25 June 2000 to The Age
Response to The Age Article
re new MD's Plans
In an article which considers
the disturbing rumours about an increasingly ratings-driven and commercialised
ABC, Peter Wilmoth (24.6.00) asks: 'what would happen if the ABC suddenly
resembled Channel Seven?'
Heaven forbid. But should
the new Managing Director of the ABC, Jonathan Shier, indeed have plans
to 'marry public broadcasting with private money', some answers to the
question are certain.
With thousands of members
and supporters across the country, Friends of the ABC is a formidable
organisation representing the public's interest in its independent national
broadcaster. If the ABC Board allowed management to program for ratings
rather than diversity and quality, disregarding the clear objectives
of the ABC's charter, it would be besieged by an irate public. Any government
which permitted the Board to accept sponsorship, advertising or other
improper commercial arrangements would find itself similarly assailed.
Mr Shier is quoted as regretting
that politicians 'don't automatically feel that supporting the ABC is
a good thing to do'. That is an odd remark to come from a sophisticated
media person. Here and elsewhere, governments mostly abhor criticism
and strive to control independent sources of information and analysis.
Where outright prohibition of independent scrutiny is not possible,
privatisation of public broadcasting is a favourite strategy.
Since 1996, our government
has bad-mouthed the ABC at every opportunity, after ferociously cutting
its budget and crippling its capacity to broadcast in Asia. But now
that public abuse has largely stopped. The esteem in which the public
holds the ABC is such - particularly in rural and regional Australia
- that the government's behaviour proved to damage its own credibility
more than that of the ABC.
Mr Shier can take heart from
the enormous support for the ABC in the Australian community. If he
assists the talented ABC staff to create programs and services of the
highest quality and maintains the ABC's independence from government
and commercial influence, he will be respected as an admirable MD. Then
a few crank politicians should not worry him unduly.
Yours sincerely
Darce Cassidy
National Spokesperson