DOCSLIB.ORG

The ABC Regional Division Has in Recent Months Been Running Job Advertisements for Rural Reporters in a Number of Regional Locations

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The ABC Regional Division Has in Recent Months Been Running Job Advertisements for Rural Reporters in a Number of Regional Locations The ABC Regional Division has in recent months been running job advertisements for rural reporters in a number of regional locations. It would appear these are newly created positions at locations not previously staffed with rural reporters. Therefore it would appear the following statement in my submission about no extra staff being employed at regional stations has been overtaken by these events. “NOT ONE ADDITIONAL STAFF MEMBER APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN EMPLOYED IN A REGIONAL STATION AND THERE IS NOT ONE EXTRA MINUTE OF LOCAL BROADCAST OUTPUT AT ANY REGIONAL STATION AS A RESULT OF THE CREATION OF THE NEW REGIONAL DIVISION. IN FACT LOCAL BROADCAST TIME HAS BEEN REDUCED!” While the move to employ more rural reporters is positive, it does not address the underlying problem faced by all regional stations; chronic understaffing, cuts to local broadcast hours and local budgets… and an ever increasing reliance on networked programs. Employing a small number of additional rural reporters may appease some groups lobbying for more rural information but the move falls well short of tackling the gaping divide between metro and regional station resourcing. The move may also be seen by some as a cynical attempt to blunt the Senator’s Private Bill seeking to amend the ABC’s Charter and Board composition. The delivery of high quality content to regional and rural Australians must be seen as core business for the ABC which has been reinforced by recent comments by the Federal Communications Minister Mitch Fifield speaking to Steve Austin on 612 ABC Brisbane March 23rd 2016. “Regional and Rural Radio is part of the core business of the ABC…always has been, is now and always will be…this is the heart of what the ABC does”. By definition, core business means main or essential activity! As mentioned previously in my submission, I/View and News 24 are very laudable and very popular services but neither falls into the category of being an essential activity or service. Most homes these days have access to a multitude of sophisticated recording devices and ABC News 21 is available for rolling news coverage when required. With a cloud hanging over the future of regional newspapers, ABC Regional Radio may be the only niche focused local news and information source for many regional and rural Australians. Responsibility for coverings courts, local government, police rounds and local crime, rural news, general reporting, local sport and community events may rest entirely on the local ABC station making it truly an essential service and a service which I/View and News 24 can never provide. The ABC has made the following statement in its submission to this inquiry. “The bulletin changes made by ABC Regional before Christmas, and now being implemented across the country, are designed to free-up reporters to deliver more local news and information during breakfast programming and throughout the day. This ensures that news and current affairs is delivered in real-time, as events unfold, rather than through static news bulletins.” This is simply not true. With respect to regional and rural listeners, the ABC is not delivering news and current affairs in real time, as events unfold, rather than static news bulletins as the following breaking news event highlights. On Monday March 21st at 10.40am, 612 ABC Brisbane crossed LIVE to an announcement by the Prime Minister that the date of the budget had been brought forward to May 3rd clearing the decks for a possible double dissolution federal election. I checked the radio output of three regional ABC stations in my area and not one carried this news conference live and I suspect few other regional stations throughout the country if any, would have crossed live to this important news breaking event. The ABC also makes the following statement in its submission. “Finally, the ABC notes that the proposed requirement that it broadcast numerous radio bulletins “that consist solely or primarily of regional or local news” is inconsistent with available evidence about the needs and wants of regional audiences. The ABC’s collaborative research project ABC Spoke http://rd.abc.net.au/assets/downloads/ABCDN- NewsPlaceRel.pdf which investigated personalisation and localisation of news and information, found that people do not want local news and information in isolation, instead preferring it to be included in a “feed” with national and international stories, and that people’s definition of “local” content varies widely.9 This finding essentially confirmed the Corporation’s long-established approach to news, which incorporates local stories into news bulletins that also contain state, national and international stories. By comparison, the proposed subsection 27(2)(b) would require the ABC to broadcast five bulletins each day that consist “solely or primarily” of local news. In essence, it would require the Corporation to provide a service that may be in the best interest of some politicians, but would likely not accord with audience needs. As other submissions to this inquiry have noted, this sets a very bad precedent.” What concerns me most about this statement is that it appears to ignore the way local news is delivered to the regional audience and has been for decades. The ABC is correct in stating that it has maintained a long-established approach to news, which incorporates local stories into news bulletins that also contain state, national and international stories. However this ONLY applies to state and national news bulletins. It does NOT apply to regional news bulletins which by enlarge only contain parochial news pertinent to a regional station’s broadcast area. It is totally unrealistic to try to incorporate most of this niche focused content into state or national news bulletins. Regional stations have been producing 5 minute local bulletins consisting entirely of regional and local news Monday to Friday for many years so it’s bewildering why the ABC would question the practise when they are already doing it. Unless of course the ABC is planning further cuts to local bulletins or those writing the ABC’s submission were unaware of how local news is delivered in the regions. The ABC needs to clarify whether regional stations will continue to broadcast local bulletins consisting solely or primarily of local news or move away from this model as stated in its submission ie the long established approach to news which incorporates local news with state, national and international stories. Obviously most of the parochial news broadcast by regional stations would have no place in state or national bulletins or even regional hub bulletins. Some years ago in Queensland, the Local Radio division successfully negotiated with the News Division to have state, national and international news headlines appear at the end of all regional news bulletins which gives some weight to the Spoke Project’s findings that the listener doesn’t want to hear local news in isolation from state, national and international news. This comes from the listener wanting to know how their world fits into the rest of the world. Unfortunately the practise of including the ‘bigger picture’ headlines in regional bulletins appears to have lapsed, at least in Queensland. The Spoke Project’s finding also have relevance not just to the way listeners want to hear their news but also to general programs. Metro programs, particularly Morning Shows have a very broad focus and canvass a range of issues based on what’s making news ranging from parish pump local to state and federal politics and major world events. Regional listeners by enlarge only get the parish pump local issues and rarely hear from the major state and national newsmakers. The ABC must find a way to deliver this material in context so that rural and urban listeners are just as informed as their urban counterparts. If one of the major stories of the day for example happens to be a move to topple the Premier then regional listeners are entitled to know what’s going on and coverage may include interviews with the Premier, Opposition Leader and state political reporters etc. Regional programs have avoided this type of coverage because it’s impossible for the Premier and the State Opposition leader to talk to 10 different ABC stations in the course of a morning. Hence regional listeners miss out on hearing critical political debate. Of course the narrow focus by regional programs just doesn’t apply to political coverage. I am in no way intending to downplay the importance of covering local issues but they need to be in context with what else is happening not just at a state and federal level but also internationally. As mentioned earlier in my submission, the global media environment has undergone unprecedented change over the last 10 years and the ABC has quite correctly expanded its investment in digital media services including online, app developments for smart phones and tablets etc. However that expansion has come at the expense of regional services principally radio and raises the question as to whether the ABC is placing too much emphasis on digital media investment particularly while regional stations remain grossly under resourced. Unlike I/View and News 24, radio is still the core essential service for regional and rural Australians and will be for many years to come. The ABC must stop diverting funds from core services so that regional and urban communities are provided only the highest quality content. The following provides some perspective on the importance of digital content compared with traditional linear radio services. James Cridland, who is also internationally acclaimed as one of the world's foremost radio futurologist, feels that FM, AM and DAB+ have a long and healthy future.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • ANNUAL REPORT 2019 Revellers at New Year’S Eve 2018 – the Night Is Yours
    AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION ANNUAL REPORT 2019 Revellers at New Year’s Eve 2018 – The Night is Yours. Image: Jared Leibowtiz Cover: Dianne Appleby, Yawuru Cultural Leader, and her grandson Zeke 11 September 2019 The Hon Paul Fletcher MP Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Dear Minister The Board of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation is pleased to present its Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2019. The report was prepared for section 46 of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013, in accordance with the requirements of that Act and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983. It was approved by the Board on 11 September 2019 and provides a comprehensive review of the ABC’s performance and delivery in line with its Charter remit. The ABC continues to be the home and source of Australian stories, told across the nation and to the world. The Corporation’s commitment to innovation in both storytelling and broadcast delivery is stronger than ever, as the needs of its audiences rapidly evolve in line with technological change. Australians expect an independent, accessible public broadcasting service which produces quality drama, comedy and specialist content, entertaining and educational children’s programming, stories of local lives and issues, and news and current affairs coverage that holds power to account and contributes to a healthy democratic process. The ABC is proud to provide such a service. The ABC is truly Yours. Sincerely, Ita Buttrose AC OBE Chair Letter to the Minister iii ABC Radio Melbourne Drive presenter Raf Epstein.
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Report 2006-2007: Part 2 – Overview
    24 international broadcasting then... The opening transmission of Radio Australia in December 1939, known then as “Australia Calling”. “Australia Calling… Australia Calling”, diminishing series of transmission “hops” announced the clipped voice of John Royal around the globe. For decades to come, through the crackle of shortwave radio. It was listeners would tune their receivers in the a few days before Christmas 1939. Overseas early morning and dusk and again at night broadcasting station VLQ 2—V-for-victory, to receive the clearest signals. Even then, L-for-liberty, Q-for-quality—had come alive signal strength lifted and fell repeatedly, to the impending terror of World War II. amid the atmospheric hash. The forerunner of Radio Australia broadcast Australia Calling/Radio Australia based itself in those European languages that were still in Melbourne well south of the wartime widely used throughout South-East Asia at “Brisbane Line” and safe from possible the end of in the colonial age—German, Dutch, Japanese invasion. Even today, one of Radio French, Spanish and English. Australia’s principal transmitter stations is located in the Victorian city of Shepparton. Transmission signals leapt to the ionosphere —a layer of electro-magnetic particles By 1955, ABC Chairman Sir Richard Boyer surrounding the planet—before reflecting summed up the Radio Australia achievement: down to earth and bouncing up again in a “We have sought to tell the story of this section 2 25 country with due pride in our achievements international broadcasting with Australia and way of life, but without ignoring the Television. Neither the ABC nor, later, differences and divisions which are inevitable commercial owners of the service could in and indeed the proof of a free country”.
    [Show full text]
  • Abc Friends Salutes Four Corners
    UpdateDecember 2016 Vol 24, No. 3 Thrice Yearly Newsletter ABC FRIENDS SALUTES FOUR CORNERS t the Annual Award questions of the medical profession. Presentation for Broadcasting Even in her illness, Liz was still the AExcellence on Friday 25th relentless investigative reporter. November, ABC Friends (National) It is these qualities, along with recognised the extraordinary persistence, patience, integrity, contribution of Four Corners to curiosity, thoroughness, balance and Australian life and investigative compassion, the hallmarks of great journalism of the highest quality journalism, that have undoubtedly over the past 55 years. Throughout been a thorn in the side of politicians those 55 years, Four Corners has of all persuasions, and those in consistently and with commendable positions of power and authority courage shone a light into many who have been under the relentless dark places in our national life, and microscope of a Four Corners has, without any doubt, investigation. Very recent examples changed Australia for the come to mind: “Broken Homes” better. The final program examined our totally inadequate and for 2016, A Sense of misnamed Child Protection System; Self, was no exception. and her persistent search for the “The Forgotten Children” painfully Liz Jackson, multi-award best medical options with her documented the evaporation of hope winning journalist with Four partner Martin Butler, displaying amongst refugee children under Corners for 30 years, laid exceptional courage, honesty and detention on Nauru; “Australia’s bare her private and family professionalism. In so doing, she Shame”, in graphic detail, showed life in documenting her struggle with taught us all how to be better patients, the onset of Parkinson’s Disease better carers, and to ask the right Continued on Page 4.
    [Show full text]
  • Authentic Voice’: Challenges and Opportunities for Voice and Self-Representation in Two ABC Storytelling Projects
    Volume 40, 2013 Sasha Mackay and Elizabeth Heck Capturing the ‘Authentic Voice’: Challenges and Opportunities for Voice and Self-representation in Two ABC Storytelling Projects Abstract: This paper discusses the opportunities and challenges that arise within storytelling projects that are facilitated by public service broadcasters and that aim to amplify the voices of ‘ordinary people’. In particular, it focuses on two of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s current life storytelling projects: ABC Open and Heywire. In recent years there has been a noticeable move by various public institutions, such as public service broadcasters, cultural institutions including art galleries and libraries, and community media and arts organisations to capture and disseminate the voices and viewpoints of ‘ordinary people’ through inviting them to share stories about their lives. One of the foremost objectives of many such projects is to provide under-represented individuals and groups with an opportunity to express and represent themselves, and thus change or challenge representations that have been created by others; as such, the capture and broadcast of ‘authentic voices’ is a central value. This paper begins by discussing the challenges and opportunities that arise within storytelling projects that are facilitated by public service broadcasting institutions (PSBs) and that aim to amplify the voices of ‘ordinary people’ (Thumim, “Everyone Has a Story to Tell”). It discusses how ‘voice’ and ‘authenticity’ are defined and examines ways in which self-representations are facilitated, curated, and broadcast within such projects in order to demonstrate ways in which institutional objectives and editorial policies shape and often limit project participants’ capacity for a voice that is authentic for them.
    [Show full text]
  • CFS FACT SHEET Ways to Stay Informed
    CFS FACT SHEET Ways to stay informed Do not rely on a single source for emergency warning information. There are many different ways to stay informed about bushfires and other emergencies: • CFS website: www.cfs.sa.gov.au • Bushfire Information Hotline: 1800 362 361 (TTY 133 677) • Facebook: countryfireservice and cfsupdates • Twitter: @cfsalerts and @cfstalk • RSS feeds • Email subscription service for CFS bushfire advice and warning messages • TV and radio emergency broadcast partners such as ABC Local Radio • CFS booklets, brochures and fact sheets • CFS community engagement programs • Friends, family and neighbours We recommend you keep a battery powered or wind-up radio ready in case the power fails during an emergency or your phone signal is lost. Sometimes your own senses provide the best warning. Stay alert to your surroundings during the Fire Danger Season. Where to hear warnings The CFS partners with a number of media outlets who broadcast vital warning information to communities during emergencies. People living in, or travelling through, bushfire risk areas during the Fire Danger Season need to stay aware of weather conditions and listen out for CFS warnings. Tune into: ABC Local Radio, FIVEaa Radio, Sky News Television and ABC News 24. Contact the Bushfire South Australian Information Hotline Country Fire Service 1800 362 361 (TTY 133 677) @Countryfireservice cfs.sa.gov.au @CFSalerts Page 2 Ways to stay informed CFS FACT SHEET CFS Emergency broadcast partners in South Australia Location Radio stations Adelaide ABC Radio Adelaide
    [Show full text]
  • STORM KIT CHECKLIST the Brisbane City Council Notes What Should Be in Your Storm Kit, and It Includes the Following Items
    STORM KIT CHECKLIST The Brisbane City Council notes what should be in your storm kit, and it includes the following items: 1. A portable battery-operated radio and torch with fresh or spare batteries and bulb 2. A list of local radio stations for emergency information 3. Candles with waterproof matches or a gas lantern 4. Reasonable stocks of fresh water and tinned or dried food 5. A first aid kit and basic first aid knowledge 6. Good supply of essential medication 7. Strong shoes and rubber gloves 8. A waterproof bag for clothing and valuables – put valuables and certificates in the bag and put the bag in a Safe place 9. A list of your emergency contact numbers 10. A car charger for your mobile phone POINTS TO REMEMBER Along with the above, there are a couple of points to remember for when a storm is just about to hit. Sometimes you have no way of avoiding being caught out when a storm approaches - it may hit your area earlier than expected or a weather forecast turns out being wrong. When it’s a situation where a storm may just be In the instance that you’re on foot when a storm a few minutes away, remember to bring inside is about to roll through, find some form of shelter any potentially dangerous outdoor objects if ASAP, but try to avoid taking shelter under you’re at home. If you’re caught driving, try trees or metal roofs. If you’re at work or in to find somewhere to park that is away another residential/commercial place, remain from creeks and high trees.
    [Show full text]
  • Open File (Pdf, 3.5
    The wider view: Australia Jeremy Millar, ABC Sydney [email protected] linkedin.com/in/millarjeremy/ Population 25 million ABC = Big audiences, big moments ABC = Making an impact with Digital More content, …at a lower cost services and than 30 years ago platforms… What’s happening in the audio space? 1.DAB+ Digital Radio expansion 2. Growth in streaming 3. Decline of the AM Band (yes, we still have AM) 4. Rise of Podcasts & Podcast Industry Partnerships 5.Uptake of smart speakers 6.Spotify’s growth in popularity We are in a golden-age for audio The tyranny of distance East coast to West coast Australia 4030 km North to South coast Australia 3685 km Sydney to Geneva 16,764 km Australia is vast ABC Local Radio station Darwin Katherine Kunanurra Cairns Broome Townsville Mt Isa Karratha Mackay Alice Springs Longreach Rockhampton Gladstone Bundaberg Maroochydore Toowoomba Brisbane Gold Coast Geraldton Kalgoorlie Lismore Tamworth Broken Hill Dubbo Coffs Harbour Pt Augusta Muswellbrook Pt Macquarie Perth Wagin Pt Pirie Orange Newcastle Renmark Mildura Erina Bunbury Esperance Pt Lincoln Wagga Wagga Adelaide Sydney Shepparton Wollongong Albany Nowra Horsham Bendigo Wodonga Canberra Ballarat Mt Gambier Bega Warrnambool Sale Melbourne Morwell Burnie Launceston Hobart Why 86% of people live within 50km of the coast Why AM? AM radio’s geographic reach has suited Australia’s enormous geography – powerful transmitters reaching far into the outback But AM radio is in decline. It sounds awful The audience is largely 60+ AM recruits no new listeners
    [Show full text]
  • Outstanding Contribution to Local Radio by a Sports
    Wednesday 11 April 2007 ABC LOCAL RADIO AWARDS FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR 2007 Finalists for the 2007 ABC Local Radio Awards were announced today. Established in 2001, the Awards recognise and celebrate the talented and dedicated ABC Local Radio staff who deliver entertaining radio to local communities around Australia. Open to all broadcasters and producers from nine metropolitan and 51 regional ABC Local Radio stations across the country, the categories recognise individual and station excellence and include metropolitan and regional broadcaster and station of the year, sports and rural broadcasting and website production, as well as coverage of significant local community events and outside broadcasts. A full list of categories and finalists is attached. The Director of ABC Radio & Regional Content, Sue Howard, who is on the Awards judging panel, said she was impressed with both the experienced nominees as well as the performance of finalists who were nominated this year for the first time. “There are a number of new names and faces in contention for the Awards this year, and that is a reflection of the calibre of new talent emerging across the Local Radio network.” “My congratulations go to all finalists and I wish them every success,” Ms Howard said. The winners of the 2007 ABC Local Radio Awards will be announced in Newcastle on Thursday 3 May at a ceremony hosted by 702 ABC Sydney Evenings and ABCTV New Inventors presenter James O’Loghlin. The Awards are complemented by a two-day Forum for finalists and Local Radio delegates to discuss a wide range of topics including the future of the ABC over the next five years, building strong local communities and maintaining creativity and energy in the work environment.
    [Show full text]
  • At Any Time in Any Place in Any Situation
    in any place at any time in any situation Annual Report2005 Australian Broadcasting Corporation ABC services of all Australians via reached an estimated75% television, radio and online There are now 1.7 million pages of information rich ABC Online content at www.abc.net.au ABC radio weekly metropolitan audience reach 3.766 millionor 34% ABC weekly metropolitan reach of TV8.8 million or 64.2% and weekly regional reach of 3.9 million or 62.6% ABC Online reaches 14.4% of Australia’s active Internet population 90% of Australians continue to believe the ABC provides a valuable service to the community. 1 New Australian-made TV programs launched include Spicks and Specks, Talking Heads, How The Quest Was Won, Beat The Chef, Collectors, Second Opinion, Blue Water High and Outback House We launched digital radio services digJAZZ and digCOUNTRY Radio Australia now available via 200 local re-broadcasters in 40 countries, shortwave broadcasts, satellite services and a 24-hour FM network ABC2 was launched... the ABC’s second free-to-air digital television channel ABC Asia Pacific television is seen in 39 countries, retransmitted by 155 pay-TV operators, in more than 200 000 hotel rooms and available in 9 million homes ABC produced 4 476 hours of Australian television content, including more than 2 221 hours of news and current affairs 40 ABC Shops and 79 ABC Centres through out Australia and online generated $10.6 million net profit which was returned to programming last year ABC had total revenues of $959m from ordinary activities with $1.026 billion in total assets 2 abc any time | any place reaches australians radio television online shops international broadcasting 3 Annual Report 2004–05 Radio The ABC has four national radio networks —Radio National, ABC Classic FM, triple j and ABC NewsRadio—as well as 60 Local Radio stations around Australia, and three Internet music-based services, dig, digJAZZ and digCOUNTRY.
    [Show full text]
  • To the Australian Bushfires Story on Page 3
    UpdateFebruary 2020 Vol 28, No. 1 Thrice Yearly Newsletter The world reacts to the Australian bushfires Story on page 3. First All-Indigenous NSW firefighting Bushfire survival stories from Inside Update crews 10 Victoria’s east 17 Media late to the game on An inspiring story from an ABC Friend 18 ‘unprecedented’ fires 11 From the Editor 2 Bushfire Report from Mid North The ABC praised for its ‘vital’ Coast Branch 19 Australia’s Catastrophic Bushfires 4 emergency reporting 12 Fires and Floods on the North Coast How much does it cost the ABC to ABC coverage of the Australian of NSW 19 cover a bushfire crisis? 5 bushfires 12 From our President 20 ABC under ‘growing’ cost pressure 6 Witnessing the horror and the best of ABC Emergency Broadcasting (EB) 21 ABC Friends Media Release 7 humanity on the South Coast 13 ABC Emergency Broadcasts 22 Letters 8 Lauren Hamilton’s experience of the fires 14 ABC problems in bushfire coverage 23 ‘Life and death’: ABC battles to restore damaged networks 9 Kylie’s Bushfire story 16 ABC Friends National Update, February 2020, Vol 28, No 1 1 Update Publication Information From the Editor Update is published three times a year by ABC Friends National Inc. PO Box 3620 Manuka ACT 2603 Print Post approved: PP245059/00002. elcome to our special Bushfire which would keep them and their families Extracts from newspapers and other Edition of Update. These fires safe. publications appearing in Update do Whave been described by British We acknowledge the contribution of not necessarily reflect the views of the natural historian David Attenborough as ‘a members of ABC Friends.
    [Show full text]
  • Mackay and Heck January 20
    This may be the author’s version of a work that was submitted/accepted for publication in the following source: Mackay, Sasha& Heck, Elizabeth (2015) Life storytelling at the ABC: Challenges of ’giving the audience a voice’ in the context of public service media. Cultural Science, 8(2), pp. 114-129. This file was downloaded from: https://eprints.qut.edu.au/82958/ c Copyright 2015 Cultural Science This work is covered by copyright. Unless the document is being made available under a Creative Commons Licence, you must assume that re-use is limited to personal use and that permission from the copyright owner must be obtained for all other uses. If the docu- ment is available under a Creative Commons License (or other specified license) then refer to the Licence for details of permitted re-use. It is a condition of access that users recog- nise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. If you believe that this work infringes copyright please provide details by email to [email protected] Notice: Please note that this document may not be the Version of Record (i.e. published version) of the work. Author manuscript versions (as Sub- mitted for peer review or as Accepted for publication after peer review) can be identified by an absence of publisher branding and/or typeset appear- ance. If there is any doubt, please refer to the published source. http:// cultural-science.org/ journal/ index.php/ culturalscience/ article/ view/ 120/ 188 Life storytelling at the ABC: Challenges of ‘giving the audience a voice’ in the context of public service media Sasha Mackay and Elizabeth Heck1 ABSTRACT Life storytelling projects have become an important means through which public service media institutions such as the Australian Broadcasting Corporation are seeking to foster audience participation and involve particular cohorts in the creation and distribution of broadcast content.
    [Show full text]
  • ABC Submission to the ACCC Digital Platforms Inquiry
    ABC Submission to the ACCC Digital Platforms Inquiry 20.04.18 Summary 02 01 Background 03 02 Choice and quality of news and journalistic content 12 Contents 03 Implications of digital platforms for media content creators 20 04 Conclusion 22 1 Summary The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Issues Paper for its Digital Platforms Inquiry – the impact of digital search engines, social media platforms and other digital content aggregation platforms on the state of competition in media and advertising services markets. This submission is informed by the statutory role of the ABC and its place in the Australian media landscape, including the ways in which the ABC distributes its content on digital platforms. The submission also addresses a number of the specific issues raised in the ACCC’s Issues Paper. The table below provides a summary of the key themes in this submission. Digital platforms have Australians are increasingly accessing news via a variety of platforms, contributed to an in effect fragmenting the news media landscape. In this environment, unprecedented level of the ABC is delivering quality news and journalism to audiences where disruption to Australia’s they are searching for it and where they are spending significant amounts of time, while adapting to and harnessing the capabilities news media landscape that digital platforms can offer. Audiences have moved The shift away from traditional media delivery methods increases the online, so it is critical that need for strong, impartial news providers that are focused on the media content creators Australian market, like the ABC.
    [Show full text]