PUBLIC BROADCASTING – AUSTRALIA

B is for broadcast: Rowland’s ABC dig

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Original article by James Madden, Rosie Lewis
The Australian – Page: 3 : 21-Jun-23

The ABC continues to attract scrutiny over a restructuring that includes shifting its focus to a ‘digital-first’ model. The issue was raised in the federal government’s caucus meeting on Tuesday, with Communications Minister Michelle Rowland noting that the ‘B’ in ABC stands for broadcasting. A spokesman for Rowland later clarified her comments, stating that she had told caucus that the ABC has made it clear that broadcasting remains important as it prepares for a future time when most audiences with engage with it via digital channels. The ABC’s restructuring will include the loss of about 120 jobs.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORT, REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Gloves off: ABC goes to war with News Corp

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Original article by Sam Buckingham-Jones
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 11 : 25-May-23

ABC MD David Anderson has defended the public broadcaster’s coverage of King Charles III’s coronation. He has told a Senate estimates hearing that the coverage was "justified, relevant and appropriate", and criticised Rupert Murdoch’s media outlets for their sustained attack on the ABC’s coverage. Anderson and the ABC’s head of news Justin Stevens highlighted the negative reporting from News Corp Australia mastheads and Sky News, noting that Indigenous presenter Stan Grant in particular was targeted. Anderson indicated that he will seek a meeting with News Corp Australia’s executive chairman Michael Miller; he added that they have a "respectful" working relationship.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, SKY NEWS

ABC digital users plummet – but the money keeps coming

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Original article by Sophie Elsworth
The Australian – Page: 13 : 10-May-23

The ABC had 17 million weekly active digital users in 2021-22, and the budget papers show that it had a target of 18.3 million active users for 2022-23. However, the public broadcaster is now expected to boast just 13.4 million active digital users in the current financial year. In contrast, SBS is expected to have 13.1 million digital registrations in 2022-23, well ahead of its target of 11.6 million. Meanwhile, the federal government will allocate additional funding in 2023-24 to ensure improved access to broadcasting services for Indigenous people in remote communities.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, SPECIAL BROADCASTING SERVICE (SBS)

ABC staff cancel strike after winning pay rise, but some rankled by disrespect

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Original article by Zoe Samios
The Age – Page: Online : 23-Mar-23

The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance’s members at the ABC will not proceed with industrial action on Wednesday after the union reached an in-principle agreement with the public broadcaster for a new workplace deal. Cassie Derrick from the MEAA has praised the direct intervention of ABC MD David Anderson, and she emphasises that the dispute had not just been about pay. ABC employees will receive a pay rise of 11 per cent over three years, and a one-off bonus of $1,500. The ABC has also agreed to undertake an audit of the gender and cultural diversity pay gap, and implement a new framework for career progression. However, members of the Community & Public Sector Union at the ABC still intend to go on strike for two hours.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, MEDIA, ENTERTAINMENT AND ARTS ALLIANCE, COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC SECTOR UNION

ABC staff have called off Tuesday’s planned strike to consider a new pay offer

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Original article by Sophie Elsworth
The Australian – Page: Online : 7-Mar-23

ABC employees will not proceed with industrial action on Tuesday after the public broadcaster offered a sweetened pay deal. The ABC has offered a pay rise of 11.5 per cent over three years, backdated to the start of October 2022, and a sign-on bonus of $1,500. ABC employees have been pushing for annual pay rises of six per cent for three years, and negotiations with the broadcaster will continue. The 40-minute strike by ABC journalists had been timed to coincide with the latest interest rate announcement from the Reserve Bank.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION

ABC boss seeks peace deal as strike looms

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Original article by James Madden, Sophie Elsworth
The Australian – Page: 19 : 6-Mar-23

ABC MD David Anderson will meet with representatives of the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance on Monday, in a bid to avert industrial action over a new pay deal. The MEAA and the public broadcaster’s journalists have rejected an offer of a pay rise of 10.5 per cent over three years and are pushing for an annual increase of six per cent for three years. The proposed 40-minute strike on Tuesday has been timed to coincide with the Reserve Bank’s interest rate announcement. Longer strikes have been flagged in coming weeks if the ABC does not return to the bargaining table.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, MEDIA, ENTERTAINMENT AND ARTS ALLIANCE, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA

‘Journalistic cluelessness’: Ex-Media Watch host roasts regulator

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Original article by Zoe Samios
The Age – Page: Online : 4-Jan-23

ABC Alumni chair Jonathan Holmes has criticised the Australian Communications & Media Authority’s investigation into the ABC’s two-part ‘Four Corners’ program on US-based Fox News. ACMA ruled in late 2022 that the program had breached the public broadcaster’s code of practice and misled viewers. Holmes subsequently wrote to ACMA chair Nerida O’Loughlin, contending that the investigation had "needlessly damaged" the reputation of ‘Four Corners’. ABC Alumni is not affiliated with the public broadcaster.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION,ABC ALUMNI,FOX NEWS,AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA AUTHORITY

ABC attack on regulator reeks of arrogance

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Original article by Stephen Rice
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 23-Dec-22

The ABC is under renewed scrutiny after the Australian Communications & Media Authority found that a controversial two-part Four Corners program about Fox News breached its code of practice. Shadow communications minister Sarah Henderson says the ABC has shown an "untenable disregard" for the need to comply with its own code of practice by improperly attacking the independent regulator. Henderson says ACMA’s findings with regard to ‘Fox and the Big Lie’ show that the ABC needs to undertake a comprehensive review of how journalistic standards at Four Corners and across the public broadcaster can be improved.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA AUTHORITY, FOX NEWS

Review into ABC and SBS financial stability

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Original article by Sophie Elsworth
The Australian – Page: Online : 16-Nov-22

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has advised that her department has commenced a review of the ABC and SBS that will examine measures to support the stability and independence of the public broadcasters. Rowland disclosed details of review while attending a function organised by ABC Friends, which is not affiliated with the ABC. She emphasised that the review will not consider issues such as funding of the ABC and SBS or proposals to merge them. The review will include public consultation in 2023.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORT, REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, SPECIAL BROADCASTING SERVICE (SBS)

ABC calls for mandate to ensure it hosts federal election debate

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Original article by Amanda Meade
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 18-Oct-22

A parliamentary committee is examining the conduct of the 2022 federal election, and is looking at issues such as voting rules and political donation laws. In its submission to the committee’s inquiry, the ABC has called for legislation that would see it host and broadcast at least one leaders’ debate during a federal election campaign. Then Prime Minister Scott Morrison accepted invitations to take part in debates with Anthony Albanese on the Seven and Nine networks and Sky News Australia during the 2022 election campaign, but refused to appear on the ABC. In arguing its case for at least one debate, the ABC noted in its submission that research has revealed it is the most trusted media brand, while it also pointed out it has Australia’s biggest "broadcast footprint".

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, SKY NEWS