It seems that every time I write to you there’s another compelling issue that attracts attention at the ABC. It might be a restructure, funding cuts or staffing decisions by management. This week it’s the program lineup for 2025, particularly in audio.
In Sydney where I live, I was bewildered by the decision to axe the popular ABC presenter Sarah Macdonald from Mornings … and I’m waiting anxiously to see what Richard Glover will do next.
There are a myriad of decisions that go into programming, and as I'm not involved in the process I’m wary of making pronouncements. But it occurs to me that it would be helpful if the ABC could explain the rationale for its decisions to its audiences. Understanding why a decision has been made can make it a little easier to accept .
That said, I’ve warmly welcomed the emphasis the ABC has given to audio in the past few months, especially its renewed commitment to radio. For that, Kim Williams, the ABC Chair must take a lot of credit.
Among the raft of new programs, one gave me great joy – the return of Fran Kelly to daily news to host The Radio National Hour from 6-7pm.
The program will focus on the big news stories shaping our world. It’s the sort of serious news program many of us have been hankering for. While Fran has done a sterling job fronting RN’s Saturday Extra, her talent will be put to much better effect in this new program.
Mark my words – in next to no time 6pm on Radio National will become the “must-listen” timeslot in Australian radio.
It’s fitting, then – and coincidental – that we’ve featured Fran Kelly’s Andrew Olle Lecture in this month’s e-news. Please read or listen to it when you have time.
She talks of the manipulation of perception and truth, misinformation, and the need for journalists to stand by their “stock in trade” - the truth.
I’d like to think that Fran Kelly’s Radio National Hour is a harbinger of things to come. A new version of Lateline, perhaps, that explores major stories with the best international contributors?
But improvements like those can’t happen without a much greater government commitment to the ABC – and we won’t get that commitment without pressure from people like us.
In coming months we’ll seek your further involvement in our election campaign. In the meantime I hope you'll consider supporting our fundraising efforts.
Thank you for supporting ABC Friends. We’d love to have you as a member! I encourage you to join us.
Fran Kelly’s passionate defence of journalism
On 20 October Fran Kelly delivered the 2024 Annual Andrew Olle Lecture, a powerful reflection on the current state of media, journalism, and the challenges posed by misinformation and disinformation.
Every sentence of this lecture is worth reading or listening to.
A lesson from Trump’s America
The election of Donald Trump as US President reminds us how important it is to have a fearless independent public broadcaster.
It was an election characterised by lies and harmful rhetoric, which all too often went unreported by the American media. Social media was awash with fake accounts, often funded by foreign powers, and hell bent on spreading misinformation and confusion. And it worked. The craziest stories went viral.
There are several reasons why disinformation worked so effectively, but one difference with Australia stands out.
There is no equivalent to our ABC in the US where its two public media organisations, NPR and PBS*, reach only a fraction of the US population. In 2022, their average weekly audiences totalled around 9 million people – about 2.6% of the population.
For a public broadcaster to be effective, it must reach a large share of the population. In Australia more than 65% of the population accesses the ABC each week. But it can only remain robust and accessible if it receives much more public funding than it does now.
We also need a commitment by all political parties to a public broadcaster that’s free: no ads, no subscriptions, no privatisation.
That requires a robust ABC, one that receives much more public funding than it now receives. It also requires a commitment by all political parties that they will support a public broadcaster that’s free: no ads, no subscriptions, no privatisation.
It’s an important reason why we are campaigning to strengthen the ABC’s capacity to communicate effectively with all Australians. It’s why we’ll push all politicians in the coming election to increase the ABC’s funding and commit to retaining it as a universal free service.
And it’s why I’m asking if you can make a donation to support our campaign.
We need a fearless independent ABC
Read and download our new national magazine. Or contact your state office of ABC Friends for a copy.
Adam Bandt confirms the Greens’ support for a well-funded ABC
The ABC Friends Inner Melbourne group hosted an open meeting this month with leader of the Australian Greens, Adam Bandt, their local Member.
While Bandt took the opportunity to confirm the Greens’ support for a well-funded ABC, the occasion also exposed tensions around the broadcaster.
In Bandt’s view, reduced funding is the principal problem faced by the ABC. But for several of the evening’s audience, ABC news has lost its way.
Christmas is coming
. . . and the ABC Friends shop has some great gift ideas to help you out. From our new Leunig tea towels and keep cups, to our popular tote bags and aprons, there’s sure to be something to appeal. Our stylish T-shirts and caps are also an excellent way to show your support for ABC Friends. Take the pressure out of Christmas shopping at our shop.
Sabra Lane gives Keynote Address to ABC Friends Tasmania’s AGM
AM and Brightside presenter Sabra Lane shared insights from her extensive journalistic career at ABC Friends Tasmania’s Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 12 November 2024.
She discusses the phenomena of 'news avoidance' and how journalism should engender, not undermine, empathy, agency and hope.
Join ABC Friends WA for our annual dinner
ABC Friends WA is holding its Annual Dinner at Little Way on Thursday 12 December at 6 pm. The restaurant has asked for numbers by 5 December.
Our speaker for the evening is Nadia Mitsopoulos, whom many of you will know as host of the Mornings program on ABC Radio Perth.
We held the ABC Friends WA AGM on Sunday 20 October, with speaker Andrew O’Connor.
A call to action for all who value the ABC
The ABC remains under significant pressure, Helen Grasswill warned in the keynote address to the ABC Friends NSW/ACT AGM in early November.
“I’d like to be standing here now and saying that the ABC’s problems are over, or at least well on the way to being resolved. But that would be very Pollyanna-ish,” she said.
With more than 40 years experience as a journalist, author, editor and television program maker, Helen Grasswill was Australian Story’s longest-serving story producer and part of the program’s foundation team.
SA Friends continue their advocacy for the ABC
From morning tea at Parliament House hosted by the premier of South Australia, Peter Malinauskas, to a range of community presentations and engagements with 7 of the 10 Federal electorates in South Australia, ABC Friends has been busy advocating in support of the ABC.
At all presentations the audience was not aware that significant cuts to the ABC Budget were made between 2014 to 2022, and the impact that these reductions have had on ABC’s the ability to deliver quality content.
ABC Cairns studio visit
Vikki Uhlmann visits the Cairns studio and has a good story to tell.
Friends Queensland Committee member, Vikki Uhlmann, visited the Cairns ABC studio recently and talked to the Chief of Staff.
Thank you again for all your support.
Warm regards
Cassandra Parkinson
President
ABC Friends
P.S. If you can, please consider making a donation to support our work.