26 June 2000
Shareholders' oppose downgrade
of ABC Current Affairs
Reports that ABC current
affairs may be downgraded are alarming (Peter Wilmoth article, Sunday
Age 9.7.00).
A well-informed public is essential for genuine democracy. In a country
where media ownership is increasingly concentrated into the hands of
a few powerful interests, the public broadcaster's role in producing
news and current affairs - independent from government and commercial
influence - is critical.
Some short-sighted governments
may seek to limit public scrutiny of their activities by gagging the
ABC. But it is the role of the ABC Board and management to act independently
of political interests. The ABC does not have a single shareholder -
the government - as its new Managing Director Jonathan Shier recently
proclaimed. Its 'shareholders' are the entire Australian community.
Current rumours of changes
to ABC current affairs programming have given rise to immense public
concern. People will not be deceived by any attempt to disguise a downgrade
of current affairs. They will not accept the rescheduling of current
affairs programs to times less suited to audiences, the removal of an
outstanding journalist such as Kerry O'Brien,
or the reduction of national current affairs under the guise of increasing
local cover.
The ABC Board and management
has a responsibility to ensure ABC current affairs survives and thrives.
They must act in the interests of the national broadcaster's 19 million
'shareholders'.
Yours sincerely
Darce Cassidy
National Spokesperson