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FRI 001 Newsletter 10/4/08 10:08 AM Page 1 FRI 001 Newsletter 10/4/08 10:08 AM Page 1 Friends of the ABC (NSW) Inc. quarterly newsletter April-May 2008 Vol 16, No.6 update friends of the abc evolution from traditional broadcaster of radio and TV to the delivery of “THE ABC’s BEST information and entertainment through the internet, Mark Scott pointed out that there were 20 “DAYS ARE AHEAD” million downloads of Radio National products last year, 50% of these from – Mark Scott outside Australia, and spoke of the new ABC website Mal Hewitt reports: abc.net.au/greenatwork where the ABC will be on show as a role model The ABC’s Managing Director, Mark for the reduction of its own carbon footprint. Scott, believes that the ABC’s best days are still to come, which is not to On the matter of advertising on the devalue the 75 wonderful years which ABC, the Managing Director repeated have already passed, but reflects a his undertaking that there would be great optimism about the future of no advertising (other than internal the National broadcaster. In a meeting advertising of ABC programs) on with NSW FABC President Mal Hewitt radio, TV or abc.net.au but indicated and Membership Secretary Chris that there is a grey area with ABC – Cartledge on Wednesday 3rd April, linked websites such as Countdown. Friends of the ABC will be seeking the ABC’s Managing Director and assurances from Minister Conroy that, Director, Communications, Gary if necessary, existing legislation will Dawson, outlined a vision for the be strengthened to ensure that the future in which the ABC leads all ABC remains totally advertisement- other media organizations in free in all of its activities. Clarification embracing new technology and which the cost is shared (Enough was sought from Mark Scott on the maintaining outstanding quality and Rope, The Chaser, Summer Heights recently announced ABC Shop innovation in traditional radio and High, Bastard Boys) allow for the download facility, where material television broadcasting. Whilst there production of more material at lower currently available for purchase is a strong commitment to keeping cost, whilst maintaining high the best that the ABC does, there is (Continued on Page 3) production quality and greater also a belief that the ABC must leverage from the ABC. Scott restated change in order to remain strong. his strong support for internal Referring to the recent productions by the ABC, with its high inside announcement of the new Division of level of efficiency and effectiveness. The President’s Report 2 ABC Resources, Mark Scott reiterated Recent press reports highlighted the Branch News 4 that “the ABC is committed in the planned introduction of automated Have the Friends of the ABC lost future to being a broadcaster and studio systems in television news their teeth? 6 producer of its own material as it is studios, requiring significantly less Scott delivers Aunty’s medicine 7 today. That means sourcing the best staff. “The savings generated through quality material at the best price from these measures will allow the ABC to From Cultural War to Cultural both our own producers and the produce more content, including Democracy: Its your ABC 8 independent production sector.” more news content, for our audiences, What can we expect from Labor? 10 Relatively inexpensive programs and we plan to set aside some of the Good reasons for optimism about (Spics and Specs, New Inventors, savings to fund additional TV the ABC’s future 10 Talking Heads) will remain 100% ABC production from outside Sydney and Come clean on commercialisation productions, but co-productions in Melbourne.” In discussing the of the ABC 11 Page 1 FRI 001 Newsletter 10/4/08 10:08 AM Page 2 A word from the NSW President I am grateful to the members of political environment of a Rudd Labor the fact that Cowper Branch of Friends of the ABC government. I will attempt to address Australia still has a for recently producing a paper which some of the issues raised by the publicly funded has been circulated to all NSW FABC Cowper paper national broadcaster branches, in which they question how is a sign of the success of past FABC effective Friends of the ABC has been as HOW EFFECTIVE HAS FRIENDS campaigns, given the number of a political lobby group in recent years, OF THE ABC BEEN AS A LOBBY members of the Howard government and raise some very important GROUP who were prepared to go on record questions about our role in the new Could I remind you all of the nature stating their belief that the ABC should be privatized. Undoubtedly, 100,000 Update Publication Information and style of the government (and Prime Minister) that we have been supporters in Sydney domain, or 15,000 Update is published four times a year by dealing with in Canberra for the last 11 supporters on the Opera House Friends of the ABC (NSW) Inc. (FABC), years, a Prime Minister who greatly forecourt, or even 250,000 ABC listeners PO Box 1391 NORTH SYDNEY 2059. admired Margaret Thatcher, of ‘the who joined in ABC birthday Printpost approved PP245059/00002 lady’s not for turning’ fame, and a celebrations last year are not To become a member phone (02) 9990 0600 government which: insignificant expressions of public or email to <[email protected]> support. How do you evaluate the • ignored half a million people on the or access our website www.fabcnsw.org.au. success of public campaigns? We streets of Sydney, comparable Extracts from newspapers and other certainly were not taken the way of publications appearing in Update do not numbers in other capital cities, and New Zealand or Canada, towards partial necessarily reflect the views of the members 70% of the entire population telling of FABC. or complete privatization, by a hostile the government not to get involved Update is distributed to all members of FABC, Howard government, but it must be in the Iraq war as part of the membership fee. Update is also remembered that the government supplied to journalists, politicians and libraries • ignored virtually the entire legal included strong across Australia. It is edited and produced in Sydney but contributions are welcome from profession in its opposition to ABC supporters (especially from the NSW country and interstate branches. draconian anti-terror laws, which National party) as well as detractors. Material may be quoted or reproduced from challenged the very foundations of The truth is that we still have Radio Update provided the source is acknowledged civil liberties in this country National’s insightful and thought- and reproduction is sent to the President FABC. • ignored the combined welfare arms provoking programs, we still have “The Would you like to receive Update Chaser” boys able to expose the utter magazine electronically? of every mainstream church (and all stupidity of the whole APEC circus Save the planet's trees and The Friends printing the Catholic bishops) in their and postage costs and read Update magazine opposition to changes to Centrelink (would they have had any chance of on your computer. procedures, in fact told those very getting it on commercial TV???), we still Each quarter, when Update is published, you welfare agencies to “stay out of have exposes on Lateline and Four will receive an email with a link to the latest politics” Corners (even though many programs issue (each magazine is around 3MB). are bought rather than ABC-produced), You can try this now by going to our website at • ignored all of the scientific evidence we still have the wonderful world of www.fabcnsw.org.au and clicking on Update. relating to climate change, in fact ABC for Kids– I could go on with the If you prefer this delivery option for future Updates please send an email to the made it clear that the CSIRO could jewels that are still there for us to select Membership Secretary. forget government funding if it made from. We would like the ABC to be able too much of the climate change issue to do more of it, and have more money Who to write… to do it with. That is where we need Anyone seeking basic information about writing So who has been able to lobby the discussion within and between FABC to persons of influence might find it helpful to past government successfully? Perhaps go to the FABC NSW website www.fabc.org.au branches and members as to how best the coal industry, the mining industry, where there are some menu items under "Be to do that in a new political context, Active" leading to pages of information: Who the timber industry, all major but I believe that the ABC has can I write to? What can I say? enterprises which saw action on maintained quality and independence climate change as a threat to their through tough times (and we must FABC (NSW) Executive Committee profitability, all of which spend Office Bearers remember that the Hawke/Keating millions of dollars maintaining governments could hardly be President - Mal Hewitt permanent lobbyists in Canberra. Phone: 9637 2900 considered generous to the ABC either!) Certainly NOT the Australian film Email: [email protected] FRIENDS OF THE ABC’s CAFÉ Secretary & Treasurer - James Buchanan industry, major arts organizations, the Phone: 9371 5621 universities, all of whom have been SOCIETY IMAGE Email: [email protected] effective lobbyists in the past, all with a We are an organization primarily made Membership Secretary - Chris Cartledge lot more resources than FABC to fund up of well-educated, middle class, over- Phone: 4226 2323 or 0408 655 882 their campaigns.
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