Leo Shanahan
The Australian – Page: 6 : 25-Jun-19

The ABC and News Corp Australia will both challenge the constitutional validity of the Australian Federal Police’s recent media raids. The ABC will ask the Federal Court to rule that the AFP’s warrant was invalid on a number of grounds, including that it infringed the public broadcaster’s implied right of political communication. News Corp Australia will use similar arguments in the High Court; it will also seek confirmation from the AFP that it is no longer investigating the media group itself or journalist Annika Smethurst.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE, AUSTRALIAN SIGNALS DIRECTORATE

Millar to serve ABC a country breakfast

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Original article by Lilly Vitorovich
The Australian – Page: 7 : 20-Jun-19

The ABC has advised that Lisa Millar will replace Virginia Trioli as the co-host of the public broadcaster’s ‘News Breakfast’ program in August. The ABC veteran has been a foreign correspondent for the last nine years, and notes that the city-country divide has become more pronounced during her absence from Australia. As a result, Millar wants to cover more stories about regional Australia in her new role.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED

ABC raid sparks battle between government and media

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Original article by Joe Kelly, Richard Ferguson
The Australian – Page: Online : 6-Jun-19

There are further concerns about freedom of the press following an Australian Federal Police raid on the Sydney offices of the ABC on 5 June. AFP officers were seeking document relating to the public broadcaster’s 2017 report on allegations of misconduct by Australian special forces in Afghanistan. The report was based on secret Defence documents that were leaked to the ABC. The AFP has indicated that the raid was not linked to a separate raid on the home of News Corp journalist Annika Smethurst on 4 June. The Greens have called for a Senate inquiry into the decline of press freedom in the wake of the police raids.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HOME AFFAIRS, MEDIA, ENTERTAINMENT AND ARTS ALLIANCE, BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION

ABC gives edge to progressive voices

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Original article by Zoe Samios, Alice Workman, Jessica Cortis
The Australian – Page: 24 : 27-May-19

Analysis shows that Labor politicians were interviewed 12 times by the ABC’s flagship news and current affairs programs during the federal election campaign. A total of 10 politicians from the Liberal Party were interviewed on ‘7.30’, ‘Insiders’ and ‘AM’, while three Greens and one Centre Alliance politician were interviewed. ‘7.30’ featured three live interviews with Coalition politicians, four with Labor and one Greens. Prime Minister Scott Morrison and former Opposition leader Bill Shorten were both interviewed on ‘7:30’ twice during the election campaign.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, CENTRE ALLIANCE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE

ABC staff told to brace for cuts

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Original article by Andrew White
The Australian – Page: 7 : 21-May-19

ABC MD David Anderson has warned the public broadcaster’s employees that it will need to reduce costs by $14.6m in 2019-20 after the federal government failed to reverse its funding freeze in the April 2019 Budget. Anderson has reiterated that investing in content must be the ABC’s priority; he had previously indicated that jobs and services would need to be cut if the funding freeze remained in place. Labor had committed to scrapping the freeze if it won the federal election.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD

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.

CORPORATES
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.

CORPORATES
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.

CORPORATES
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.

CORPORATES
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.

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