ABC Watch
This page is for keeping an account of what the ABC is doing on the political scene. It will become a repository for evidence that the ABC is biased, or otherwise.
The initiative to address the issue of ABC bias directly was that of HillbillySkeleton who wrote the piece Their ABC that argued that the ABC was becoming increasingly influenced by the Murdoch empire. Around two hundred responses were posted, many of which supported this argument. Friends of the ABC made contact with The Political Sword, drawing attention to a similar article in its Autumn Newsletter. You may wish to check out the article on the newsletter's front page Global War on Broadcasting. Go to http://www.fabc.org.au click 'See the latest FABS newsletter' in the right panel, then on the next page click 'Autumn 2010' to go to the front page of the newsletter and the article.
To read Hillbilly Skeleton's piece Their ABC, click here.
As it is not possible on this blog engine to add comments here, please add any comment you wish to make about the ABC in any contemporary piece. Please label it as a comment you want recorded in ABC Watch, and it will be copied there.
Your collaboration in keeping track of what OUR ABC is doing may contribute to a change of its policies and improvement in its performance as a national broadcaster.
What follows is additional material related to the Their ABC piece and the ABC generally. The latest additions are place at the top.
Jason 24 August 7.28 pm
ABC Online's Australia election bias - the final results by Gavin Atkins
http://asiancorrespondent.com/gavin-atkins-shadowlands/abc-online-s-election-bias-the-final-results
Jason, 17 August 12.44 pm
Green preferences wasted on Labor, Tom Switzer, TheDrum Unleashed
http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/stories/s2984920.htm
George Pike 25 July 1.26 pm
Another blatant piece of journalistic bastardry was Cassidy's little snipe at Crean over the new extensions to the redundancy support package..."and it will all be paid for by the taxpayer" was the sleazy retort...and those people weren't taxpayers themselves for the probably twenty odd years before they were made redundant?
If they are more recent employees, they will more than likely go on to pay tax for many years to come when they get re-employed elsewhere anyway. It all just goes to show how keen the ABC's snipers are to blow anything and everything that Labor introduce out of water with baseless pointless biased innuendo...
TCEPSER, 25 July 1.02 pm
INSIDERS Sunday 25 July 10
Barrie Cassidy interviewing Simon Crean. Simon Crean attempting to explain how he felt even more for Kevin Rudd than just sympathy, but that he also empathised with him because of their parallelled circumstances. So Barrie Cassidy attempts to twist what Simon Crean is saying by suggesting that Crean had "empathy" but not "sympathy".
Crean later responded to Cassidy's attempt to suggest that Crean had little sympathy for Kevin Rudd, by outlining the advice he would or could have given Rudd, viz., that Kevin Rudd can no longer be the Leader and so just has to become a member of the team etc.
This was later reported on the Radio National News as if Simon Crean was admonishing Kevin Rudd and calling for him to just get on with it and become a team member.
TCEPSER, 25 July 12.53 pm
ABC NEWS24
Watching News24 on its first night and the next day provides irrefutable evidence of bias:
First the much heralded but actually 2 year old story, with one aim only - to undermine Julia Gilllard and Kevin Rudd, and distract from Labor Party policy announcements.
Apart from a last minute clarification by Uhlmann on the first evening, that the staffer "didn't chair" the meetings, he and News24 continued to use the word "deputised", and others with the same intent for the next two days, to imply that Rudd deputised his staffer to take on his role as PM.
Then, for more evidence of bias (and downright rudeness!), News24 spent minutes showing us the heckler being put down by the security people while the PM continued to speak (with admirable dignity) about Climate Change. This goes against the normal practice of ignoring any disruptions and continuing to focus the camera and the sound on the speaker, let alone shows the disrespect and disdain that the ABC is attempting to encourage. The ABC's rudeness and contempt for Ms. Gillard was topped off with cutting her off in mid-sentence, just when she was getting into details about programs.
And why? So that News24 could have Ms.Trioli asking another journalist for her opinion. The other journalist had a pre-prepared list of how many other committees and consultations the Rudd Govt. had already been through, so that she could immediately dismiss Labor's Climate Change policy without any attempt at analysis.
But were we taken back to the PM? No. It was more important to have yet another replay of the News24 add, wherein they exhort us to feel privileged and informed because the ABC is there with their "accurate" news.
The following news headlines told us almost nothing about the PM's CC policy, but heaps about the heckler!
The next evening, during "The Drum", the headlines underneath the vision displayed, "Abbot announces $90 million for border security", thereby announcing Liberal policy, followed by, "Gillard defends climate change 'gobfest'". The latter headline communicates absolutely no information about Labor Climate Change policy, but derisively gives credence to someone's oppositional point of view.
Rx 25 July 10.15 am
By poster, IMOHO, at The Poll Bludger Friday, July 23, 2010 at 10:08 pm
blogs.crikey.com.au/.../#comment-531792 Note the different treatment for the parties: The Coalition " announces; Labor "defends". Referring to ABC News 24. Quote: More evidence of bias. Tonight during “The Drum” the headlines underneath continually announced: “Abbot announces $90 million for ….. security” (I think it said “border and port security”, followed by “Gillard defends climate change ‘gobfest’”
Rx, 25 July 10.14 am
By poster, chinda63, The Poll Bludger, Sunday, July 25, 2010 Quote: "Far be it for me to reignite the ABC bias argument, but I just watched a news update on ABC24. Number 3 story was the debate accompanied by 4 pieces of election trail footage … all of Tony Abbott. How on earth can they possibly justify that?"
Rx, janice 23 July
Eleanor Hall interviewing Cheryl Curnow, Nick Minchin and Bob McMullan on The World Today 23 July 2010
The transcript is here. http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2010/s2962200.htm
Jason 23 July 11.26 am
Here is today’s news - an ABC of bias Piers Akerman Blog
Last night, the left-leaning taxpayer-funded ABC moved to strengthen its hold on the news-viewing public with the launch of a brand new 24-hour digital television news channel.
http://blogs.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/piersakerman/index.php/dailytelegraph/comments/here_is_todays_news_an_abc_of_bias/
Rx 21 July 4.48 pm
The Poll Bludger, Wednesday, July 21, 2010 at 11:03 am
blogs.crikey.com.au/.../#comment-528162
Quote: I’ve had the radio on since 6am this morning and listened (at least in the backgroud) to ever single ABC radio news bulletin. Every single one of them has started with: (a) “The Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says…” or (b) “The Federal Opposition says…” EVERY one. The impression slow thinkers would get is that the Oppos are setting the entire agenda, leaving the big-spending, big-taxing governent scrabbling around behind them trying to catch up on the Oppos’s dynamic and policy-rich march towards inevitable victory.
In response, poster BigBob, The Poll Bludger, Wednesday, July 21, 2010 at 11:10 am, wrote:
blogs.crikey.com.au/.../#comment-528171
Quote: I spent over ten hours driving yesterday through multiple states and ABC stations. Every bulletin/news slot lead with “The Federal Oppostion says….”. That’s at least 20 times I heard that. Now, William has pointed out comments about how slick the ALP machine has been – surely at least a few of the bulletins should have been lead by an ALP talking point. On the whole, the reports within were fair enough.
Rx 21 July 8.51 am
Tom Hawkins, The Poll Bludger, Wednesday, July 21, 2010
blogs.crikey.com.au/.../#comment-528033
Quote: "It was interesting on the day the election was called. ABC TV had Chris Uhlman speaking with another ABC journalist and they were half joking that they might struggle to get much election discussion to air as the opposition weren’t planning to have a spokesperson available over the next few days. They mentioned that in the interests of balance the ABC wouldn’t be able to provide air time to a government spokesperson if the opposition shut up shop. How absurd is that? Basically if one side of the debate decided to STFU for a week then the ABC would consider not speaking to someone from the other side stifling all debate."
Gravel 20 July 2.34 pm
I listened to the midday news on the ABC, they had 18-19 minutes about Abbott's 'economics' gimmicks, making him sound good!!! Then I thought good we'll get the same time talking about Julia's Cadet Apprentice Training speech she had given at about 11.30am. I guess we heard 30 seconds on that then more Liberal stuff. Bah! I'm not going to listen any more.
Rx 19 July 9.20 pm
This is a brief report on the program, 'Australia Talks' on ABC Radio National, 19 July 2010.
I was not impressed by the program's host, Paul Barclay. He seemed very keen to denigrate Julia Gillard's use of the ALP campaign slogan, "Moving Forward", and to enlist the guest panelists to join him in decrying it. But there was not a word from Barclay or his panel about Abbott's constant sloganeering: "Great Big New Tax", and the one he's currently using in this campaign to describe the (supposed) state of WorkChoices as "dead, buried and cremated". Nor did Barclay criticise, or even touch upon, the Liberal Party's use of the slogan, "Stand up and take action." A one-sided commentary there, on the part of the host, against Labor, while being pointedly non-critical of the Coalition. Then he let one of the panelists rabbit on gushingly about what "a nice guy Abbott is" if you could only get to know him personally. Barclay was clearly not averse to somebody plugging Abbott, but when a caller made one or two mildly sympathetic statements about the ALP, Barclay was quick to hang up on the caller, saying the caller had "done enough plugging". So it's OK with Barclay for a studio panelist to plug quite brazenly for Abbott without being moved on, but not for a caller to make positive statements about the Labor Party. Double standards from their ABC again.
Rx 17 July 5.54 pm
'PM', ABC Radio, 17 July 2010, 5.00pm AEST 'PM' spoke to Professor Dean Jentsch, long-time commentator on Australian politics. They spoke to Arthur Sinodinos, former chief-of-staff to John Howard. And to balance Sinodinos, they spoke to a former Labor adviser (sorry did not catch the name) who had been adviser to three Labor governments. Balanced to that point. But. But in rounding out the program they spoke to Malcolm Turnbull, allowing him to give the Liberal spin. In balance, there wasn't anybody from Labor. So let it be noted that the 'PM' program of 17 July (the day on which the election was called) was biased in terms of airtime towards the Liberal Party.
http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2010/s2956661.htm
http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2010/s2956662.htm
http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2010/s2956664.htm
HillbillySkeleton 16 July 3.48 pm
VOX POLITICO: ABC vox pop comprises political staff
http://www.vexnews.com/news/9909/vox-politico-abc-vox-pop-comprises-political-staff/
Rx 14 July 10.06 pm
Poster, Tom Hawkins, The Poll Bludger, Wednesday, July 14, 2010 at 6:33 pm
blogs.crikey.com.au/.../#comment-520426 Quote: "Two headlines from this afternoon – just one hour apart: First the OO: Prices boom hides mining tax shortfall then the ABC: Price rises slash mining tax shortfall Pretty similar? It’s their ABC."
Rx 14 July 10.05 pm
Poster, The Big Ship, The Poll Bludger, Wednesday, July 14, 2010 at 6:29 pm
blogs.crikey.com.au/.../#comment-520421 Quote: "The first report on ABC 5.30pm news as I was driving home this afternoon? You guessed it – the Opposition says that the Budget figures are wrong! This is even before they have bothered to state what the Budget information provided by the Treasurer actually was. What sort of an inverted world do these ABC news radio cretins live in where you can run as your lead news item a denunciation of a set of facts before you have reported the facts being referred to? Putting aside the utter illogic of such an approach to news, who is making these editorial decisions? I can accept this ingrained bias from News Ltd without being happy about it because they are a private organisation with a political agenda to defeat the elected Labor Government by any means necessary, but why are my taxes being used to serve an obvious political bias driven by the shadowy members of the ABC senior management and an ABC Board stacked with Coalition stooges? The facts, ABC, just the facts, to quote Joe Friday …. is that too much to ask for 8 my cents a day?"
Rx 14 July 10.04 pm
Poster, adam abdool, The Poll Bludger, Wednesday, July 14, 2010 at 8:18 pm
blogs.crikey.com.au/.../#comment-520533 Quote: "Bernie Fraser on 7.30 report was critical of both Labor and Libs – fair ctiricsm. However rebuttal was only from Sloppy Joe. I was wondering if Labor was given a chance to challenge what Bernie said."
Rx 11 July 11.10 am
By poster, reb, at Gutter Trash blog, July 9, 2010
Media Bias alive and well at Your ABC
...What you won’t read on the ABC online version of the interview is Tony Abbott’s awkward stumbling when questioned about his promise to “turn the boats back”. Full post here:
guttertrash.wordpress.com/.../
Rx 9 July 2010
By poster, Toorak Toff, Poll Bludger, Friday, July 9, 2010 at 7:35 am http://blogs.crikey.com.au/pollbludger/2010/07/05/essential-research-54-46-to-labor/comment-page-53/#comment-516529
Quote: "... Horta talks positively – and the ABC leads with opposition party Fretilin’s negative views. Toxic media indeed!"
Rx 8 July 2010 9.21 am
From poster, The Big Ship, The Poll Bludger, July 8, 2010 at 2:34 pm
http://blogs.crikey.com.au/pollbludger/2010/07/05/essential-research-54-46-to-labor/comment-page-41/#comment-515930
"In regard to the usual antics of the ABC, et al, during today’s exercise in mis-reporting the most basic public issue facts, I had the misfortune to listen to what passes for ‘news’ reporting on ABC radio while driving to work this morning.
"The first matter on the news was the alleged ‘insult’ to Xanana Gusmao, the East Timorese Prime Minister, by Julia Gillard in failing to contact him about the Government’s proposed ‘processing centre.’ Leaving aside the advice of the Dept of Foreign Affairs that the President, Jose Ramos Horta, was the appropriate starting point for this discussion, the ABC failed to mention that President Horta was talking to PM Gusmao today about the entire issue, as briefed by our PM, so I wonder where the ‘insult’ truly resides? Of course, there was no insult, nor a diplomatic ‘gaffe’ as has been subsequently confirmed by Mr Gusmao later on in the morning – Beat up/non issue #1.
"The second item on the ABC radio news was the ‘growing opposition’ to PM Gillard’s proposal in East Timor, quoting an Opposition Fretilin MP who was not in favour of the scheme. What a surprise? If I spoke to Wilson Tuckey and used him as the voice of the Australian Parliament on any public issue, would I be likely to get a balanced majority view? Not bloody likely – Beat up/non issue #2, at least until the East Timorese Government have a concrete proposal in front of them that they can evaluate, and vote on in their Parliament.
"The third item began with ‘the Opposition says blah, blah, blah …’ on climate change policy, therefore I am evidently to be alarmed that the sky is falling and we’ll all be rooned, all this before we have heard what the PM has to say in her promised announcement on revised Climate policy – Beat up/non issue #3
"It’s the stuff that Murdoch’s dreams are made of, but hardly objective news reporting, I would have thought.
"Then, as the icing on this cake of dross, the news report was followed by ‘AM’ at 8am with Tony Eastley, which consisted of 10 more minutes of ‘analysis’ of the same negative set of half truths and distortions without one word of the Government’s side of these matters, only the propaganda talking points seemingly supplied by Liberal Party HQ, via News Ltd.
"I am not asking for the rote regurgitation of Government media handouts either, just some balance if they are going to merely ‘cut and past’ talking points supplied by political media flaks as a substitute for any real current affairs analysis, which I have long given up on from the current debased version of the ABC.
"And taxpayers dollars pay for this alleged ‘news service’ – I might as well subscribe to Liberal Party handouts directly and dispense with the middle man."
Ad astra 8 July 2010. 5 pm
I thought Tony Jones was at his school-masterly worst last night (July 7) interviewing Julia Gillard. There he was interrogating her about why she had not consulted first with East Timor PM Xanana Gusmão, instead talking with President José Ramos-Horta. It was not just the words he used but the condemnatory tone of his voice that annoyed me. He started with: “How is it good diplomacy to announce your intentions to an East Timor, into an off-shore processing centre for asylum seekers without first raising this at all with their government?” Not great English Tony, but you were annoyed with her weren’t you, and it showed. Not satisfied with her reply you asked: “But to relentlessly pursue something you'd have to pursue it with the actual government and you haven't even spoken, as I understand it, to the prime minister. Why didn't you at least speak to both of them, the president and the prime minister, your counterpart in East Timor, Xanana Gusmao?” Answer me girl! There was another exchange, but not satisfied with her replies you continued: “I just can't understand why you didn't pick up the phone and speak to Xanana Gusmao, who after all is the prime minister of the government of East Timor who would be responsible, his government at least, for approving this, not the president.” to which Julia aptly replied: “Well, Tony, you seem to have taken some umbrage at this....” He certainly had, and he was giving schoolgirl Julia a good schoolmaster’s reprimand.
What arrogant audacity – who the hell does Jones think he is that he can talk to this nation’s PM in that overbearing condescending way, as if he knows best. Personally I was incensed. What did you think? If you didn’t see it and can bear to read the transcript it’s here. http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2010/s2947634.htm
Rx, 17 June 2010 9.07 am
Labor faces another Latham moment, Luke Walladge, ABC The Drum
www.abc.net.au/unleashed/stories/s2927084.htm
What the heck happened to Kevin Rudd?, Niki Savva, ABC The Drum
www.abc.net.au/unleashed/stories/s2926701.htm
Ruddtopia: fool's gold, Sinclair Davidson, ABC The Drum
www.abc.net.au/unleashed/stories/s2928109.htm
Sally 15 June 2010 4.26 pm
Abandoning Andy Muirhead: ABC's act of betrayal, Greg Barnes The Drum
http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/stories/s2927032.htm
Gusface 13 June 2010 12.09 pm
Frontbenchers say no moves to replace Rudd - ABC
Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard has dismissed calls for her to replace Kevin Rudd as Prime Minister. (AAP: Alan Porritt, file photo)
Video: Govt remains committed to climate change: Tanner (Insiders) Related Story: Gillard stands by embattled PM Related Story: Labor urged to dump 'item of ridicule' Rudd Related Story: Support for Rudd plummets in WA Related Story: Turnbull attacks Rudd's climate change 'cowardice' Government frontbenchers Anthony Albanese and Lindsay Tanner have defended Prime Minister Kevin Rudd amid speculation his job is under threat. Labor is struggling in the opinion polls and the Prime Minister's popularity has slipped rapidly in recent months. Their defence comes after former Queensland Labor treasurer Keith De Lacy wrote an opinion piece saying Mr Rudd has become an "item of ridicule" and Labor faces a decade out of power if it does not replace him.
www.abc.net.au/.../2925732.htm?section=justin
HillbilllySkeleton 13 June 7.59 am
JJ fiasson at 'The Daily Bludge' has written a similar piece to my own 'Their ABC', so I'm including it here for our 'ABC Watch' file: http://dailybludge.com.au/2010/06/wheres-my-abc/
Lyn 10 June 11.38 am
The Abbott dirt file and a Bolt ban: things go negative, Barry Cassidy, The Drum
Noted Melbourne conservative columnist, Andrew Bolt, was apparently barred from interviewing Kevin Rudd.
www.abc.net.au/.../2923180.htm?WT.mc_id=newsmail
Mr Denmore 4 June 10.13 am
For Your ABC Watch segment, the national broadcaster's web news page is screeching today that 'Mount Isa Reeling after Xstrata Projects Dropped'. Really? Projects that haven't even begun yet? Call it gullible, call it malevolent. Whatever it is, it isn't journalism.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/06/04/2917894.htm
bilgedigger 3 June 10.39 am
Re ABC Board appointees - Dr. Julianne Schulz (Griffith University) is the recent appointment to the ABC Board and will hopefully bring a more rounded view. Keith Windshuttle's appointment has not long to run thank goodness, although Julianne Schulz would be more than a match for his distorted inputs.
The many posts above have set out the lack of balance in reportage in the media so it is interesting to see the current issue of Australian Literary Review (June 2).
On pages 12 and 13 in the Media Section there are three reviews of current books which make interesting reading and which highlight the differing roles of journalist, Editor and newspaper proprietor.
There is a review by Les Carlyon, a journalist, on the book Pressman Par Excellence which looks at an influential journalist of the past, Alan Reid. This highlights the political role Alan took.
The second review is by Max Suich, a former Editor, of the book Breaking News: The Golden Age of Graham Perkin (former Editor of The Age) who is often cited as setting standards for Editors. This review also touches on the interconnected role of the Board and the occasions for interference with Editorial policy which present the Board of a media outlet on behalf of its owners.
The third is a shorter review of the book War at The Wall Street Journal: How Rupert Murdoch Bought an American Icon, which sets out clearly the role Rupert Murdoch sees for an owner and documents the change in focus of the Journal since he has owned it.
To my mind, each review brings into sharp focus the interconnecting dynamics at play in what is presented as "fact" in the media. Who dominates?
Conversely, the Australian Literary Review itself also highlights a case of "biting the hand that feeds you". In their consistent tirades against the sins of the current Labor Government and in particular in its advertising campaign around the RSPT, The Australian newspaper and its related media outlets do not see fit to reveal the extent to which they themselves are in receipt of the taxpayer dollars they are so horrified to see used in that particular campaign, or any other.
The Literary Review is published as an insert in The Australian and receives funding through, or to use their version of doublespeak "in co-operation with" the Australian Government (i.e. us the taxpayers) and the Australia Council. Where is it published within that Review or in The Australian the amount of taxpayer dollars going to sustain the Literary Review. This is rank hypocrisy of the kind we have come to expect.
Where does the public stand in The Australian's campaign for "The Right to Know"? My guess is nowhere and nowhere again.
Lyn 3 June 8.41 am
Move over major parties, it's independents' day, Barrie Cassidy, The Drum
Evidence is everywhere. There does seem to be a lack of trust and faith in both Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott
www.abc.net.au/.../2916747.htm?site=thedrum
Rudd dodges tax attacks by talking up economy, Brendan Trembath
Mr Rudd was invited to the mining function but was nowhere to be seen.
www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/06/02/2916607.htm
ABC Board Protocol
http://www.abc.net.au/corp/board/board_protocol.htm
ABOUT THE ABC
http://www.abc.net.au/corp/
Rx 2 June 9.49 pm
Letter to the ABC by poster, 'Roy Orbison', The Poll Bludger blog, June 2, 2010 at 9:39 pm
blogs.crikey.com.au/.../#comment-484759
Lyn 1 June 6.00 pm
Henry's last stand, Niki Savva, The Drum
Assuming the Liberals win, and if he hasn't entered Parliament at the election, their man of choice to head Treasury could be Arthur Sinodinos,
www.abc.net.au/unleashed/stories/s2914133.htm
HillbillySkeleton 1 JUne 5.46 pm
From Friends of the ABC(Victoria), by way of a comment in today's Crikey: Glenys Stradijot, Campaign Manager, Friends of the ABC (Vic), writes:
"ABC gets into bed with Fairfax ... and news is the winner" (25 May, item 4). In Margaret Simons' article she wrote of the benefits of media organisations collaborating in investigative journalism. She is right. It makes financial sense to share costs and can result in important public information being more widely reported. It may even result in the exposure of a matter which there would otherwise be insufficient funds to investigate. Nevertheless, there is a downside. Joint media operations run contrary to the public interest for media diversity. Australia already has a dangerously low level of media diversity. It needs more news sources, not less. Furthermore, there are serious risks for the integrity of the ABC if partnerships with commercial media companies were to become more than an occasional practice:
"Decisions on content go beyond the probity of individual journalists to the political and corporate interests of the bodies that employ them. A strong incentive for the ABC to share costs with a commercial outlet could result in compromises - from the selection of matters to be investigated, to program content, presentation and promotion. And what would happen if media outlets of questionable independence which are considered by governments to be reputable, or so powerful they cannot be ignored, come to regard themselves as being entitled to their share of the public subsidy which collaborations with the ABC deliver to the private partner? Some influential commercial media players have already made clear their interest for ABC services, like news, to be put out to tender.
"Add to the business interests of the commercial media, the hostility of some governments to independent broadcasting and the apparent commitment of governments of both major political persuasions to scale back the public sector. The next step to full-scale outsourcing would not be far removed. Former Coalition Minister for Communications, Senator Alston, commenced a process that made funding for the ABC dependent on the broadcaster outsourcing much of its television production. Despite a change of government, the ABC now produces no local television drama in-house.The experience of the seriously under-funded SBS points to what happens to the level of government funding for a public broadcaster when it demonstrates a willingness to resource its activities (if only to a minor extent) with income from commercial sources. If government took a similar pecuniary approach to an ABC sharing costs by increasingly operating on joint projects with commercial media, the result would be less funding available to the ABC to undertake investigative journalism. For the same reasons that the ABC should not be funded through advertising revenue, it should generally not enter into joint operations with commercial media outlets. The future of investigative journalism would be better served by the national public broadcaster being rebuilt and fully funded to engage in the independent journalism for which it is rightly respected."
FreddyF 1 June 2.19 pm
Nikki Sava has a piece in one of the ABC's sites and is cited as a former senior member of the press gallery and author of a particular book. No mention of the fact she was more recently a senior advisor to Peter Costello and it's that qualification that is being used to flog her book and not any press gallery experience.
On the ABC midday news today we had another example of how this famous ABC balance works. Referring to todays Newspoll the reporter noted that Kevin Rudds satisfaction rating had taken another tumble and immediately cut to a Coalition member at a doorstop saying "...no one can believe anything KR says anymore..". The reporter then noted that Tony Abbotts satisfaction had also suffered and given the famous ABC balance you would have expected a cutaway to a Labor member doorstop "...no one can believe anything TA says etc..". Instead we had a cutaway to another Coalition doorstopper who did his best butter wouldn't melt in his mouth "...we need to do better..." spiel.
re: Bolt on Insiders
At one point Bolt spat that one thing that made Rudds actions worse than Howards was that the RSPT adverts come before any legislation has been passed something Howard never did. Even someone with most rudimentary knowledge of Oz political history ie. Barry Cassidy, would know that the "unchain my heart" GST adverts came before the 1998 election and legislation passing and should have pulled him up on that.
Finally its always good to finish with a laugh. One of the ways the Adelaide Advertiser has "toughened up" its attitude in the last few years has been to syndicate ABolt every Wednesday. Two weeks ago ABolt had a long piece defending TAbbott after his liargate interview and boohooing the fact that "leftist" newspapers got stuck into him with nasty headlines. The first "leftist" newspaper and headline he cited was from the SMH (I know it's funny but it gets better!!). The second "leftist" newspaper and headline he cited was from the Courier Mail!!!
P.S. 'Insiders' at 9am political primetime 'Order in the House' midnight Sunday.
Lyn 31 May 5.46 pm
Question Time erupts over mining tax ads political, Emma Rodgers,ABC
Tony Abbott has moved a motion of no confidence against the Prime Minister over the Government's $38 million mining tax ad campaign, accusing him of 'lying shamelessly' and acting to save his own political skin.
www.abc.net.au/.../2914287.htm?section=justin
gusface 30 May 9.44 am
The whole of this mornings INCITERS should be referred to ABC watch
Insiders 30 May NOT YET UPDATED
http://www.abc.net.au/insiders/
Rx 30 May 3.43 am
Government's mining tax ads 'outrageous'
Their ABC echoes the shrill chorus of the Liberals and mining magnates against the democratically-elected government: The story is completely unbalanced. From the wording of the headline, and through the text, it serves only as partisan and sectional propaganda to attack the government and the Labor Party. It quotes Liberal Party federal director, Brian Loughnane, and Mitch Hooke from the Minerals Council. ""It's outrageous, the Labor Party should be paying for these ads." ~Loughnane. There is not one direct quote from the government or Labor.
www.abc.net.au/.../2912754.htm?section=justin
Lyn 29 May 8.38 pm
This is a very valuable blog for our ABC watch
Tell the ABC it's not good enough, STOP MURDOCH.
'The Australian's' political correspondent, Dennis Shanahan, is now a regular commentator on ABC Radio. (Hi, Tony Delroy!) Murdoch opinionists dominate the ABC1 political show 'The Insiders'.
stopmurdoch.blogspot.com/.../...t-good-enough.html
INSIDERS, REGULAR COMMENTATORS.
http://www.abc.net.au/insiders/aboutus.htm
Rx 29 May 5.45 pm
ABC in firing line over balancing act
The distributor of an Australian documentary sympathetic to the Palestinian cause was told it would not screen on the ABC until a program taking an opposing position was available for broadcast.
www.smh.com.au/.../...ncing-act-20100528-wldr.html
Lyn 29 May 8.01 am
The ABC doing their best to defuse an ALP campaign ...
"ALP's Phoney Tony risks falling flat on Twitter"
www.abc.net.au/.../2912028.htm?section=justin
Government's mining tax ads 'outrageous', ABC
Liberal Party federal director Brian Loughnane has told AM the Government is breaking its own rules to try to regain political momentum.
www.abc.net.au/.../2912754.htm?section=justin
Government mining tax ad blitz to cost $38m,Saba Lane, ABC
The Opposition says the ad campaign is also an admission the mining tax will have an adverse impact on the economy.
www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/05/28/2912548.htm
Lyn 28 May 7.21 pm
Liberal Party announces preselection candidates, ABC
The Liberal Party has pre-selected its candidates for the
safe Labor seats of Canberra and Fraser.
www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/05/29/2912913.htm
Lyn 28 May 5.30 pm
Just when you thought Liberals were leading..., Chris Uhlmann, ABC
So despite the recent good news in the polls there is still a brittleness in the Coalition that could see the whole shebang collapse at any moment.
www.abc.net.au/.../2912101.htm?site=thedrum
ALP's Phoney Tony risks falling flat on Twitter, Brigid Anderson, ABC
Back in the Twittersphere, there was a mixed response to the Phoney Tony account, with some accusing the ALP of mud-slinging and others backing
the move.
www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/05/28/2912028.htm
Weekly wrap: strength, courage and cruelty, Ben Pobji, The Drum
it is a strong and iron-fisted policy, one that tells the world just what a powerful, muscular, virile slab of testosterone Abbott truly is, and by contrast makes Kevin Rudd look, frankly, like the petulant schoolgirl
www.abc.net.au/unleashed/stories/s2911857.htm
Super tax stoush prompts ad rule backflip, ABC
The exemption was granted on Monday and the Opposition says it is "outrageous".
www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/05/28/2912134.htm
LIBERALS AD
LIBERALS NEW AD TO GO TO AIR THIS WEEKEND.
www.liberal.org.au/RuddsTricks.aspx
Lyn 26 May 8.44 pm
Mark Scott must put news on top of the ABC agenda , The Australian
Although the ABC has reporters in every city and large regional centre in the country, they obviously did not know of, or - worse - were not interested in, the rorting of the Rudd government's school building program until they read the story in The Australian .
www.theaustralian.com.au/.../story-e6frg71x-1225871295623
Bishop's spy gaffe exposes intelligence 'convention', Barrie Cassidy, The Drum
Politicians fudge and prevaricate all the time. But it's not often they deny - in writing - having said something that is on videotape for everybody to see
www.abc.net.au/.../2910073.htm
Abbott moves to censure Rudd over mining tax,Emma Rodgers, ABC
The censure motion was defeated on Government numbers.
www.abc.net.au/.../2910169.htm?section=justin
Lyn 26 May 1.45 pm
ABC Documents and Editorial polocies
http://www.abc.net.au/corp/pubs/edpols.htm
Rx 25 May 7.00 pm
An Abbott Afternoon on their ABC. Another hour, another "Abbott says ..." story.
Updated 2 hours 17 minutes ago
Abbott labels mining tax 'almost criminal'
www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/05/25/2908893.htm
Posted 3 hours 16 minutes ago
Too few students speak second language: Abbott
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/05/25/2909035.htm?section=justin
Lyn 25 May 5.47 pm
Allan Moyes, Posted on the Poll Bludger on May 25, 2010 at 3:25 pm | Permalink
"BK @ 1276 (and others) on earlier thread.
There was some interest in any responses from the ABC concerning PB’s comments/complaints about the difference in transcription between the interviews of the PM and the Opp Leader.
For general interest, here is the response to me, received today:
Dear Mr Moyes
Thank you for your email.
Transcripts of interviews are prepared by transcribers from a central pool, not by journalists from individual program teams. Program teams do not exercise any editorial decision-making in relation to them.
Transcribers are advised to produce a ‘verbatim’ transcript of interviews that accurately reflect what went to air. In relation to whether “ums” and “ahs” are removed, I am advised they are generally taken out for convenience unless they are considered to be meaningful or significant.
With the recent interview with the Prime Minister on The 7.30 Report, I am advised by ABC News management that the transcript was done by a relatively new transcriber who left most (but not all) of the “ums” and “ahs” in. We do not believe this was of any political or editorial significance.
Audience and Consumer Affairs believe the actual interviews with the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition are in keeping with section 5 of the ABC Editorial Policies. Both interviews were suitably rigorous and both interviewees were afforded ample opportunity to clearly state their views.
Your concern over the transcribing of those interviews has been noted.
The ABC Editorial Policies are available at the following link; http://abc.net.au/corp/pubs/edpols.htm
Yours sincerely
Kieran Doyle
Audience and Consumer Affairs
http://blogs.crikey.com.au/pollbludger/2010/05/24/essential-research-52-48-to-labor/comment-page-18/#comment-476827
Ad astra 25 May 5.45 pm
The ABC bias debate has sunk to new depths. Look at [i]Butting in reveals ABC bias, say Libs[/i] http://www.theage.com.au/national/butting-in-reveals-abc-bias-say-libs-20100524-w81t.html
Ad astra 25 May 5.21 pm
Here's a May 20 article by Lyndal Curtis Credibility thrown out with the trash http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/05/20/2904542.htm?site=thedrum
Lyndal is a senior ABC political reporter, prone to acerbic comment when on air. In this piece she strays far from reporting the facts to offering not just her opinion but her judgement of the leaders of the Government and the Opposition. She opines that they have thrown out their credibility with the trash.
Of course she is entitled to her opinions, and clearly the ABC’s [i]The Drum[/i] provides an outlet for them. Likewise, we hear opinions from several other ABC reporters via [i]The Drum[/i]. I wonder whether the ABC has created a problem in inviting its reporters to become opinion writers, thereby exposing their biases which cannot but influence their reporting. I would prefer reporters to be balanced and even handed, giving us the facts without contamination by their opinions. Mixing the two in the way the ABC has allowed seems contrary to the high standards we have come to expect from, and still hope for from the ABC.
HillbillySkeleton 25 May 1.26 pm
Our good mate Fran Kelly going down the rabbit hole into Wonderland by supporting the Coalition/'News Ltd. line re the expulsion of the Israeli diplomat:
(Thanks to scorpio at PB for providing the link):
"scorpio
Posted Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 10:39 am | Permalink
'Fran Kelly doing her best to support Sheridan’s outrageous piece this morning on the Oz with constant quotes from it.'
Ross Burns, a Former ambassador to Israel doesn’t seem to buy it especially the more rabid statements by Sheridan.
Australian media figures seem intent on discrediting their commentary so much lately that they risk being put into the same basket as Abbott’s commentary.
I loved Malcolm Fraser’s defence of Abbott last night on QANDA, but I bet Abbott didn’t though! 
www.abc.net.au/.../2908313.htm
HillbillySkeleton 25 May 1.16 pm
Again from our friends over at Poll Bludger:
Johnny Button
Posted Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 12:42 pm | Permalink
Love this from the ABC. Keep up the bias boys and girls.
Funny how the Libs are complaining about the politcisation of the Treasury, when the Libs having being bagging the crap out of them at every opportunity since last year’s budget. Double standards from the liars on the right.
www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/05/25/2908465.htm
Rx May 25 10.14 am
Congratulations to ABC NewsRadio for a bias-free Breakfast session. Keep up the commendable work, folks! I will keep monitoring your performance.
Lyn May 24 6.33 pm
Now the opposition has complained to the ABC about Abbott being called Budgie, sook, sook,
Abbott's #Budgies tag sees senator swoop on ABC Twitter stream , Sydney Morning Herald The opposition has complained about the ABC's use of the tag, "#Budgies", when referencing Tony Abbott in a Twitter stream during his budget reply speech.
www.smh.com.au/.../...er-stream-20100524-w7di.html
HillbillySkeleton May 24 6.11 pm
ABC Watch from Poll Bludger today, who are encouraging others there to be on the lookout for us at TPS, and then post it to ABC Watch. Tho' I'll keep my eyes on PB, just in case they don't.
"hairy nose
Posted Monday, May 24, 2010 at 1:48 pm | Permalink
Anyone notice that tonight’s Four Corners investigative report is by someone ‘on secondment’ from the Age? Is this a new type of commercial relationship engaged in by the ABC? Don’t they finance their own investigative team or is that now run by the ‘work experience’ people.' "
Not exactly an ABC/Murdoch link-up, but ABC/Fairfax is just as bad.
Canbra Dave May 24 5.09 pm
Just noticed something interesting at the ABC Online site.
On the ABC portal, meaning the www.abc.net.au site the 2nd top story in the news headlines is a "Mining figures based on student paper" story - http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/05/24/2907115.htm
However when you go through to the ABC News portal, aka www.abc.net.au/news/ the 2nd top story in the news headlines is "Mining tax report not just grad paper: professor".
At the time of writing the first story was last updated 6 hours 34 minutes ago. The 2nd story was updated 2 hours 33 minutes ago. Now perhaps someone just hasn't updated the portal on the main website to update the story to represent the truth, rather than the line that the opposition's media advisors want to run, or perhaps the ABC is becoming even further partisan than News Ltd which has updated it's news.com.au to run the headlines as "Miners 'dishonest, hysterical' about tax".
LYN'S LINKS 24 May 2010
A Global War on Public Service Journalism, Ethical Martini
Murdoch has now set his sights on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. News Limited columnist Mark Day is spear-heading Murdoch’s down under, low and dirty under the table kneeing in the groin attacks on the ABC.
ethicalmartini.wordpress.com/.../
Rupert's Crazy Idea,Steve Cowan, Against the Current
Clearly the 'economic revival' has ignored dear old Rupert, with News Corp struggling with declining advertising revenue.
nzagainstthecurrent.blogspot.com/.../...-idea.html
Sidelining Broadcasting,Steve Cowen Against the Current
Murdoch is deliberately portraying public television as a 'niche provider'. Murdoch wants private media corporations like his to dominate the media affairs of countries like the UK,
Australia and New Zealand.
nzagainstthecurrent.blogspot.com/.../...sting.html
ABC is right wing: study ,Cathy Alexander, Sydney Morning Herald Sept. 2009
Three quarters of newspaper editorials endorsed the coalition. The Herald Sun and The West Australian newspapers endorsed them 100 per cent of the time.
news.smh.com.au/.../...ng-study-20090902-f83m.html