When the ABC Indigenous affairs editor, Bridget Brennan, said “always was, always will be Aboriginal land” in a live cross on News Breakfast on Australia Day, the Murdoch media pounced, labelling the comment controversial, divisive and partisan.
The Dja Dja Wurrung and Yorta Yorta woman was reporting from an Indigenous ceremony and trying to explain what the day meant for First Nations people.
Inevitably, the ABC managing director, David Anderson, was asked about the statement this week at Senate estimates, giving The Australian a follow-up story: ABC probes ‘always was, always will be’ broadcast.
Brennan’s boss, ABC news director Justin Stevens, fired off a note to staff, saying the corporation’s journalists were working in an environment that is “increasingly agenda-driven and sometimes clearly hostile”.
He said the attacks were often targeted at women, culturally diverse and First Nations staff. (Just ask RN Breakfast and Q+A host Patricia Karvelas, who is subjected to repeated criticism by sections of the media.)
“The volume and nature of the Australian’s constant criticism of individual ABC employees is disproportionate and unfair, and looks to be agenda-driven,” Stevens said in a note seen by Weekly Beast. “Criticism of anything we publish can be directed at me and the ABC News leadership rather than targeting individual journalists in this way.”
The Australian’s editor-in-chief, Michelle Gunn, defended the paper’s reporting.
“The Australian’s coverage of the ABC is not agenda driven,” Gunn told Weekly Beast. “The report in question is a straightforward and accurate news report of a Senate estimates hearing.”
‘Editorially justified’
The Australian may be disappointed to learn the public broadcaster’s ombudsman, Fiona Cameron, has investigated the Brennan comment – after receiving 25 complaints – and found the ABC did not breach its standards for due impartiality and diversity of perspectives.
In a report published on Friday, Cameron said Brennan’s statement could have been “more explicitly referenced as the widespread and deeply felt perspective of her community, to avoid any suggestion that it was a statement of her personal opinion”.
“On balance, and in the context of live television, we accept the ABC submission that this was not a statement of Ms Brennan’s personal opinion but rather the view of the community [of] which she is a part and that the comments were editorially justified in the circumstances outlined,” she said.
Question time
All credit to Nine’s Luke McIlveen for the self-deprecating comment he made at a town hall meeting with journalists after he was appointed executive editor of the Sydney Morning Herald and the Age.
The former Murdoch and Daily Mail editor said words to the effect of: ask me questions. I hope I do a better job than the last 10 questions – and drew a laugh from the tough crowd.
He was referring to the historical article “Ten Questions with Luke McIlveen” which had been making the rounds of the newsrooms, with journos aghast at the editor’s mocking of the former SMH writer David Marr and praising of radio shock jock Ray Hadley.
Jury duty
Sky News Australia’s headline new show for 2024 is The Jury, described as an attempt to “combat political correctness” and give “the average Australian a voice”.
Hosted by Danica De Giorgio, the show will have its third outing in front of a studio audience – and a jury of 12 – on Sunday.
Previous shows have debated “NDIS cost-effectiveness” and “should Australia reduce its immigration rate?”.
Weekly Beast understands the topic for this Sunday night – “Does Australia need the ABC/public broadcaster?” – was a bit tricky to pull off as it’s not easy to get an ABC supporter on Sky News.
The network’s after-dark lineup is not a big fan of the ABC.
Huge lineup and some very fiery (and fun!) debates tonight on The Jury, 8pm on @SkyNewsAust @SMacedone @keithjpitt @greencate @Craig_Foster @clarezrowe @CMMortlock pic.twitter.com/ZFezczYPaE
— Danica De Giorgio (@DanicaDeGiorgio) February 11, 2024
“Wondered if you would be keen to represent the ‘yes’ case! Chris Kenny representing no!”, one pitch from a producer asked an ABC fan. “We’d need you to be in Sydney for the shoot. Would only take an hour.”
The pitch reminded us of the last time Kenny, an associate editor at the Australian and avowed ABC critic, pleaded for someone to appear on his Sky News “documentary” about the ABC to mark its 90th birthday. Kenny said at the time it was easy to get critics of the ABC on Sky but he couldn’t find any supporters of Aunty prepared to talk to him. It was former ABC broadcaster Quentin Dempster who fronted up last time, but we haven’t heard back from Sky about who will plead the case on Sunday.
Perpetual error
Channel Nine has distanced itself from a potential misstep by producers of an upcoming documentary about the mushroom lunch that left three people dead and a fourth fighting for his life.
Erin Patterson has been charged with murdering three people at the lunch in her home in the rural Australian town of Leongatha on 29 July and the proceedings are ongoing. She has consistently denied the charges and maintains her innocence.
The production company Perpetual Entertainment published a blurb on its website complete with a title that experts say had the potential to run foul of Australian contempt laws, material which we have decided not to repeat.
The University of Sydney’s Prof David Rolph, an expert in media law, told us: “Where a matter is before the courts, the principle of sub judice contempt apply. It is risky to publish material about a criminal case which will be tried by a jury. Even if the material talks in terms of allegation, there is still a risk that a fair trial may be prejudiced.”
When we contacted Pepetual Entertainment, they said the website blurb was a mistake and it was immediately taken down.
“We are in production of a documentary called The Deadly Mushroom Mystery that details the events surrounding that fatal lunch,” they said.
“Obviously it cannot be broadcast in Australia at the moment whilst the trial is pending.
“I am having that error corrected now.”
Nine sources said the broadcaster had no hand in producing or naming the program and it would not be broadcast in Australia before a criminal trial was over.
A spokesperson for Nine said questions about the content or title should be directed to the production company.
Hairy moment
We’ve seen plenty of videos of TV reporters being harassed by passers-by as they do stand-ups to camera but this wholesome interaction between Channel 9’s Darwin reporter Georgie Dickerson and a woman devoted to fixing her hair was charming.
Some journos have their hair & makeup professionally done, or most of us, do it ourselves…
— Georgie Dickerson (@GdDickerson) February 14, 2024
Me on the other hand - am offered help from people passing by. 🤷🏼♀️ pic.twitter.com/xv8HJMcBXI
Climate coverage win
The Walkley Foundation says it has “listened to the many journalists” and decided to add a new award category for coverage of science and the environment to the mid-year Walkleys.
When the Walkleys categories were reviewed last year, recommendations for a separate science and environment were rejected, sparking dismay among climate and environment reporters.
Now journalists covering medical and advanced science, innovation, climate change, environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, deforestation and air, earth and water pollution, across all forms of media, will be able to enter.
