Walkleys host Sarah Ferguson brands ABC redundancy plans ‘shark pools’
Ferguson presenting last night’s awards
ABC journalist Sarah Ferguson last night hit out at ABC management saying staff are in “shark pools” waiting to see if they will be made redundant, and defended the “legacy” elements of TV and radio at the corporation following comments from its head of digital.
The 7.30 anchor made the comments as part of her opening monologue as the host of last night’s Walkley Awards for excellence in journalism, saying: “I was going to do a little bit of satire tonight, a little bit of light hearted entertainment, but then I remembered how much grief you get into when serious people from serious programs try to be funny. So I thought better of it.
“So many of my ABC colleagues, journalists like us, some of them in this room indeed, are right now in their pre-Christmas shark pools waiting to find out if they’re going to be jobless by Christmas day. It’s just not funny, and I can’t be laughing about it.”
At the event in Sydney last night editor-in-chief of the West Australian newspaper Bob Cronin hit out at the Australian Press Council (APC), describing it as “Disneyland”, in relation to criticisms of its outgoing chairman Julian Disney.
Referring to the West Australian’s decision to leave the APC and set up its own complaints board the veteran newsman, who was picking up the award for leadership, said: “When I’d finally decided I’d had enough of Disneyland and were leaving the Press Council Kerry (Stokes) stood by me, and I think I certainly have never regretted that decision, and I think some of my fellow editors may rue the day they didn’t come along.”
During her speech Ferguson also hit back at remarks by Watt at a conference the day before, with The Australian reporting he asked editor-in-chief of Buzzfeed Ben Smith: “The question … is about structure, so we are real admirers of organisations like yourselves, true digital organisations, who don’t have like us a legacy to deal with.”
Ferguson retorted last night: “Yesterday I was at the Walkleys Storyology conference when the head of ABC Digital, inspired no doubt by his digital idol the head of Buzzfeed, referred to TV and radio at the ABC as a legacy that needed to be dealt with. It’s an interesting word legacy I think. You know legacy is the word Qantas uses to describe all those bits of the airline that aren’t Jetstar.
“The way I look at it legacy is what my fast departing colleagues with their years of broadcasting experience leave behind for those of us who still hold fast to the idea that the journalism we do on radio and television is important. These days of course they call it content.
“You imagine what the digital world would look like without it. Sorry for being a little bit Four Corners and fierce, but we here, all of us, see constantly how the media is changing.”
In a short address before announcing an award Quentin Dempster, sacked from his role at the ABC on Friday, also had a few words for the corporation.
“I am bathed in love and solidarity all week, but I’m desperately concerned about our colleagues at ABC and SBS, our colleagues at Channel Ten and all media because of the fundamental changes that are happening in media, but seeing a lot of our colleagues in full-time work leave the industry is a major problem,” he said.
The awards were live streamed on ABC iView, and you can see them here. Ferguson’s monologue starts at 10 minutes in.
Alex Hayes
I agree with Sarah and Quentin……………i will miss the programs and presenters that are going in particular, Quentin…………its just wonderful from a viewers perspective to watch and listen to him. ABC won’t be the same and shame on you Mr. Abbott.
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Was a brilliant ABC/Fairfax lovefest cum soapbox. I’m sure the intent of the Walkley’s was representing and celebrating the *entire* industry and not just the side standing on the ‘left’.
Nearly walked out when they started comparing the genuine tragedy that is Peter Greste’s plight, with staff cuts to ABC “Lifers” (do you think they’ll really axe the hard workers and efficient staff???).
Try spending 7 days in an Egyptian prison, let alone 7 years. Disgraceful.
Bring on the leftie rhetoric, I *wont* be checking back for your responses so go nuts (if you’re not already)
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@Cube squared – the Walkleys do represent the entire industry. It’s just that there is a yawning gap in both quality and credibility between news and current affairs on ABC, SBS, and Sky, and what passes for journalism on the commercial networks.
You clearly don’t watch ABC news or current affairs if you believe that they are left-biased.
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Hey cube squared
What is this crap about lifers and lefties? Can’t be bothered with your argument. The bottom line is so many staff are on contract. Quentin Dempster is hard working and efficient – so yes he was axed along with with the only program that focussed on state content. So we look forward to all those digital content producers having to go out and be real life journos and get their own stories rather than just “re packaging” and mine what hard working and efficient journos have always done – the slog- no slackers here.
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Mr Watt: can you please explain WTF “true” digital is? And why it is in any way important? While at it, perhaps consider what is “untrue” digital? Also, perhaps “fake journalism”?
When you are done, you might indicate whether you seek to stop podcasts pf “radio” journalism. Scrap iview replays of “TV” journalism?
I am wondering whether what you like is journalism involving no people interviewing other people? Rather like the synthetic movies we get these days with no actual actors?
When you are done we can all vote on whether you go into the shark pool.
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Denialism, plain and simple.
Television is “legacy media” with as much shelf-life as physical newspapers.
That’s to say, may continue to exist, but as a niche product.
Pulpit-thumping ABC luvvies tend to forget that this thing they declare is “theirs” isn’t.
The ABC is paid for by hard working taxpayers, most of whom don’t even watch it.
Reality check Sarah Ferguson: if you want to understand markets, media and news media, get a job in them. They’re the real world. The ABC is not.
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Have to say Mark Scott looked very uncomfortable in the shot I saw of him at the awards ceremony. There’s no doubt in my mind that serious reporting is at risk within the ABC. After all, some radio bulletins are being cut back to 5 minutes. And at the same time “Lateline” is being shifted to that foggy outlet, News24. Scott’s and Torney’s agenda is cloaked in mystery.
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I’ve never looked at Buzzfeed before today but after a cursory glance I can only say that if this dross is the future of journalism god help us – turn off your brain now before this stuff rots it.For example, some of the headlines from its front page … “The 12 Worst Times To Have A Dead Phone Battery” … “19 Beauties Who Rocked Their Natural Hair” … “21Far Out Gifts For Star Wars Fans” … “31 Problems Every British Kid Faced On Seaside Holidays” … Under the news icon the whole thing is US-centric – apparently the world stops at Los Angeles in the west and New York in the east. A couple of examples …” For Profit College In Florida Used Strippers As Admission Officers” … “Mountain Lion Suffering From Rat Poison Makes Dramatic Recovery” … … pppft, who needs the ABC and all its boring old “legacy” stuff like holding crooked politicians and shifty bizoids to count. That’s so yesterday..
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The shock of it. ABC staff not certain if their jobs are safe, worried about job security and how they’ll pay the mortgage and put the kids through school. Sounds like a job in an ad agency, or law firm, or health club, or construction site…
That’s life, eh.
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Surely Mumbrella will pick up a few of the sacked journalists to add to your growing collection?
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Wow. Just wow. You really do get an understanding of how far removed the ABC journos are from the real world. Their moaning about not having guaranteed pay rises and a guaranteed job for life won’t wash well with the rest of us who never had these things in the first place.
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Ian
Sigh, where do you get this crap that the ABC is full of lifers ??? It is just not the reality. As I said above so many ABC staff are on contract – get it !!! Just like the rest of us! But there are many specialists that you need to train and keep to get your return like shit hot cameraman. They deserve to be on staff. It is a physically demanding and technically challenging job that keeps changing. The ABC like SBS and Channel 10 etc are more than journos. Staff like cameraman are part of the editorial process.
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I am not sure you have an understanding of what the real world is Ian. Those employed at the ABC are doing the same job with the same expectations as those employed at News Corporation, Fairfax and vast number of other media businesses. Those working freelance have a different life style, that does not mean one is real world and the other is not.
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Well said Mike-Pulpit-thumping ABC luvvies tend to forget that this thing they declare is “theirs” isn’t.
The ABC is paid for by hard working taxpayers, most of whom don’t even watch it.
Reality check Sarah Ferguson: if you want to understand markets, media and news media, get a job in them. They’re the real world. The ABC is not……………………….
And well said Ian. The ABC lifers worried about their jobs ? Well after 30 years wandering around doing a four hour day it is time to wake up in the real world. If the ABC staff keep telling us how great their journalist’s are, and how hard working, then surely they will be snapped up by other media organizations? NO ? Welcome to the real world. Don’t wait to get fired, go find a job that the taxpayers do not fund your leftie tripe views with. Seriously if you listed to ABC radio all you ever hear is Global warming dribble, illegal immigrants, and bash Tony Abbott. I would prefer the ABC merged with SBS as recommended and 2000 of the 4400 staff are fired. Such a bloated overpaid leftie ship.
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Judging by your comments on left wing bias Jennifer, you give the impression of not understanding very much about the ABC. While there have been many inquiries which have found there is no left bias at the ABC, there has not been one which has found any.
If you are reading newspapers, watching TV or listening to the radio you would know global warming is not dribble, there are illegal immigrants living in Australia while few asylum seekers are and Tony Abbott is being bashed in the right wing media far more than on the ABC.
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Just very depressing to see so many more dedicated, hardworking and talented people set adrift. No one wants to be condemned to poverty – it shouldn’t be the expected penalty for being creative or ethical. What options for a new collectivity are there? Isn’t that our only way out of the shark pit?
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