ABC denies explosive claim it ignored research into online abuse of diverse journalists
The ABC has furiously denied an allegation it tried to “distance itself” from an explosive report into the abuse endured by minority background journalists, delivered to it just three weeks before Stan Grant’s emotional exit.
Advocacy group Media Diversity Australia (MDA) launched its Online Safety of Diverse Journalists research, conducted by Griffith University and Macquarie University on 2 May, exposing the vile harassment regularly directed at reporters who are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, and/or queer or transgender, and/or culturally and linguistically diverse, and/or living with a disability
The ABC was a sponsor and partner of the work but lead academic Faith Valencia-Forrester has claimed the public broadcaster “distanced itself from the report (no longer wanting to be a project partner)” at the 11th hour when the findings were provided.
In a post on LinkedIn, Valencia-Forrester claimed the ABC “no longer [wanted] to be a project partner after reading the report, where we mention hostile and unsupportive newsrooms”.
Today, an ABC spokesperson strenuously denied the claims and said its social media wellbeing advisor was closely involved in the development of the research, management attended the launch, and it was mentioned in an MDA media release promoting the findings.
“This claim is untrue, deeply disappointing and should be retracted,” a spokesperson said in a statement. “The ABC has never tried to ‘distance’ itself from this research in any way – in fact completely the opposite.
“The ABC helped fund the research, along with the eSafety Commissioner, Meta, Google News Initiative and Twitter, and strongly supported it.
“The ABC logo is in the report itself, it was on display at the launch on the title screen, we were acknowledged multiple times as a partner in the launch and participated in an official partner photo.
“In fact, initially the MDA report into online abuse was going to focus on gender. It was the ABC’s team that indicated the impact on CALD and Indigenous journalists was an area where little research had been done.”
It’s understood that apart from factual corrections to a draft report, the only other representation made by the ABC was that MDA make clear that the report was its own independent work.
An email sent to the organisation by the ABC read: “The ABC is happy to be acknowledged as one of the funding partners of the research, just not to have the ABC name/logo used in a way which might suggest this is an ABC report, or an ABC-endorsed report, rather than an entirely independent MDA report.”
In a response to a query from Mumbrella, MDA boss Mariam Veiszadeh noted the academic team is independent of her organisation. Late on Monday morning, Valencia-Forrester made an update to her original statement to read: “The report sponsor Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) [UPDATED corrected for clarity], changed from project partner to ‘supporter’ after reading the report where we mention hostile and unsupportive newsrooms experienced by diverse journalists.”
The Australian media sector is still reeling from Grant’s revelation on Friday that he is stepping away from the ABC.
The acclaimed journalist and proud Wiradjuri man penned an emotional op-ed detailing the latest barrage of racist, violent and threatening messages directed at him – seemingly in response to his appearance on the ABC’s coverage of King Charles III’s coronation.
That abuse had bled into real life, with threats made against him and his family, he said.
Grant also attacked elements of the media who he had seen “lie and distort my words… they have tried to depict me as hate filled.”
“I don’t take time out because of racism… I take time out because we have shown again that our history — our hard truth — is too big, too fragile, and too precious for the media.
“I am writing this not because I think it will make a difference. No doubt the haters will twist this, too, and trigger another round of racism.”
And he accused senior management at the ABC of failing to support him, writing: “Not one ABC executive has publicly refuted the lies written or spoken about me. I don’t hold any individual responsible; this is an institutional failure.”
Managing director David Anderson with ABC chair Ita Buttrose.
On Sunday, ABC managing director David Anderson addressed that claim and Grant’s exit in a lengthy email to staff, in which he said he was “dismayed” by the “sickening” abuse and harassment.
Despite Grant’s claims, he said “he has always had our full support”.
The ABC will now launch a review of how it responds to racism affecting staff and what it can do to better support staff, Anderson said.
Indigenous reporter Dan Bourchier, who chairs the ABC’s Bonner Committee, welcomed the review but said: “We will be seeking for this to be led by an independent expert, in collaboration with the Bonner Committee, and all other staff representation groups.”
In a statement posted to LinkedIn, Bourchier said: “We see this as an important next step in addressing the treatment some of our colleagues are facing.”
Tonight’s Q&A will be Grant’s last as host, with The Australian’s media section this morning reporting Patricia Karvelas is then set to step in as an interim host.
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