• 'The Lord Monckton roadshow', ABC Background Briefing

       

17th November 2010
Mark Scott

Managing Director

ABC

GPO Box 9994

Sydney NSW 2001

Friends of the ABC is sympathetic to the difficulties the ABC faces in providing its services, including its
important news services, within the constraints of an inadequate budget. Nevertheless, FABC is seriously
concerned about planned changes to the ABC's network of overseas bureaux which are outlined in a written
statement that the ABC's news director Kate Torney recently circulated in response to media reports on the matter.
FABC would welcome the extension of ABC overseas bureaux into new countries. However, we would be
troubled if this were to occur at the expense of bureaux and suitable resourcing of ABC correspondents in other
important parts of the world.

Foreign correspondents do not gain an intimate understanding of matters on which they report by flying into and
out of countries as major news events occur - a practice which the news director's statement indicates will
increase. Nor does this method of reporting allow them to gather original news.
The accurate news and in-depth analysis that Australians are entitled to expect from their national public
broadcaster depends on foreign correspondents living and working in a country for a reasonable period. It takes
time to gain insight into the local culture, to become familiar with the day-to-day operations of a country, and to
undertake the logistical work, relationship building and access to relevant people on which quality reporting
depends.

FABC is alarmed that the ABC plans in some instances to use infrastructure and staffing of Associated Press
Television News (APTN). It would be totally unacceptable for ABC foreign correspondents to share or rely upon
resources (be they infrastructure, technical or administrative staffing) of a commercial media outlet. The sharing
of resources or outsourcing of work to APTN risks editorial compromises - from the very selection of matters to
be reported, to the content of material used.

The ABC's use of the staff or facilities of another agency may jeopardise the confidentiality of information gained
or stored by ABC correspondents. In turn this could also endanger them and the local people with whom they
deal. The association of the ABC with a commercial media operation would damage public trust in the ABC's
independence.

The ABC's network of overseas correspondents is important for the provision of an independent and uniquely
Australian perspective on international events. No extensive and credible service is provided by any other
Australian media service. Programs like Foreign Correspondent (which often covers subjects barely developed or
omitted entirely from daily news) enhances the community's awareness of the lives of other people and Australia's
role in the world.

Friends of the ABC requests the ABC reconsider its planned changes to its overseas bureaux, so that any
restructure does not impact negatively on the extent, independence and quality of the ABC's international news
gathering and analysis. The ABC has FABC's strong support to seek from the Government the funding the public
broadcaster needs to fulfil its charter obligations to a high standard, including the provision of quality local and
international news.