Cutting the ABC cuts public trust, a cost no democracy can afford
The Norman Swan-fronted Coronacast is just one example of how the ABC has guided Australians through COVID-19 with trusted information, Andrea Carson explains in this crossposting from The Conversation. And the pandemic came straight after its essential bushfires coverage. Accordingly, this week’s news that the public broadcaster will have to cut up to 250 jobs to cope with a budget shortfall isn’t just a threat to the newsroom, but to democracy.
While Australians are singing the praises of the front-line workers during the COVID-19 crisis, there is a forgotten front line that has also made personal sacrifices to help us get through the pandemic: ABC journalists.
From radio producers to TV presenters to technicians who get up before dawn to bring us the news, ABC staff have been bringing us the facts about the global crisis at a time when misinformation and disinformation are rife and dangerous.
Norman Swan’s highly utilised podcast Coronacast is just one example of trusted ABC information during the pandemic.
Sad times to learn the ABC is now cutting jobs. It has kept the Australian public well informed with its extensive COVID 19 coverage at a momentous time when we needed accurate and reassuring information.
Before that it obviously helped save lives with its emergency broadcasting during the bushfires.
We must campaign to save the ABC from these cuts.
Andrea writes “the relentless work in bringing us our stories about job losses” while keeping their own and getting a pay rise too; “forgoing holidays” and getting paid nearly $3mil in overtime; “ABC is still Australia’s most trusted media outlet” yep, 82% trust it but less than 50% actually watch or listen to it; “the public will start to notice” er many already have noticed the drop in quality of the journalism. The bottom line is that the ABC has had a budget problem since 2010 when the federal government refused additional funds to start a 24-hour news channel, but the MD went ahead with it anyway taking funds from every other ABC department to pay for its launch and ongoing cost. Add to that the excessive contract salaries paid to ordinary reporters and autocue readers and you have the reason why there is a budget problem at the ABC. It’s called “living within your means” – we all have to do it …
Hardly surprised ex ABC popped up. I wonder why.
I can’t fault your logic or POV.
Except for things like “less than 50% actually watch or listen to it”. Just to be clear, that 50% is those who view ABC TV on a typical day. In the typical week it rises to a smidge under 75%. A typical month is 85+%. (N.B. Metro data only).
Now imagine if you add in the people who access ABC on other platforms such as radio, the internet etc.
So please get over the fact that you are ex ABC, and focus on facts.
… dunno where you got your “facts” from … mine came from the ABC itself in their Corporate Plan …
Absolutely well said ex ABC. “The most trusted source” I have always laughed at this claim when the survey methodology is shown. They should fact check themselves. When newscorp announced cuts the ABC said this was evil Murdoch – the irony when the ABCs existence competes with private sector investment. You don’t hear the ATO bleat about budget reductions. Is the ABC more important than the ATO?
On behalf of all Mumbrella readers, I’d like to thank John for preparing that delicious word salad!
Imagine if we could fund jobs at the ABC by changing the rules and allowing dreaded advertising dollars to help fund the network.
SBS have been very successful in carving out a share of ad dollars and I know plenty of quality brands who would love to support the ABC. Leading to less job cuts.
Isn’t it time to review this option in a shrinking world of opportunity?
The ABC get’s one billion dollars of our money every single year. That’s more than enough to run a decent broadcasting service.
Given some salaries were leaked a while back, with the ABC themselves confirming:
The ABC refused a government request to disclose the salaries of its 150 highest-paid staff, but revealed 20 of its top stars earned between $225,000 and $460,000.
It’s not struggle street for hundred’s of “journalists”.
The top earners at the ABC are definitely not the journalists and crews.
So Tony Jones, Jon Faine and others (who are the top earners) are not journalist Ross? I think that would come as a surprise to them!
There is often counter intuitive opposition to the ABC claiming it is biased, left or funded too generously; generally from the same urban based suspects.
On the other hand it has high levels of trust and reach in regional areas which are predominantly LNP voting, print and free to air media are now hollowed out or closed down, while internet infrastructure is sub-optimal (plus media laws have been relaxed for commercial media reach) compromising diversity.
Much pressure, like that applied to the BBC, has been rooted in US based libertarian economics and politics creating advantage for corporates, not for communities nor small medium business, opening the door for commercial oligopolies, till the day and when regional journalism and news media becomes financially untenable?
The first paragraph deserves a disclaimer: “Not from a parody Twitter account.”