22 June 2000 to
Jonathon Shier
News and Current Affairs
and Increasing ABC Audiences
FABC writes to request your
written response on two current matters.
News and Current Affairs
As the result of media reports
of Senator Chris Schacht's recent comments, considerable public disquiet
has been expressed to FABC about the ABC's ongoing commitment to national
current affairs. It would be appreciated if you would respond to Senator
Schacht's allegations and outline the specific changes proposed or planned
for current affairs. This information could appropriately be included
when replying to FABC's letter of 20.4.00 re ABC television current
affairs.
Increasing ABC audiences
FABC shares your wish to
increase the number of people partaking of ABC programs and services,
though we are concerned at media reports which claim you want the ABC
to be more 'ratings-driven'. We are aware of the tendency of media to
over-simplify issues, and seek your personal clarification on this matter.
Ratings exist to measure,
and ultimately through their influence on program selection, to deliver
audiences to advertisers. In part, they are responsible for program
mediocrity and lack of innovation on commercial networks. Further, experiences
reported by FABC members lead us to suspect that ratings companies fail
to include people who advise they are overwhelmingly ABC and SBS listeners/viewers
in the 'black box' process for monitoring program preference.
The responsibilities of the
country's national public broadcaster differ considerably from those
of commercial operators. The ABC is responsible to produce independent
programs of quality and diversity, strengthening our culture through
its exploration and reflection of Australian life. The ABC's Charter
explicitly requires the ABC to provide balance between programs of wide
appeal and specialised programs which may have a more narrow interest.
There has long been a degree
of tension between the requirement to make programs of broad appeal,
and the need for the ABC to make innovative programs of high quality,
but for the most part the ABC has got the balance right. FABC is concerned
that simple audience share figures do not become the dominating measure
of success for the ABC. We would not like to see that balance move further
toward populism.
While the ABC must maintain
its relevance to all Australians, it must also remain distinctive. Audience
share is only one of many measures for a national public broadcaster.
The ABC's audience share is relatively small but the ABC's reach is
large, with nearly nine in ten Australians using an ABC service each
week. While audience share and reach figures might tell us how many
people access ABC services, and for how long, other measures reveal
how highly the community values those services. You will be aware of
how highly regarded the ABC is by Australians, and by people in neighbouring
countries who receive (or have until recent years) Radio Australia broadcasts.
FABC supports action to achieve
greater public use of the ABC which enhances the national public broadcaster's
quality and strengths. You have our strong support to secure a level
of government funds to enable the ABC to produce and deliver quality
programming, and to promote ABC programs outside the ABC to achieve
the maximum audience available for any particular program. We would
appreciate receiving your views and being informed of your plans on
this important matter.
Representatives of Friends
of the ABC look forward to meeting with you at 5pm next Thursday 29th
June in Adelaide to discuss your plans for the ABC.
Yours sincerely
Alison Clifford
National Spokesperson