‘Insiders does need to do better’: ABC’s Insiders commits to increased diversity
Following criticism of a lack of diversity across its reporting, ABC’s Insiders host David Speers has committed to doing better, saying the comments were ‘valid’.
Ahead of the show’s panel last Sunday, Speers committed to ‘ bringing more diverse insights into the political debate’.
"Insiders does need to do better at bringing more diverse insights into the political debate – and it's something we're committed to doing," says @David_Speers. #insiders #auspol pic.twitter.com/c9YPfcdsba
— Insiders ABC (@InsidersABC) June 13, 2020
The issue was brought to a head the week prior, when a panel discussion on the Black Lives Matter protests in the United States and Australia featured only white journalists. A Junkee investigation conducted by Rob Stott initially found the show had not featured a single panellist from a non-European background in at least three years. With further investigation, Stott found the show hadn’t had a single person of colour on its panel in at least a decade, and possibly since it began.
Across the weekend, Indigenous journalist Bridget Brennan featured on the panel and said the entire media industry needed a wake-up call.
“We need to be honest about the state of our media industry. For too long Aboriginal voices have not been elevated on programs like this one and across the media spectrum,” said Brennan.
"We need to be honest about the state of our media industry. For too long Aboriginal voices have not been elevated on programs like this one and across the media spectrum." @bridgeyb on the importance of having Indigenous Australians represented in the media. #Insiders #auspol pic.twitter.com/MCJV1fgp5k
— Insiders ABC (@InsidersABC) June 14, 2020
Speers’ statement on the program was applauded across social media, although others have said more investigation is needed across the ABC. Journalist Marc Fennell said Four Corners would also need to be reviewed, while Mad Fucking Witches pointed to a lack of diversity across the ABC board.
And yet, this is the @ABCaustralia current Board … much diversity … 🙄🙄🙄 pic.twitter.com/o5SDKoar0B
— MFW (@MFWitches) June 13, 2020
Former Triple J presenter Gen Fricker has questioned the ABC’s commitment to diversity and inclusion after her experiences with the youth radio channel, during which time she said she was repeatedly forced to call out racism which was never addressed.
This is a start. It shouldn’t have taken this long. Now, while we’re at it, let’s have a look at the reporting roster of @4corners https://t.co/eIHd9erdM5
— Marc Fennell (@MarcFennell) June 14, 2020
Speers opened Sunday’s panel with a straight to camera monologue about the lack of diversity on the show, committing to a better future and more deliberate choices in casting.
“Normally at this point in the program I run the ruler over the government or opposition: today, it’s a comment about our own program,” Speers said.
“We received plenty of valid criticism for failing to include an Indigenous journalist on last week’s show, as we discussed the Black Lives Matter movement.
‘‘As a program we lacked an important perspective.
‘‘Insiders does need to do a better job at bringing more diverse insights into the political debate, and it’s something we are committed to doing.”
Brennan followed with her own assessment of the failings.
“It is not good enough any more, particularly at this moment, but I would say any week, to have a panel of white people speaking about issues when there is very little lived experience of discrimination and racism on that panel,” she said.
“So I think it is important that we be honest. I think it is important that we be positive about the many Indigenous journalists in this country doing fine work and it is time to change. So if this week is the week that we can do that and look at that and be honest about it.”
In response to Fricker’s criticism of Triple J, the broadcaster said it was committed to doing better.
“Triple j is proud of the diversity of our people, on-air and behind the scenes, and the ways in which we amplify diverse voices, music and issues on our airwaves,” a spokesperson said.
“We are committed to promoting diversity and inclusiveness but know we can always do better for our people and our audience. Like many media organisations, we are listening to and reflecting on the current conversation and our place within it. We will continue to work harder and be better.”
Interesting analysis, speaking of diversity, there is a persistent concerning lack of divergent views other than left wing, inner city, green voting, social justice types all agreeing with each other. Name a conservative presenter on any prominent show? Mornings? Afternoon Drive? Current Affairs? News? Q&A? Nope.
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Commendable as this initiative is, Speers and his producers also need to think about a focus and sharpness, particularly in the discussion segments. Something lacking there with the departure of Cassidy.
Maybe a format revamp for next year might help.
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How’s this different from a panel of able-bodied people talking about the NDIS? It happens all the time.
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Not sure you understand the theme of the issue? Presenters are meant to be neutral and neither left nor right wing? Where are these persistent ‘left wing’ views when most mainstream media including TV, print and radio is centre to right and packing diversity?
Just because something does not fit one’s beliefs, no matter how silly the issue presentation is, does not automatically make it ‘left wing’.
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Sorry if you think science is considered bias
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Agreed. His quality of interview has dropped from when at Sky and his insiders interviews seem to drag on. In an attempt to ‘catch people’ out he becomes repetitive.
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I also noticed that, when discussing the Jobseeker program, Insiders did not have a single unemployed journalist on the panel.
Interesting too, that the indigenous Insiders panel member appeared comfortably entitled to cast comment on the issue of claimed vilification of Chinese students.
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It’s not about racial diversity but diversity of opinions and factual news that is lacking within the entire ABC
Geez I still remember the ABC reporting an add on attack on a mosque being done by Australian nationalists while they chose not to report the full footage (channel 7 did) which showed Arabic graffiti on the burning building. T rhen fast forward and the men involved were Islamic from a rival mosque and yet ABC did still chose not to admit thier initial reporting was biased and WRONG.
Then we can look at the recent Q&A episode of only women with no differing views at all so it was basically an hour or angry women showing how much they hated men while not gettingpulled up for thier abusive language (something not tolerated by men when talking about women).
Diversity means not only diversity of race and gender but also diversity of opinions and the ability to have a mature debate on hard topics (this means people will be offended on both sides) without abuse and shutdown tactic.
Btw Jen is sadly 1 of these people. She likes to claim to be unbiased but when challenged on her bias she become very abusive and/or dismissive while preaching her agenda (she’s the leftist version of Andrew Bolt)
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Andrew I will respond here. Sorry but much of the views I see and hear on the ABC is left. Usually I have no issue as I’m centre left leaning but I will say the extreme left agenda is being pushed more and more on the ABC.
I have no patience for right wing so I sure as heck don’t want thier opinions either. I want unbiased points. Or at the very least for those speaking to admit thier bias (Sorry but Jen Fricka is very leftist and has shown to be highly abusive when a view outside her sensitivities is expressed or if she is maturely challenged). Eg when she somehow gets away with calling a male an asshole on air but screams loudly “sexism” when someone uses “bitch” in the same way but towards a female then there is an obvious bias and an unwillingness to call it out within the ABC.
Btw I can give a myriad of examples of ABC bias reporting and biased programming (Q&A all female panel where they abuse men and all have the same opinion for an hour ring a bell?).
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