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Chris Masters, a journalist with impeccable credentials, recently revealed ABC board member and Liberal Party power broker, Michael Kroger attempted to influence an ABC 'Four Corners' program on the politically influential broadcaster, Alan Jones. Mr Kroger's response was to counter-attack with claims of ABC bias.
On
15th May, FABC Vic President Terry Laidler wrote to the daily print media:
"Much has been written in the past week about the behaviour, past and present, of Liberal Party power broker Michael Kroger. Serious questions have been raised about the propriety of his actions while a member of the ABC Board.
Mr Kroger has been reported as inappropriately attempting to influence ABC programming and the course of legal action in which the broadcaster was engaged with his former business associate, Kerry Packer. Despite the recent findings of the Australian National Audit Office to the contrary, he has accused ABC news and current affairs of political bias against his colleagues in the Coalition Government.
On his appointment by the present Government, one of Mr Kroger's first moves was to propose the ABC accept advertising and sell-off 49 per cent of the highly successful ABC Online. Online services are an integral aspect of the ABC's operations.
Mr Kroger's actions demonstrate a lack of understanding of and support for independent, comprehensive public broadcasting in general, and the ABC in particular.
If Mr Kroger will not resign from the ABC Board, he must be removed. A new system should be introduced to ensure that all governments appoint Board members on the basis of merit and commitment to independent public broadcasting."
Ironically, the Government, which appointed Mr Kroger, can claim it should not act, so as to respect the Board's independence. So it is over to the Board to demonstrate its integrity by acting in the interests of the ABC. It must insist Mr Kroger resigns.
Sir
Humphrey: Bernard,
ministers should never know more than they need to know, then they can't
tell anyone. Like secret agents, they could be captured and tortured.
Bernard: You mean by terrorists?
Sir Humphrey: By the BBC, Bernard.
from 'Yes, Minister'
Asia Pacific, Radio Australia's excellent thrice-daily 25-minute radio program, provides daily analysis and coverage of events throughout the region: from China to Cook Islands, from India to Papua New Guinea and all points in between. The program aims to provide background to the headlines, drawing on the expertise of specialist reporters, academics, analysts and key players from the worlds of politics, economics and social development across Asia and the Pacific.
Asia Pacific is accessible on the web. The ABC is now also offering, free of charge, a twice-daily EMAIL UPDATE, which summarises the content of each program. To receive this service, log onto http://abc.net.au/ra/asiapac and follow the instructions, or send an email to asiapac@your.abc.net.au with your name and email address.
In 1999, McKinsey & Co., a conservative multi-national management consulting firm, studied 20 public service broadcasters from around the world and found:
- Public broadcasters influence the quality of other broadcasters. Public service broadcasters can and do act as regulators of the television industry as a whole.
- In the words of Michael Grade, former managing director of Channel 4 in the UK "The BBC keeps us all honest."
- A
key determinant of the success of a public service broadcaster is how
, and how well, it is financed. The most effective public service broadcasters
enjoy substantial financial support. Public service broadcasters with
the highest income per capita (i.e., for each member of the national
audience) have the best chance of producing popular programs that stand
out, since these programs are invariably expensive to make.
The source of a broadcaster's money is important as well. McKinsey's concluded that reliance on advertising income leads to programming which is relatively indistinctive from commercial television.
Where did the ABC come in the McKinsey survey?
The ABC emerged as one of the most effective Public Broadcasters in the world and one of the poorest.
- edited version of address by Lee Burton, Senior Lecturer in Media Studies, RMIT to FABC Vic's 'Keep the ABC Commercial Free' Workshop 17.3.02
Around the world researchers and public commentators are sounding the alarm for the future of public sector broadcasting against the perils of commercialisation. Since the early 1990's, with the proliferation of Pay TV, the Internet and many more choices for audiences, governments around the world have questioned whether their national broadcasters are really necessary.
The
understanding that this has been a world trend is essential to reversing
the decline of national broadcasters, and give us broadcasting of a standard
that we living in a democratic society deserve. Making the national broadcaster
"pay its way" is creeping into political discourse, ignoring
the obvious degradation that follows any commercialisation of public broadcasters,
such as New Zealand where a once independent public broadcaster is now
almost indistinguishable from the commercial networks.
The
role of public broadcasters is widely debated and, unlike commercial media,
strong emotions are aroused. Take for example these views from two prominent
Australians and USA Professor Tracey.
Jeff
Kennett: Former Victorian Liberal Premier: They're like a great leech
on society; they use your and my money to suck blood from society to attack
those who create wealth and employ people. (The Media Report, 12/10/2000)
Prof. Michael Tracey: Author of 'The Decline and Fall of Public Service Broadcasting': I think there's one absolute principle, and it is the commitment to the idea of quality. In other words, that public broadcasting historically, particularly in the major public broadcasting organizations such as the BBC or the ABC or CB, has a sense of producing programs for entertainment, for education, for information but quality is the defining character of the program making process.
Terry Lane - ABC Broadcaster: It is not welfare broadcasting. It is not charity broadcasting... Public broadcasting is part of a civilised culture like libraries, orchestras, schools, hospitals and museums.
The Sunday Age 29th October, 2000
Broadly, public broadcasters are organisations which have a charter, are independent from government and which have a particular role in a broader broadcasting environment. They are meant to address everyone, be diverse, have integrity and be trustworthy. Most importantly, public broadcasters address their audiences as citizens, not consumers. But that's not always the case. Many public broadcasters have a slightly different focus than that, some in a more commercial direction, others almost the mouthpiece of government.
In
1999, the McKinsey company surveyed public broadcasters around the world
and found that all the excellent public broadcasters shared certain characteristics
and that these public broadcasters are more relevant than ever!
The Best Public Service Broadcasters …
- Have many sources of programming and broadcasting
- Are culturally distinctive and enrich the cultural landscape
- Have social value
- Encourage innovative programming
- Understand the quality of the relationship each program has with its audience
- Are pacesetters: the psb lead, the commercials follow
- Cater for both mass audiences and niche audiences
- Are
committed to providing extensive and high quality news and current affairs
- Command a fierce loyalty from their audience who are highly critical and demanding of high standards
- Strive for balance but are never dull
- Are
well funded!
Where did the ABC come in this survey? It emerged as one of the most effective Public Broadcasters in the world and one of the poorest!
Thanks to all involved, FABC Vic's day-long workshop on Sunday 17th March was a great success. Members learnt more about the ABC's present situation, FABC was able to clarify the direction in which it is heading.
Guest
speakers - Lee Burton (media commentator and senior lecturer in Media
Studies) and Quentin Dempster (ABC journalist and former staff-appointed
ABC Board member) - provided valuable information on important issues
surrounding the ABC. Workshops in the afternoon assisted FABC in its task
of reviewing and developing new strategies.
At the end of the day, we all left determined to fight on - to ensure ABC funds are restored and the national broadcaster is not undermined by commercial or political interference.
Where to Now Broadly, FABC at all levels needs to continue doing much of what we have been doing - to inform the public, and to influence politicians and the ABC Board. Our activities were successful in influencing the departure of Managing Director, Jonathan Shier, and securing positive commitments from major opposition parties in the lead-up to the Federal Election.
From
mid-2002 on, work will begin on the process for the next Federal Budget.
The May 2003 Budget will set ABC funding for the following three years.
If
the national broadcaster is to survive, let alone be at the forefront
in a technologically changing media environment, the level of its triennial
funding must be restored.
Photos of the event are included in the hard copy of VicNEWS
- FABC's 'Keep the ABC Commercial Free' Workshop discussed many ways in which members can help.
Local
Groups Local groups are a way in which members can become involved
and better informed about what is happening to the ABC. FABC local groups
perform valuable work. In addition, many have stimulating, or simply enjoyable,
get-togethers. You may like to attend a local group gathering, or help
FABC to establish a local group in your area if it does not exist.
Stalls
for Events, Markets, Festivals and Shopping Centres If you would like
to help organize, or would simply like to help staff a stall (and are
not already on FABC's list of stall helpers), we would love to hear from
you. Stalls are an important way of getting the message out and raising
funds.
Youth
FABC is keen to establish a group of young people to develop and implement
strategies to inform youth, and to encourage them to act in support of
public broadcasting. The not-so-young who have respect for the ideas of
the young are also welcome.
Media
Writing and phoning the media helps to inform the community. It sends
a signal to the politicians and ABC Board that the public is keenly interested
in what happens to the ABC. Shorter letters, and letters responding to
a report in the newspaper to which you write, have the best chance of
being printed.
- Don't
be discouraged if your letter is not printed. Newspapers receive many
letters. On occasions you may like to respond to something happening,
but do not quite understand the issues or have enough information, phone
us for a chat. We can help.
Politicians
Visit, phone or write to your local politician. Help others to do
the same, so that politicians realize there is widespread community interest
in the ABC.
Fundraising
No campaign can exist, indeed, FABC cannot continue, without funds. It
may be that you have one good idea that you would like to help implement,
or you would like to join FABC's fundraising working group.
Membership
Recruitment FABC's credibility and its capacity to influence politicians
is related to the strength of its membership. Explain to your friends
and colleagues why their support is needed.
Public
Speaking Organise for FABC to address other groups to which you belong
- work, social and community. Let us know if, with help from FABC, you
would like to become an FABC public speaker yourself.
Contact FABC to express your interest or learn more about any of these activities. If you think of any other ways in which you might help, we will be pleased to hear about these too.
It is the independence of the ABC and all that flows into its programs as a result of that difference, which the Australian public has repeatedly fought to preserve. The ABC has been likened to "an independent golden goose laying independent golden eggs". Its reputation for independence is the envy of all other media outlets, regardless of the popularity and undisputed contribution of the commercial broadcasters. Once commercialisation of the ABC begins it will become dependent upon the cash flow, leading to the ABC giving priority to its new revenue-raising marketing activities ahead of its core, charter broadcast production. The corporate interest is placed ahead of the public interest. We, the supporters and friends of the ABC must not allow this to happen. The ABC can never be "a little bit commercial".
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