Welcome to this second edition of ABC Friends’ new national, monthly e-news.

We received very positive feedback to last month’s offering so we hope we continue to provide our members and supporters with the right mix of news about the ABC and what's happening at ABC Friends.

We want to particularly thank our new members who took the opportunity to join ABC Friends last month. We rely on membership fees and support to enable us to continue to advocate for a fearless, independent ABC valued by all Australians and fully supported by government.

You can easily join the thousands of Australians who are already members of ABC Friends here.

The ABC is not perfect and will never deliver the exact mix of content and news that makes everyone happy. But, we hope, that we can all work together to ensure that the ABC keeps improving and has the funding capacity and independence to uphold its Charter and remain an effective public broadcaster across Australian cities and regions.

5 year funding gets a 5 year plan

The ABC has followed the recent announcement of its digital-focused major restructure with a new five-year plan to guide the broadcaster to become a fully integrated digital operation.

While it is too early for a definitive response, ABC Friends needs to let David Anderson know “that we will be watching closely”.

Stan Grant

ABC Friends shares the serious concerns arising from Stan Grant’s decision last month to stand down from the ABC in response to racist abuse.

ABC Friends released a statement condemning the hostile and racist abuse to which Stan Grant was subjected to before stepping down from his role as host of Q+A.

ABC Friends love radio!

As we move closer to the 100th anniversary of radio in Australia - and the ABC grapples with declining audiences nation-wide, including at youth station, triple j - we were keen to find out what radio programs are remaining strong.

We asked in our May email newsletter for you all to tell us what radio programs you could not live without. And we got a very enthusiastic response!

Vote for your fave 'Like a Version'

For the past 20 years, Australians have grown to love triple j’s Friday Like a Version segment – when artists perform a cover in the studio.

There have been more than 800 covers performed and you can now vote for your favourites.

It’s not all about digital and AI

Public media organisations are facing a multitude of challenges in an ever-increasing digital world, but they must not lose their core values along the way:

In a recent speech, Public Media Alliance CEO, Kristian Porter, said while today’s public media organisations have to be open to rapid changes, they have to also ensure they remain accountable, accessible, impartial and independent or face losing the trust of their audience.

It’s not all about traditional media

The Australian media authority is now considering feedback on the planned creation of an Australian news measurement framework.

The ABC’s submission said further steps are needed to ensure the framework covers all of the ways Australians now consume news.

News and events from the states

Find out what's happening around the states and territories.

NSW & ACT

• Tickets are selling well for ABC Friends NSW and ACT’s annual winter dinner on 20 July.

  Don’t miss your chance to hear special guest speaker, Communications Minister, Michelle Rowland.

  Click here to book your tickets.

QLD

• ABC Friends Queensland member, Vikki Uhlmann recently travelled around Australia and thinks she may have come up with a new way to plan travel – drop in on regional ABC stations.
  
  Read more

TAS

• On 21 May, ABC Friends Tasmania and the University of Tasmania Media School held a public forum to commemorate the 199th anniversary of the birth of independent journalism in Australia.
  
  Listen to recordings here
  
  

VIC

• ABC Friends Victoria is seeking advice or contacts to help develop a short, visual production to celebrate the 100th anniversary of radio in Australia later this year.
  
  Find out more

• A special evening with Zoe Daniel and Jon Faine is being organised by ABC Friends Victoria’s Southern Bayside Group on August 22 – booking details to follow.

WA

• ABC Friends WA members were welcomed warmly at the first post-pandemic May Day Festival - even the Culture and Arts Minister, David Templeman, wanted a photo with them!

  Lots of ABC Friends members visited the stall and purchased reduced-price merchandise with the old logos. Kids loved the free buttons and Bananas in Pyjamas T-shirts in kids sizes were very popular.
  
  Read more

Thank you for your support.

Kind regards

Michael Henry
Acting National President
ABC Friends

PS - We welcome you to join ABC Friends today.