Who are we?

Friends of the ABC (FABC) represents the public's interest in its national public broadcaster.

Friends of the ABC's objectives:

To support the maintenance and advancement of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation

• to fulfil to a high standard its role as an independent and comprehensive national public broadcaster
• to be adequately funded by government to fulfil its role;
• to remain independent of government influence, commercial sponsorship and advertising; and
• to promote Australian culture in all its diversity.

About FABC

FABC is politically unaligned. It works for the best interests of independent and comprehensive national public broadcasting, challenging governments of any political persuasion that attempt to dismantle or interfere in the ABC's independence.

FABC is a critical supporter of the ABC. It speaks out on occasions it perceives the ABC Board of management not to be acting in the best interests of public broadcasting.

What FABC Does

Friends of the ABC engages in a range of activities at national, state and local levels. These include: informing the public, communicating with Members of Parliament and media, presenting submissions to government reviews and inquiries, addressing public meetings, conducting rallies and publishing newsletters.

FABC's Operation

Friends of the ABC is comprised of independent organisations from every Australian state and territory working together in a national campaign. They have a diverse range of members, and earn their income from membership subscriptions, public donations and fundraising activities. They receive no government funding. Some FABCs have local groups in regional and metropolitan areas.

FABC in Victoria has an office and campaign manager. All FABCs have an elected committee of management.

Why YOU should join

The ABC is one of Australia's most important public institutions - an independent body of ideas, information, education and culture which is accessible to all Australians. Its independence - from political and commercial influence - enables it to report without fear or favour and to produce programs of value.

In a country with little media diversity left and serious media shrinking, a healthy independent and comprehensive national broadcaster is even more important for Australian democracy and culture.

The ABC is Not Secure

No government can be relied upon to maintain the ABC:

• Without adequate funding to fulfil its charter responsibilities, the ABC is moving in an increasingly commercial direction.
  Look at what happened to SBS without a large group of supporters. Ads now interrupt its programs. The need to attract advertisers increasingly determines its programming.
• With governments seeking more than ever to control the messages delivered to the community, they are sensitive to the scrutiny of public broadcasters.
  Governments of both major political parties have privatised important public assets.
• While the ABC has never been more needed, it is more endangered: powerful commercial media owners view public broadcasting as a competitor that should be diminished or shut down.

FABC needs YOU

Only with a large and broad membership can FABC inform, educate and campaign to ensure the ABC's healthy future. Your membership is valuable - whether you wish to be active or simply become a member.

8.2.2010

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