Friends of the ABC (NSW) Inc. qu a r terly newsletter December 2002 Vol 14, No. 4

in c o r p o r a t i n g ba c k g r ound briefing national magazine up d a t e friends of the abc World Trade Farewell Penelope Toltz Negotiations: A Tribute to Past President Penelope Toltz. New Trading Away FABC President, Gary Cook, who put the motion that Penelope should be made a life member - Our Culture? carried unanimously - paid her this tribute. Public Interest Advocate Dr Patricia The 2002 Penelope’s commitment to fighting Ranald, pursues a depressing proposition Annual General for the ABC, her energy in being - What if our government signed an Meeting of the available to support meetings and international agreement which meant we Friends in NSW events throughout NSW and her could no longer have minimum levels of saw the end of considerable knowledge of Public Australian content in film and television, an era when Broadcasting (here and in other and no more preferential funding for Penelope Toltz, President for the countries). Australian film, art and culture? past six years, stepped down. At that meeting Penelope Toltz was The highlight of Penelope’s And what if such an agreement meant unanimously elected a Life Member Presidency must surely have been funds for a public broadcaster like the of FABC (NSW) Inc., an honour the highly successful Extraordinary ABC had to be shared with commercial which I know she will cherish. Shareholders’ Meeting at the pr oviders? Impossible? Unfortunately not. Sydney Opera House in April, 2001 When I joined the Committee in when 15,000 “Shareholders” of the The Australian government is taking 1999, the ‘Friends’ was Penelope ABC sent a very strong message to part in negotiations in the World Trade Toltz. She was the driving force in the Government and the ABC Board. Organisation (WTO) on a WTO General election campaigns. She was the Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) public face of the Friends in NSW, Always supporting Penelope has which could have these results. But the constantly being a flea in the ear of been her husband, Laurence, a negotiations take place over the next politicians and bureaucrats alike. passionate ‘Friend’ in his own right. two years…and there is still a chance Her energies also involved organis- to stop these proposals. ing events, such as the Christmas I take great comfort in knowing Party and other fund raising ven- that Penelope’s experience and So what is GATS? tures so important to the ‘Friends’. knowledge will not be lost to the The Australian government and other Friends and she will remain just as member governments of the WTO Th a n k f u l l y , in the past four years committed to the cause as she has signed the General Agreement on Trade we have, through forming Sub- been for the past seven years. in Services (GATS) in 1994. It potentially Committees, freed Penelope from Gary Cook applies to all services, from banking to time consuming tasks enabling her transport and telecommunications, to to do what she has done so effec- health, education and prisons. GATS tively – political lobbying. Inside: aims to promote international trade in President's Final Report...... 3 services, and to remove barriers to During her Presidency the num- ABC's Audience Surging...... 4 such trade. ber of Branches in NSW grew from Media Ownership Debate...... 7 4 to 14. Membership of the ‘Friends’ A Sentimental Journey...... 10 Although some GATS rules apply to has increased markedly, particularly What is GATS?...... 13 all services, many only apply to those during the Shier era when ABC Will Pay TV Tyrannise Free TV..14 services which each government agree s supporters became outraged at Identifying False Criticism...... 17 to list in the agreement. what was happening to their ABC. Dr Karl, Roy & HG...... 18 I have been in admiration of Continued on Page 12

Page 1 Every Three Years ‘Friends’ As the ABC prepares its triennial submission for Christmas funding, ABC MD describes it as an argument about Party “what we do, what it costs, and why it is necessary” Frid a y 6 Dec. Each plank of that ”Yet, the international public broad- 6 pm - 8 pm funding submission, Mr Balding says, caster you most often hear the ABC Dot Strong Terrace is an opportunity expressly linked to compared with is the BBC.” ABC Ultimo an outcome for audiences. ”While • BBC funding is 8 to 9 times ours, 700 Harris St economic arguments will dominate the but the UK population is just three $15 per person. debate, we will also support the case times ours. Bring a ‘Friend’ for our cultural objectives.” • Cutting back just one layer of BBC Please RSVP by 2 Dec. The submission evidence includes: bureaucracy, produced about $A800 Pay by Cheque, VISA, • Good governance, as indicated by million to put back into programming. MasterCard or Bankcard to the recent ANAO performance audit. Peter Burke • The BBC’s local radio network of 45 • Substantial efficiency and productiv- 2 Ayers Rd, stations would fit into Australia 32 ity gains over the past 5 to 6 years St Ives 2075 times. and current efficiency drawing on the current Output Pricing Review. • The BBC costs an equivalent of 87 cents a day whereas the ABC costs at • Comparative ABC funding levels, the moment 9.4 cents a day. drawing on a Macquarie Bank analysis of a number of international, national • The BBC was built, grew and Great Lakes FABC and historical benchmarks. secured its position as a monopoly; invites members to a the ABC was in a mixed economy ”We've been through a Business CHRISTMAS Services Review and an Output from the word go. Mr Balding said Pricing Review, the ANAO has that since 1996 the ABC had been Sunset scoured the organisation, we've reduced, reformed, refocused and Supper By The Sea restructured to the limit. Funding had reformed our complaints handling pro- Sunday 15th December, cesses, Corporate Governance prac- declined in real terms since the 80's, 6.00 – 9.00 pm tices, and various performance mea- “Years of doing more surements,” Balding said. with less have taken their Meet with ABC ”We now have numerous compara- toll; we are at the limit of Friends and enjoy the tive industry benchmarks as a result of our comprehensive- views over Forster’s our international public broadcaster ness.There are no more Main Beach benchmarking exercise. rabbits left in the hat,” Balding said. Guests to bring a plate, bottle, and/or A Lively Meeting – An Emotional Farewell. a donation. The Friends AGM at which review and to consider an appro- RSVP and further Penelope Toltz retired and Gary priate forum, with branches details from Cook was elected President also involved, to redraft the amend- Marty 6555 2442 saw Dev Webber pass the ments.There was a lively debate Audrey 6554 8507 Membership Secretary’s role on to but speakers stressed the Friends’ Carolyn Green who can be con- overriding consideration was to And when the party’s tacted on 02- 9144 1351 or 0417 protect and promote the ABC. over we can get down again 650 443 or to Great Lakes’ priorities - The meeting rose to a standing [email protected]. concentrating on increasing ovation to farewell Penelope and Secretary, Lilianne Leroy, was funding for the ABC and she in turn saluted her fellow- elected Vice President. lessening political influence friends as people of strong ideals and campaigning on other and commitment, as very special Although in favour of a pro- recommended issues, par- men and women whom she might posed restructure, members were ticularly the implications of not have met, except for their unable to agree on the constitu- GATS. common concerns about the ABC. tional changes involved and sent Audrey Semon them back to the committee to

Page 2 It's Not Good Bye...Simply Au Revoir This will be my final report for the mittee under the expert leadership of months and only to help with the Friends of the ABC (NSW) Inc Update Gary Cook which has co-ordinated campaign". Kate Smorty, my treasurer Magazine. In the last five and a half stalls and other events including the at the time, came with me to stalls, years I have had an absolute ball. Christmas Party for the last three years. which we often ran, alone, she I have gained so much from my time encouraged me when I got down and as president of this wonderful Since 1996 the Friends of the ABC even today, helps me get my filing organisation. I have met terrific people has grown and prospered and system into some sort of order. - people whose paths would never increased its membership by hun- have crossed mine in other circum- dreds of percent. Even now I am not Hugh Sykes was the secretary stances. I have answered thousands sure of the membership when I came when I joined. It was due to him that I of phone calls, hundreds of emails, on board. The computer became president. I had never done hundreds of faxes and many snail mail system was one that was anything like this before. Our letters. I have met super ABC Staff impenetrable to most peo- president had resigned and Hugh and presenters who have generously ple. In more recent times we asked me to stand. I didn't know what given their time to speak and appear have installed computer pro- presidents did, I told him. “Oh for at Friends' events of all types. grams which make keeping our heaven's sake he replied, you've records much easier and enable us to been doing it for months, just keep I have spoken to Rotary, University extract specific information quickly. doing what you are doing now.” And of the Third Age, and many other so I did. groups, including the Voice of the We had a banner made for the first Listener and Viewer in London and the stall at the Domain Rally and a very In the first couple of years we Australian Historical generous benefactor gave us 1000 struggled, but gradually more and Society. I have had the pleasure of tee shirts to sell. This took the Friends more people came on board. We got opening up new Friends of the ABC of the ABC into the black at the bank our first web master, Sherman Young, groups all over New South Wales and and began our fighting fund. Over the who designed our first web page. We have enjoyed meeting so many people last few years we have had designed had a design group revamp the maga- in our regional and rural areas. more complex and interesting tee zine, letterhead and “rebrand” us for shirts, including my personal favourite free for which I am eternally grateful. As I look back, I cannot believe the with a fish skeleton and caption "Don't number of activities in which the Gut the ABC" together with caps, and I still remember the ABC's anniver- Friends of the ABC (NSW) Inc have pens. This, apart from our subscrip- sary in 1997 when the Friends of the participated over the last five and a tions and raffles at our events, is our ABC held a sausage sizzle on the half years. Beginning with the first only source of revenue. footpath in Harris Street, serving rally in the Sydney Domain in 1996 breakfast and birthday cake to mem- where we held a very successful stall, I must mention two important peo- bers of staff under seige. I got emails to stalls at the ABC Open day at the ple who were on the first committee Continued on Page 19 Cricket Ground, stalls at Newtown when I came on board "just for a few Fair, and Gardening Australia, Live speeches at a conference at University ‘Thumbnail’ Sketch of FABC’s of Technology in 2000 to university New President: Gary Cook students, Toastmasters, Rotary and of course big rallies at the St Andrews' Gary Cook steps up to the President’s chair after Square in Sydney, and the huge first three years as Vice-President, FABC (NSW) Inc. He has Shareholders' meeting in April 2001 been on the committee since 1999, for all four years as Chair of the Recruitment and Events Sub-Committee, which organises fund raising ventures with stalls at large fairs in and around Sydney, development and sale of FABC merchandise, and Friends’ social events, such as the Christmas Party, Recently retired, Gary’s professional background includes the past four years as a property consultant for Woolworths. Prior to that he spent thirteen years with Carlton & United Breweries and, earlier, 26 years with its predeces- sor, Tooths Breweries. On the sporting front, Gary was a Rugby League Grand Final referee (1976 and 1977) and then a television and radio commentator for the ABC (1981-1987). He still regularly plays tennis and squash. at the Sydney Opera House where I He is passionate about the ABC and committed to working for a restora- was so delighted to see banners from tion of adequate funding plus sufficient funds for the resumption of quality in- our groups all over New South Wales. house production, non-political appointments to the ABC Board and renewed nurturing and development of staff. We now have an Events Sub-com-

Page 3 Needed More Than Ever: Everyone’s ABC ABC MD, Russell Balding, chose radio service Dig – and Radio 95% of those surveyed who had Melbourne to make his first address National introduced a suite of new viewed ABC 7pm Television News to the Australian media because, he programs including - Nightclub, All in believed it did a good job said, Melbourne was not only Richard the Mind, The Makers, Street Stories, of being “balanced and Alston’s city, but it also happened to and The Quiz. even-handed”. With audi- be that of the Treasurer. Here’s an ences of The 7.30 Report, AM/PM extract from what was a triumphant Funding a real challenge and The World Today 89%, 89% and me s s a g e . Delivering more Australian content 86% respectively believed these pro- for television is never easy. Sourcing grams did a good job of being “bal- On my appointment as Acting MD in the funds beyond the appropriations anced and even-handed”. November last year, I was intent initial- provided to the ABC by Parliament is “Only 2%” ly on rebuilding morale and focus a real challenge. within the ABC and rebuilding the rela- Of our audience contacts only 2% tionship with our audiences and th e But the ABC recently secured two were complaints about bias. Over half Co r p o r a t i o n ’ s other constituencies. significant funding arrangements, the were perceptions of bias against or for Western Australian Government one football team over another and In relation to our audiences: ABC agreeing to provide $3.2m for televi- perceived bias against men, against Television audiences are currently their sion dramas and documentaries to be women, against atheists and Christians. highest ever, with overall growth of made in WA, co-produced with Let's not forget that a perception of 7.5% this year compared to 2001. the ABC; and an ABC partner- bias is not a proof of bias.

ABC Radio's reach is also the highest ship with the Australian Film WESTERN AUSTRALIA ever. Commission that de d i c a t e s What else is planned? We are rein- $2.1m to broadband content. troducing weekend local news ser- Comparing the first six months of vices to the Northern Territory and the this year to the same period in 2001, This quiet period of refocusing of ACT. It is difficult for me to get up growth was significant in all areas. the ABC on the main game of pro- here today and argue that the ABC is grams and reclaiming some of our tra- truly a national broadcaster when the Television ditional turf has, I think, been essen- ACT and Northern Territory do not • Overall growth of 7.5% tial. If that means we are no longer have an ABC weekend television • In people aged 40 - 54, growth of conducting our daily business in the- news service. headlines, so be it. The correct role for 8.7%; People in the Territories, just like the ABC is not to be the news, but to • In the 55-64 age group growth of people in our States, want and need a report the news. 9.7%; and good local news service - seven days • The aged 65+ growth of 10%. a week. These new services will be A Community Appreciation Survey launched on the Australia Day week- was conducted by Newspoll last June ABC Local Radio end next year. • Overall growth of 5%. to measure perceptions about the • In people aged 25-39, growth of ABC's quality, balance, and fulfilment Issues for the future 8%; and of its Charter. • In people aged 40-54, growth of You will all appreciate that the 9%. In 2002, 9 out of 10 Australians broadcasting and media industries are (91%) believe the ABC provides “a continually confronted by either real ABC Online valuable service to the community” a change or the threat of change.You • Overall growth of 25% rise of 5% since 1999. only have to look at the number of • Accesses to The Backyard at policy and regulatory issues on the ABC Online have grown by 53%. Now what other media organisation, table at present. what other private company, what Change will not only come through On television we launched Business other public body enjoys that level of new technologies but through the vari- Breakfast five days a week starting on community support? ous Government policy initiatives cur- 3rd June. On 4th August we launched rently under review, like the Broad- Inside Business, Seven Days and Balanced, not biased casting Services Amendment Bill and Asia Pacific Focus and extended Newspoll also sought community proposed changes to media ow n e r - Insiders to deliver a two-hour block views on whether the ABC was bal- ship regulation…like the ACCC’s exam- on Sunday mornings of quality and anced and even-handed. ination of the Foxtel/Optus merger. distinctive programs on society, cul- ture, politics and money. We have previously outlined to I can assure you their view is not Government that the ABC believes all held by the wider Australian community. its channels and services should be On radio we extended NewsRadio The Newspoll survey found that 79% to the Gold Coast in February, to of Australians believe the ABC is “bal- Continued on Page 5 Gosford in July, launched our seventh anced and even-handed” in news and radio network - the new digital internet current affairs.

Page 4 Needed More than Ever: and platform to ensure that all The AFC and ABC Combine in Everyone's ABC metropolitan, regional and Groundbreaking Doco Productions Continued from Page 4 remote viewers can watch locally relevant free-to-air content and Program-making partners, ABC New Media and the Australian Film Commission, are carried on all pay platforms and pay TV services and can navigate launching another highly original online docu- any common free-to-air/payTV seamlessly between mentary - dealing with homelessness. platform so that they are acces- the two. (See Stewart Fist’s article on Page 14) sible to all Australians. Produced by Trevor Graham, Rose Hesp Media diversity and Rob Wellington, Homeless explores the This would be most effectively lives of six people in six cities with one thing in achieved through a ‘must carry’ Ho w e v e r , reg a r dless of the out- common - they are all homeless. The program provision for all ABC services in co m e of the proposed legisla- of fers a compassionate insight into their diffe re n t the Broadcasting Services Act. tion, I would like to stress the experiences. Professor Fels accepts the importance of media diversity advice we provided to the ACCC, and media independence in any We spend a cold night in Tokyo, beg in and is now speaking of the democratic society. Jakarta, drink on the streets of Sydney, experi- necessity of legislation, rather ence the extreme poverty of New Delhi, spend The ABC is already essential a night in a women's refuge in New York and than undertakings, to ensure for all those one newspaper carriage on the platform. suffer a sleepless night with a new towns across the country. During baby in London. Each person’s experi- the possible reformation ahead, ence of homelessness, what got them You can have all the retrans- it will be needed more than ever mission agreements in the world, there and the future they face, is - particularly for news and cur- unique and engaging. but they can quite easily be rent affairs which remains free undone further down the track. from co m m e r cial and political Homeless received additional financial sup- Legislation can only be undone in f l u e n c e . port from the Australian Centre for the Moving by Parliament. Image and the Uniting Church. Any definition of media diversity Common set top box which does not include the ABC Visit Homeless, and other ABC Online docu- is meaningless. mentaries, at http://abc.net.au/documentary- The ABC supprts a common online Homeless is one of four programs the free-to-air/pay TV set top box partnership has launched. Ramona Koval ABC’s Staff Elected Director The ABC’s Staff Elected Director, Her job was to convince her fellow directors they Ramona Koval, is one of Australia’s were not running Lucas Heights. eminent literary figures. She pre- sents and produces Australia's fore- “We are a broadcasting organisation, good at telling most literary radio program, Books people things,” Ms Koval said. “But as program makers and Writing, and occasionally co- it’s getting harder and harder. Budgets for RN programs presents Australia Talks Books, the biggest book club in have been cut and travel funds slashed.” the country, on ABC Radio National. “I was invited to the last Edinburgh Festival to con- Her programs are broadcast nationally on Radio duct literary interviews for the festival, and eventually for National, internationally through Radio Australia, and on Radio National, but I had to pay my own way and the the Internet. Ms Koval writes features and columns on Festival put me up. The ABC didn’t have the money.” issues of the day for The Age and The Weekend “A 30 per cent loss in core funding over 15 years Australian, among other newspapers, and makes docu- means fewer dramas, a lack of documentaries and an mentary features for radio. Ms Koval has been a guest accelerated risk of declining Australian content. The ABC interviewer at literary festivals in Edinburgh, Berlin and all can’t tighten any further. There’s no excess and no fat.” over Australia. Footnote: Ramona Koval can be contacted at Books and She is the author of a novel ‘Samovar’ (Minerva) and Writing ABC Radio National and at website th r ee books of non-fiction, including a Jewish Cook Book. http://www.abc.net.au/rn/arts/booksw.htm She has worked as an academic at RMIT University and the University of Melbourne and before that as a microbi- ologist and geneticist. In 2001 she held a Goethe Institute Fellowship in Berlin and was 'writer in residence' “Traces of Shierisms remain, but I note that Mr at The Australia Centre, Berlin. Balding has returned to the RAAF the $300,000 it paid for a documentary portrait of itself to be made. Ms Koval was guest speaker at the Friends AGM. As I hope he continues such reversals restating the the ABC’s Staff Elected Director - a unique role, she said: ABC’s proper role.” she wasn’t a manager, a lawyer or an accountant. She was the only broadcaster on the Board. ABC Staff-elected Director, Ramona Koval.

Page 5 Co m m e r cial Journalism Or Serious Journa l i s m - No Contest! The 2002 than to business. Well, this bloke demands and deserves their own Andrew Olle couldn't have been more wrong. quality media. Lecture was Our lack of loftiness is a point of delivered by the Elite defined distinction. We don't patronise our Chairman of You can see here that the readers and audiences. We believe News Limited, Australian media elite define their there's no “high culture” or “low cul- Lachlan Murdoch, under the head- club through standards designed ture”. ing “The Pulse of Humanity”. A lot only to exclude. Entry requires that of people were amazed at the you either rely on tax payers’ money No media is more worthy than choice of speaker. Perhaps even to draw your pay cheque, or that any other because of the age, in - more were taken aback at some of your newspaper folds twice over, come or status of its target audience. the sentiments he expressed. News and God forbid, don't ever even Limited’s Chair was particularly think about a profit. We, at News, find no harsh on what he called the ‘media disparity in publishing a elite’, by inference particularly the I noted a letter to The Australian Nobel Prize winning book, ABC. Here is an extract. this Thursday on this very issue. It as we did this year, at the quoted the Canadian writer, John same time making prof- I know that reality may be anath- Ralston Saul who said: “Highly itable movies such as “Titanic”, or ema to many of you here tonight. sophisticated elites are the easiest even, “Dude, Where’s My Car”. But I don't expect I should be here and least original thing a society can to tell you what you want to hear. produce.” Not to be open minded in pro- Good speeches are those that come viding a full range of quality media I agree. I happen to think that from the heart, that ring true. And would be a failure to serve the serious journalism is about tonight I want to challenge what I breadth and depth of the communi- informing the community, regard as the orthodoxy of the ties we live in. But in order to serve reflecting their interests and media elite. these diverse communities, we must championing their causes. be profitable. The industry is littered with self- The size of a newspaper is irrel e v a n t . styled purists who believe the busi- The profit motive is not only fun- The Times of London may be ness of media - the requirement to damental to our ability to reward one of our finest journalistic institu- make a profit - somehow corrupts shareholders and pay employees; tions; but in Australia so too is the the craft. The self-anointed media it’s fundamental to Herald Sun, a tabloid and a great elite among us believe, somewhat excellent journalism. commercial success. I am equally self-servingly, that not Far from corrupting the proud of The Australian, The Daily only the act, or process craft, profits enhance it. Telegraph, The Courier Mail and the of making a profit is Expansion drives diversity and diver- 'Tizer, and the way they each strive positively sinister, but sity protects and strengthens our to serve their readers. also that the very desire to do so is. craft. I believe narrow-mindedness - Two years ago this forum was disguised as high-mindedness - risks told that Australian journalists worked making its media irrelevant, instead in two distinct camps - “commercial of being as diverse and valuable to journalism or serious journalism”. In as many people as possible. that speech we were told, and I quote: It seems that those who criticise “The horse has bolted. The idea the larger media companies for their “A large corporation can that owners of media organisations reach and diversity are those who regard the practice of journalism as have time and again been unsuc- always find a way to bend a public service is as outdated as cessful in their efforts to mimic them. the rules and ignore the the idea that businesses operate in public good” Culture without highs and lows the interests of a better world.” The speaker went on to say that com- Their criticisms, ironically, identify Andrzej Lubowski mercial journalism encompassed the factors for our success and their Senior Vice President at “popular magazines, tabloid news- failure. Visa, USA in San Francisco papers and news and current affairs Winner of a John S. Knight on commercial TV and radio”, while I think a point of pride professional journalism fellow serious journalism was restricted to for companies like our own ship at Stanford University metropolitan broadsheets and the is our ability to cater (for) all World Press Review ABC because, absurdly, serious members of society; (for) all October 2002 journalism was more akin to charity demographics and everyone who

Page 6 The Media Ownership Debate and the ABC Guest speaker at the Friends separation only ever purports to ers and acquisitions and a market Regional Conference in Wollongong address direct editorial interference. perspective. ABC News, the 7.30 last August, Dr. Derek Wilding, It does nothing to address the prob- Report and Lateline, as well as a Director, Communications Law lem of a commercially-sensitive news host of RN programs and local ABC Centre, UNSW, assessed media culture and a pattern of stations offer a perspective that we ownership implications for the self censorship on com- simply don't find anywhere else in ABC...and the public. mercial matters affecting the broadcast media. This is the the organisation. public interest per- While much of the current debate spective, in contrast on media ownership has been heard The Flint view to that of the busi- before, it's worth re-stating one of ness analyst or politician. the fundamental principles for why Third, the test is to be adminis- the media is socially significant and tered by the Australian Broadcasting But does this mean that a well- why we regulate. This attempt to Authority. On media ownership, the funded national broadcaster would explain the role of the media was ABA head David Flint has made what serve as an adequate alternative for made at a CLC conference in 1997: we consider to be inappropriate the independent commercial media comments, given the proposed role sources that would be swallowed up 'The media is a crucial watchdog; of the ABA in independently and in a consolidated market? it is a fundamental pillar of democra- objectively applying the conditions cy. It strongly influences how we as for exemption certificates. The Flint The ABC’s dilemma Australians understand and interpret view is that companies such as the world around us, how we define News Ltd and PBL are operating The dilemma for the ABC is that ourselves. It shapes opinions, builds 'with their hands tied behind their all political parties applaud the ABC a unifying sense of culture and influ- backs' and should be allowed to and SBS for being widely accessible ences financial climates. It is the expand. In this view of the world the and promoting diversity, but it's still barometer of the national psyche.' public interest is located well and very difficult to gain the kind of sup- truly behind commercial interests. port that will extend News Radio The surprising point about this beyond its current markets or allow quote is that it was made by Senator Fourth, the Bill has received regulatory scope and sufficient funds Alston, the architect of the new bill widespread condemnation from to build a news channel as part of a that dismantles our media ownership industry as well as public interest multi-channel television environment. scheme. I don't suppose this audi- advocates. Many commentators, ence would be surprised at the including the Australian Press The temptation to secure additional ap p a r ent contradiction in the Govern- Council, say that it is too complex, it funding in exchange for whole-heart- ment's thinking, given its 'solemn adds a further layer of regulation, edly adopting the idea of the ABC as promise' in 1996 not to cut funding to and it invites the broadcasting regu- the alternative broadcaster must be the ABC. lator to intrude into matters of edito- great. rial policy in the print media. The new angle - What concerns me is that the national broadcasters might assist in editorial separation Implications for the ABC the call for abolition of the cros s - m e d i a This year's Media Ownership Bill Aside from the infamous case of rules in return for short-term gains. proposes that the foreign ownership Kerry Packer personally cancelling The repeal of the cross-media rules rules would be repealed outright and Doug Mulray's Australia's Naughtiest will be no blessing for the ABC. that the cross-media rules would Home Videos in 1992, there aren't Specific projects might be approved, effectively be repealed by providing many instances of direct editorial but the funding short-fall is unlikely to for an exemption system. The major interference on the part of propri- be fixed for the long-term. And let's condition attached to this system is etors. It's more about the culture in remember that the ABC's competi- a mechanism to ensure there would which news is produced. It's tors in a consolidated market could be ‘editorial independence’ between a big ask for a commercial be broadcasters with cross-media these co-owned media or g a n i s a t i o n s . news organisation to report holdings in TV, radio, newspapers, This grand statement, however, has openly and uncritically on pay TV, magazines, film exhibition and some serious flaws. matters which directly affect its own distribution companies, online ven- commercial interests. And in some tures, casinos, and of course, tele- First, the Bill itself expressly states ways, this doesn't matter. We're not communications companies.The that 'sharing of resources or other going to rely solely on 2UE to report competing broadcaster may well be forms of co-operation' are acceptable. on Cash for Comments. Instead, we a very slick operator with the addi- The Explanatory Memorandum states rely on there being alternatives. tional market power of the Murdoch that 'co-operation should be encour- or Fairfax press. aged as owners seek to realise the The obvious alternative is the ABC. ef ficiencies from co-owned organisa- Importantly, it is only the ABC where This is not a good result for the tions'. the interest in media ownership ABC and it's not a good result for extends to anything other than merg- media diversity in Australia. Second, this attention to editorial

Page 7 Northern Rivers Branch Illawarra Friends Celebrate 70th Pinpointing the Issues At its last meeting, members of the branch identified the following issues as ones of high priority: • Opposition to Senator Alston’s suggestion that an external body be appointed to investigate claims of political bias in ABC programs. • Action to guard against the perceived “dumbing down” of ABC programs in the face of political intimidation. • Support for the provisions of adequate funding of the ABC in the next triennium. • Renewed pressure to ensure bipartisan appointments to the ABC board. • Concerns about the implications of GATS for the ABC. Illawarra Friends of the ABC presented a cake to local ABC • Calls for NSW Friends Inc to organize an event to high staff to celebrate Auntie’s Birthday: Front: Mary Wharton, light the significance of the ABC, to be supported on Peter Riley (ABC Illawarra Manager), Lily (Mary’ s graddaughter. the same day by branch action across the state. Back: Jan Kent, Nick McLaren (ABC Reporter), Chris. Cartledge, Tony Arthur (ABC Presenter), Noel Manuel and Northern Rivers Members were holding their final Jean Clarke. meeting for the year at the Lismore Workers’ Club (7.30 pm) on Wednesday 4 December, to plan a series of The Illawarra Friends celebrated the 70th year of events for 2003. the ABC with a well attended dinner in Kiama. With Richard Morecroft as guest speaker there was never The results of the Northern Rivers Branch’s recent any doubt the evening would be a sell-out. Around Poetry Competition can be found on the branch web site ninety people filled the Harbourside Restaurant at at: Kiama lin late September. http://www.users.bigpond.com/webformation/friendsabc nr The celebrations commenced with all present singing the song written by ABC’s Humour Australia for There is also a link on that site to David Hallett's 70th Radio 702’s celebrations held in Ultimo earlier this Anniversary poem. year. Sung to Advance Australia Fair, it starts with Neville Jennings “Australians all let us rejoice for we’ve an ABC...”. It was a great mood setter for the evening. Richard spoke about his fond memories of the three Bathurst ‘Friends’ Celebrate decades he spent as ABC TV newsreader, relating many humourous incidnets during that period. He also spoke about current and future projects he is under- taking. It was an entertaining and informative talk. Richard donated three of his books as raffle prizes and signed copies of his books that fans had brought along. All in all it was a great way to celebrate 70 years of first class public broadcasting. Chris Cartledge

of rolling the temporary extra funding of ABC Regional Radio into the ABC’s core funding. Penelope Toltz with Guest Speaker, Stephen Crittenden of Radio National’s Religion Report, and many Bathurst Friends “The fifty-five people employed under the celebrating Aunty’s 70th birthday in the city’s Regional Art Government’s 2001 tied funding grant will lose their jobs Gallery – surrounded by the splendours of the current exhibi- when funding runs out in 2004,” Ms Toltz said, express- tion, the work of potter Greg Daly ing the essence of regional listener concerns. Core Funding a Priority Issue The meeting elected a new committee with Warwick A 70-strong annual general meeting of Bathurst Franks as the new Bathurst Friends President, Jim Friends of the ABC also cut a celebratory cake for the Blackwood Vice-President and Tracey Carpenter, birthday; but, down to business, both Stephen Secretary and Julie Priddle, Treasurer. Crittenden and Penelope Toltz stressed the importance Norah Taylor

Page 8 Blue Mountains Branch AGM On Saturday October19th, despite bush- fires burning 5 kilometres north of the Woodford Academy, members of the Blue Mountains Branch of ‘Friends’ met there for their AGM, surrounded by beautiful arrange- ments of Australian wildflowers - the historic academy was also staging an open day.

After the formal meeting, which saw John Derum re-elected unopposed as President, friends and guests were entertained by two local Celtic harpists, Jan Couchman and Annette Benson over afternoon tea. The res- ident Academy ghost must have felt right at home. Guest of Honour, ABC Television News Chief of Staff, Ron Fuller, then thanked the ‘Friends’ for their support and mentioned how much it was appreciated by ABC staff. He countered criticism that the ABC had low ratings, pointing out that with the new method of gathering information, ABC News ‘Friends’ stall at the Granny Smith Festival, Eastwood, came in second after Channel 9, and always held on 19 October. T-Shirts were a very popular item wins the 7 pm time slot. and helped in raising funds. Visit to WDR - Germany’s publicly funded brodcaster Ron was recently in Germany to observe the federal elections and visit WDR, the pub- Why is the ABC Needed Now? licly-funded broadcaster. Like the BBC, it is funded by licence fees and cannot be “Needed Now…Needed Tomorrow,” so Russell Balding touched by the Government, something we concluded his Melbourne address. in Australia envy greatly. • Each week more than 12 million Australians watch ABC He was very impressed with the amount Television, more than 6 million listen to ABC Radio. of radio drama WDR produced - fifty-four • There are more than 950,000 unique visitors to ABC Online hours a week. He said school children hur- each month. ried home to be in time for their favourite radio serial, another issue for envy! He said • Clearly, despite the diversity of competition, Australians the ABC archivists would weep at the num- continue to come to the ABC. ber of researchers involved in checking facts • People have differing expectations of the ABC to those they in WDR’s library. have of the commercial sector. It is up to the ABC to meet Listing problems facing Australian news those distinctive expectations. As a broadcaster the ABC team including Single Person Crews, Ron does not and cannot function in isolation. gave as a graphic example: a reporter, one • The ABC is enjoying high public reg a r d with growing audences. eye to the camera lens, the other shut to help with focussing, walking backwards • The ABC is a key component of media diversity in Australia. down a flight of steps while attempting to • The ABC is balanced and even-handed in its reporting, as mea- keep the subject in the picture. This issue is su re d by the Australian National Audit Office and Newspoll. subject to industrial action at the moment, though the Current Affairs team are not tak- • The ABC is constantly creating new, authentic Australian content. ing part. Is this something that the ‘Friends’ can delve into further? And, finally, because of the critical role the national broadcaster will have to play in the changing media environment in the future, A short question time ended an engaging the ABC is truly needed more than ever. afternoon.

Carole Goodwin

Page 9 Through 70 years with the ABC... More

Seven Little Australians, TV drama 1973.Capt Woolcot (Leonard Teale); Judy Pictures (Jennifer Cluff); Esther (Elizabeth Alexander); the General (Christian Robinson); Meg (Barbara Llewellyn);Pip (Mark Clark); Nell (Anne Hruby); Baby (Tania Falla); Bunty (Mark Shields-Brown). from the archives.

The Inventors: Final. Panelists Vic Nicholson, Diana Fisher and Leo Port, select the Inventor of the Year. 1977.

Countdown: Studio production shot, ‘Hoodoo Gurus’. Sun 8 Sept 1985.

Page 10 On Ash Wednesday, 16 February 1983, ABC News reporter Allan Russell keeps broadcasting as the bushfire rages round him at Airey's Inlet, Vic. From 16mm film shot by cameraman China: Paul Raffaele in Tien An Men Square, Beijing, 1974 Steve Levitt.

Over There: ABC TV World War II drama: ABC crew filming beach sequences with John Meillon and Jack Thompson (1972 or 1973)

Page 11 World Trade Negotiations: Trading Away Our Culture AFTINET urges people to cam- Continued from Page 1 to these funds through compulsory paign and demand the following: So far, most governments have competitive tendering, leading to pri- 1. the government should make all not included either private cultural vatisation. GATS negotiating requests and and audio visual services, or public responses public and ensure that services like health, education, The Australian they are publicly debated before it water and public broadcasting. government’s position makes commitments However, GATS commits govern- The Australian government has said that it has no intention to include 2. no reductions in the ability of ments to increase over time the range governments to regulate services, or audio-visual services in the GATS. of services included in the agreement, to provide and fund public services without any review of its impacts. However, it concedes that the issue of defining public funding as subsi- 3. clear exclusion of public ser- Like other WTO Agreements, GATS dies could be on the agenda, but vices, cultural services and water rules are legally binding on govern- claims there has been little discussion services from the GATS agreement ments, and can be enforced through of it so far. the WTO dispute system. 4. GATS and other trade agree- The GATS negotiations are taking ments to be debated and ratified by Governments can complain about place behind closed doors at parliament, not by Cabinet the laws of other governments to a panel of trade law experts which the same time as negotiations Dr Patricia Ranald is Principal meets behind closed doors and the on agriculture, goods and Policy Officer, Public Interest winner can ban or tax the exports of other areas. The danger is that Advocacy Centre and Convenor, the loser. governments could trade off Australian Fair Trade and areas like audio visual services or Investment Network What changes are public services for concessions in proposed to GATS? other areas like agriculture. GATS does have some rules which In the next stage of negotiations, Canada Commits to recognise the right of government to go v e r nments will respond to detailed regulate services and to provide and requests from other governments by GA TS Tra n s p a r ency Policy fund public services. The rules are March 30, 2003. Canada has been a leader in there because governments recognise ensuring more openness and trans- that many services need to be regu- What can we do about it? parency in trade negotiations. lated or provided by government to We need to maximise pressure on ensure equitable access to them, or Specifically, Canada will make pub- to support national culture. our government before March 30 lic the conditional offers it will be next year when responses are due putting on the table during the GATS On the other hand, governments are to other governments requests. How? negotiations. These offers are essen- being asked to agree to increase the tially the proposed guarantees of mar- AFTINET- the Australian Fair Trade range of services to be covered in the ket access that we are ready to offer Agreement and to make changes to and Investment Network, a national to other countries in exchange for the rules of GATS which could red u c e network of over 50 community greater access to their markets. their right to regulate services, and to organisations and many individuals - pr ovide and fund public services. supports fair regulation of trade con- While the details of Canada's initial sistent with human rights, labour offer will be worked out in the coming The US government has asked rights and protecting the environ m e n t . months, we can be clear on one point Australia and other countries to right away: Canada's include audio-visual services in the I urge people to respond by join- health, public ed u c a t i o n GATS. This would mean that US and ing AFTINET to help with the cam- and social services sys- other transnational audio-visual service paign and to get regular bulletins te m s , and culture will not providers would have to be treated as which monitor the issues. be on the table. if they were Australian providers, and we could no longer have minimum See www.aftinet.org for subscrip- Canadian Minister for Australian content rules or preferential tion forms and sample letters to International Trade, funding for Australian cultural services. national, state and local government Pierre Pettigrew, June 11, 2002 and more detailed information about There is also a proposal to apply the effects of GATS in specific areas. “national treatment” and “equal access” rules to all government funding of There is also a useful ABC Radio services. This would define the fund- National Background Briefing ing of public services like the ABC Transcript on GATS (June 23, 2002) Special Discount for ‘Friends’ as unfair “subsidies” to public ser- at Friends of the ABC get a 10% vices. Transnational corporations www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/bbing/ discount at ABC shops when they could then argue for equal access stories/s586637.htm show their membership card.

Page 12 The WTO, the UK and review of its impacts. What is GATS ? The GATS Agreement was the BBC The Australian Government and signed with little public debate in Australia. Signing of trade agree- Regarding the UK's negotiations with the other member governments of the ments is a Cabinet decision. WTO World Trade Organisation, “Other WTO WTO signed the General agreements are briefly tabled in demands include the removal of distinctions Agreement on Trade in Services parliament and examined by a between postal and courier services and (GATS) in 1994. It potentially parliamentary committee, which calls for Britain to end subsidies to broad- applies to all services, from bank- can only make recommendations casting organisations. This could have mas- ing to transport and telecommuni- to Cabinet. sive implications for the BBC” - according to cations, to health, education and a document from the UK government prisons. GATS aims to promote This is in contrast to UN agree- itself...”under GATS, commitments are irrevo- international trade in services, and ments on human rights and the cable. Countries will be locked in, which is to remove barriers to such trade. en v i ro n m e n t , most of which incompatible with democracy." require domestic legislation for Although some GATS rules their implementation. Nick Mathiason apply to all services, many only The Observer 13 Oct 2002 apply to those services which Like other WTO Agreements, Contributed by Tony Troughton-Smith of each government lists in the GATS rules are legally binding on Glen Forrest, WA who says not only public agreement. However, GATS com- governments enforced through broadcasting but also public health, state mits governments to increase over the WTO dispute system. education, Australia Post, libraries - the very time the range of services includ- idea of "Public" anything - are at real risk. ed in the agreement, without any WTO and its rules of trade Established in 1995, the WTO is the most potent international organisation setting global rules of trade. The agreements contain three basic principles. First, members are not allowed to discriminate between trading partners who are also members of the WTO. Second, mem- bers must treat foreign firms in an identical way to firms in their own country. Third, members are bound to eradicate uncompetitive practices such as export subsidie, that give countries a advantage not due to the efficiency of their industry. In October, 2000, Andrew Stoler-- d i r ector of the WTO's Tra d e - I n - S e r v i c e s Division--described as “false or mistaken” claims that services sup- plied by governments were under threat by the WTO, and the European Community’s trade commissioner, Pascal Lamy, has complained that he was tired of rebutting the charge. But behind the scenes, the WTO continues to develop an agenda aimed at opening all public services to trade and foreign investment.

The WTO intends (to) make it more difficult for member states to keep rules that protect public services from foreign investors and mar- GATS kets. The ultimate aim is to increase pressure on member states to open their public-sector services to foreign investment through privatisa- Cartoon courtesy of Phil Somerville tion and deregulation.

Prof Allyson M Pollock, Health Policy and Health Services Research Unit, School of Public Policy, University College London

Page 13 At the Crossroads…Will Pay TV Tyrannise Free TV? should lie in transmitting the maximum possible number of Stewart Fist looks at the Pay TV television channels for their customers' benefit, not in mish-mash – a conflict of competing restricting them to those jointly owned as a provider ambitions... a loss-making mess. Do through Foxtel. the players want the government to bail them out? Since governments have conspicuously failed to enshrine these essential free-market structural elements in The term “common-carrier” was borrowed by IT from legislation, it's been left to the ACCC to try and accom- road transport. It applied to trucking companies which plish a similar regulatory separation using the Trade offered their services for hire, equally to everyone. Practices Act in the Optus/Foxtel content-sharing and cable digitisation negotiations. Early US phone companies had begun doing special deals giving favoured local merchants phone connections, Enter Professor Fels denying service to competitors. In the interests of open and fair competition, the US Congress regulated to ensure This is why the free-to-air broadcasters and the pay-TV provision of services on an equal-for-all basis. companies have been locked in negotiations with the ACCC for most of this year over the possible merger. When cable television was developing, the first “com- munity antenna” systems were also common-carriers; they Now, for the first time, we are seeing negotiated out- distributed all available channels equally. But later, they comes which could lead to Telstra playing a strictly com- added their own local advertising channels with syndicated mon-carrier role once again (many years hence), because programming, and common-carrier status, again, had to this is the only sustainable model that works without con- be enforced by regulation. stant and draconian regulatory action.

Subscription pay-TV was eventually added by scram- As part of these negotiations, the FTA broadcasters bling the signal and supplying decoding set-top boxes, but and the ABC also want the ACCC to impose a must-carry these were not in the common-carrier tradition, so the US rule so that their channels can be decoded by the same regulators devised a “must-carry” rule to ensure that free- digital set-top box. Those who hope to enter the pay busi- to-air (FTA) broadcasters had equal access to cable cus- ness, also want access to a back-chan- tomers. nel and to the subscriber management service -- or a standardised set-top box Then when American telephone companies tried to get not controlled by Foxtel. into the pay-TV business in the 1990s using switched feeds of a single channel (ADSL), they wanted to profit The ACCC is insisting that Telstra provide digital chan- from both the programming and the connection. However, nels to anyone with saleable programming content. And, they were regulated as common-carriers. since the politicians won't legislate to restore common- carrier sanity, the ACCC has shown it will use its existing So the 1995 Telecommunications Act tried to solve competition powers to create an open market: Foxtel and these problems by allowing them to enter the pay busi- Telstra have countered by threatening not to digitise the ness only after they open their monopoly phone operations cable. But they now seem close to agreement. to competition. Simultaneously, the cable companies were forced to open their pay-TV markets. Loss making This fiasco began with the satellite-delivered pay-TV World’s Best Practice – a ‘disaster’ license bidding war in 1993 when Telstra joined forces with News Corp and the Packer group to form the PMT con- In the wash-up, cable channel numbers doubled and sortium. PMT lost the bid, but in the process Telstra profitability crashed, and the phone companies decided jumped from being a common-carrier to part-owner of a that they’d rather keep the profitable telephone monopo- program provider. lies than compete in pay-TV. So despite all the hoop-la about establishing a free-market, the Then, when Optus and Telstra both rolled out parallel Act achieved nothing, and is universally seen HFC cable networks in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, now as a disaster. it wasn't felt necessary to enforce the common-carrier rules on Telstra at all. Foxtel (PMT in disguise) was given Yet this is the model successive Australian0. govern- exclusive rights to the public-funded cable as compensa- ments have held up as world's best practice in telecom- tion for taking a risk on pay-TV. munications deregulation and cable television introduction. Clearly, the politicians who oversee these services don't Since then, pay-TV in Australia has been a loss-making comprehend (or ignore) the importance of the separation mess. Austar, which inherited the satellite delivery services, of carriage and content. has dumped quite a few hundred million dollars in a few years. Telstra's vertical integration is the exact opposite of Continued on Page 15 free-market requirements. Telstra’s financial interests

Page 14 At the Crossroads…Will Pay TV overwhelm Free TV? Senator Alston's Continued from Page 10 Rush of Blood to the Head Optus has lost even more cash Enjoying the heady are independent of the ABC. People through its cable, and is threatening delights of London not happy with responses to com- to dump its service entirely. And and British broadcast- plaints to the ABC, or the Indepen- Foxtel, which theoretically emerged ing, Senator Richard dent Complaints Review Panel, may as the winner, is still bleeding heavily. Alston fell victim to complain to the Australian Broad- that strange syndrome casting Authority.” The ABA can also Now the government wants these that often afflicts investigate on its own initiative. pay-TV companies to spend a few Australian politicians hundred million more converting their overseas, loss of memory and What on earth was Senator Alston system to digital. You can understand speaking in tongues. It must be on about? His further gem was to their reluctance without a complete something in the air. foreshadow the ABC’s most prolific restructure of the industry and some and ‘obsessive’ complainer, Lynton changes to the rules. After all, these By gosh, he thundered to the Cro s b y , as Michael Kroger's successor problems arose from politicians tr y i n g British media, what the ABC needed on the board. to juggle political-media interests, was a new and effective system of rather than serving the public good. dealing with viewer/listener com- Commenting, Shadow media Conflict and plaints, like the BBC's - entirely for- spokesperson, Lindsay Tanner, said competing ambitions getting that back home only a month “In an outrage that should chill the or so before he'd applauded the ABC spines of all ABC supporters, Senator Telstra is gradually being pressured for its new system of dealing with Alston has failed to rule out appointing by the ACCC to revert to common- complaints. the Liberal Party director and obses- carrier status, but it still has govern- sive ABC critic, Lynton Crosby, to the ment-supported ambitions to be a As ABC MD, Russell Balding, ABC Board. If Senator Alston goes media giant. The executives want full said in his Melbourne media address ahead and appoints another political privatisation and ownership of both of September 18 “You may have read stooge like Lynton Crosby to ne w s p a p e r s and FreeToAir/Pay-TV -- recently of the ways in which we have the ABC Board this will be a ABC controlling both the content and the reformed and improved complaints disaster for the ABC. It would conduit. handling within the ABC. We are con- be an emphatic confirmation fident about these reforms. They are of the Howard Government's News Corp, which dom- good policy...so that we are not only aim of crippling the ABC.” inates the global pay-TV fair, but can be seen to be fair”- the business, also owns news- very arrangements at which Senator He made a further point. “If Senator papers but doesn’t have Alston had nodded approval. Alston thinks the BBC’s independent strong links with Australian procedures are so good then maybe television. But it’s a supplier of premi- Darce Cassidy wrote to The Age he could also follow their board um content from its US networks and The Australian: “The ABC has an appointment processes.” The BBC and production houses, and so holds in t e r nal complaints proc e d u r e, headed follows the ‘Nolan Rule’ whereby BBC a strong position in whatever struc- by respected ABC executive Murray Board positions are fully advertised ture finally emerges. Green. There is an Independent and candidates are scrutinised and Complaints Review Panel, appointed then short listed through an indepen- Packer’s PBL, of course, owns the by the ABC Board, in turn appointed dent process. Nine Network, and so has a foot on by Senator Alston and his cabinet col- both sides of the FTA/pay fence. leagues." The members of this Panel Unfortunately for PBL, any increase in channel availability through cable or broadcast digitisation will certainly dilute its profitability, which is why the company is currently focussing on sports and casinos. “The world economy and terrorism spell belt-tight- So the long-term interests of the three PMT partners in Foxtel are very ening, but the ABC can’t be tightened any further. different and often conflicting. It is difficult to see how such a consor- It’s not the time to put the ABC under pressure; tium can survive in the long-run. it’s time for the national broadcaster to expand its Which proposal repre- coverages, not reduce them.” sents the fundamental interests of the greatest ABC Staff-elected Director, Ramona Koval. numbers of Australians?

Page 15 Your All-Purpose Guide To Identifying Unreasonable And Unsubstantiated Criticism Of The ABC Part Two Have you ever read an article in pared with like expenditure. The ABC graduates’ and members of the ‘age a daily newspaper lambasting the cost the taxpayer under ten cents per of Aquarius' to describe ABC ABC but leaving you with a vague capita a day. CBC (Canada) cost employees. All competent feeling that the writer’s approach 14.4¢ per day and the BBC 33.4¢ researchers know that disciplined was not grounded in fact or reason? per day. Certainly, nearly everyone analysis loses credibility when per- Update continues its guide to the helps fund the ABC, but nearly every- sonal opinion is combined with hard dishonest tricks and dodgy argu- one purchases advertised goods and factual data... The IPA should ments employed by the likes of services, and thus pays for the adver- declare the financial interests of its Piers Akerman and the rest of the tisements on radio and television as donors and keep its research factu- anti-ABC stable, their tactics commercial broadcasters main source ally based.’ exposed by Margaret O'Connor. of funding. Writers or organisations such as The ‘tricks of the trade’ dealt with 2. FACTUAL INACCURACY the IPA should openly declare their last issue covered propagandist ‘per- own affiliations, ideology and sources When we see an article in a news- of funding. Then let the reader make suader words’, emotive language, Ad paper presenting certain arguments a judgement about their objectivity. Hominem or attacks on the person, to prove a proposition the space Ad Populum, an appeal to the mass- es exploiting the assumption that if accorded to an article does not nec- 4. REDUCING EVERY VIEWPOINT enough people seem to hold a point essarily mean it is accurate. TO AN IDEOLOGICAL PERSPEC- TIVE of view then it must be right; and Ad 3. STATISTICS AND STUDIES Verecundiam, Appeal to Authority – Some writers try to reduce every it sounds good: like, “influential peo- It is very important to look at their argument into an ideological pigeon- ple in Europe and the US say so” but source and the way they are being hole, either ‘right’ or ‘left’. This is actually who are they and why hasn’t used. inappropriate for any serious analysis the writer identified or quoted them? of an issue. As Scott Burchill, wrote After the waterfront dispute in in The Australian, last January, ‘The 1. APPEAL TO COST 1998, the ABC commissioned persistent use of terms such as Left Professor Philip Bell of the University and Right to characterise media The cost of something is often of New South Wales to conduct a opinion in Australia grossly exagger- given as a reason for not doing it. It is study into whether the ABC had ates the diversity of views on offer ... one thing to cost something objec- showed bias in its coverage of this Ideas and arguments that do not fall tively and then decide it’s too expen- issue. The result was negative. neatly within the Labour-Liberal poli- sive. It is quite another to use the cy parameters are almost by defini- question of cost as a way of avoiding However, one of the ABC’s tion beyond the bounds of express- all analysis or argument. biggest critics - the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) - disagreed and decided ible opinion.’ ‘Shier is our last hope this to conduct its own study into ABC CONCLUSION decade of reclaiming the ABC. If he bias towards the waterfront dispute. goes, the collective stays and will Not surprisingly, it found in the affir- The wider community has the continue to use $700 million of tax- mative. Tim Malseed had this to say right to expect quality analysis of payers’ funds to crowd out the about the IPA’s findings in The Age, issues in daily newspa- views and concerns of many 13 October 1999. pers, with well-argued views, to assist us in Australians’ (Mike Nahan, “....in my opinion the IPA will not The Australian, 19 October 2001) making informed choic- win this debate for two reasons. es about what we First, it should have declared that it Taxpayers in 2000-2001 did not believe and how we is an interested party. The IPA is vote. pay $700 million for the ABC in the partly financed by the ABC’s main 2000-2001 financial year. Total ABC Australian rival, Rupert Murdoch. Writers and columnists in daily income for the year was $812,102,000 The IPA should have declared that newspapers, who present themselves of which $143 million came from fact, because of the public percep- as serious thinkers who add meaning- independent sources such as the sale tion that ‘he who pays the piper calls ful contributions to debates on current of programs, ABC books, videos and the tune”. issues, are in most cases paid for other merchandise with government their offerings. They can wield a sub- funding at $668 million, less than half Second, the institute got person- stantial effect on public opinion. of 1% of federal government bud- al. Although its ABC analysis was getary outlays. But the figure includes arguably as good as the Bell Report, The same writers and columnists, $180 million spent on transmitters the IPA’s conclusions were clouded however, need to be challenged by and in loans and special grants. The by unsubstantiated attacks on the the wider community if they present correct figure is $584 million. This fig- ABC. The institute used language pieces filled with fallacious arguments. ure only has real meaning when com- such as ‘post-1960s humanities Continued on Page 17

Page 16 Your All-Purpose Guide To Identifying Unreasonable And How To Respond To Inaccurate Unsubstantiated Criticism Of Media Stories The ABC Part Two Continued from Page 16 If you want to respond to any media which you feel is not reporting a story accurately or with bias be sure to Write to the Editors when you follow the Cardinal Rules of Media Activism: spot a ‘dodgy argument’ in relation to the ABC (or other issues). Let them 1) Be Concise. Keep the complaint brief and to the know your opinion of their writers, of point, and focused on one specific and quantifiable error, sometimes undisclosed affiliations, rather than vague generalities that are easily dismissible. who do not prove their assertions and use personal attacks, generalisations, 2) Be Factual. Be sure your complaint is backed up by and inherent bias to make their point. facts. Be sure to cite the source for your information. 3)) Be Polite. State your complaint respectfully, without Rank and file members of Friends of the ABC should be active in criti- name-calling or accusations. cally examining, analysing and, where 4) Be Diligent. If you don't get satisfaction the first time, appropriate, challenging attacks on write to complain again, restating your complaint and the ABC and any unsubstantiated criticisms of our national broadcaster. again requesting a reply.

Margaret O’Connor This is the way to get the best results when monitoring (Howard Silcock, Monica Pflaum, local media. Joan Laing and Darce Cassidy assist- (Adapted from HonestReporting media monitoring service) ed in preparing the document). The Rewards of Celebrity Radio Australian radio’s two giant’ ‘shock-jocks’ Alan Jones and John Laws are back in front of the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal, prodded on their way by the ABC’s Media Watch and the UNSW’s Communications Law Centre, the duo that got the cash–for-comment enquiry going in 1999. At issue this time, Jones and the Broadcasting Services Act and Lawsie and a sponsorship deal with NRMA (but which one).

David Marr raised both episodes on Media Cartoon courtesy of Phil Somerville Watch and the Communications Law Centre Director, Dr. Derek Wilding, in a detailed letter of complaint, dropped this statement off to the ABA: FABC (NSW) Inc. Executive Committee "It is the Centre’s view that the statements of President - Gary Cook Phone: 9960 5542 Fax 9960 5767 both Alan Jones and John Laws demonstrate a VP & Secretary- Lilliane Leroy continuing problem within the commercial radio Phone 9969 5159 industry in relation to providing fair comment on Treasurer - Peter Burke public issues." Phone 9144 2668 email [email protected] ABA Chair, David Flint, unaware that anything could have been amiss, bustled into action. Membership Secretary - Carolyn Green A probe was a matter of priority, he said. (Gosh!) Phone 9144 1351 or 0417 650 443 [email protected].

ATTENTION: New Members It is important that you tick the box in the Membership Form which says: ”Give my details to my local FABC”. This is so that we can have your closest Friends’ Branch contact you. This is necessary due to privacy regulations.

Page 17 Dr Karl The Many Roles of the ABC … Wins an as Diverse as its ‘Clients’ Ig Nobel The third World Congress of reports from Madrid to Radio Rural Women took place in Madrid, National programs and ABC Local Prize Spain, over three days in early radio. Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, the ABC's October, with 1500 women from five popular science communicator, has continents taking part, including 150 The online site also featured sto- been awarded a prestigious 2002 Ig Australian women. ries on Australian rural women, a Nobel Prize, accepting the award at a guest book for audience comments, gala ceremony at Harvard University ABC Rural Online ensured that conference papers from delegates the Australian presence was consid- and background information on the The Ig Nobel Prizes are presented erably greater, setting up a live forum conference, including a history and annually by the Harvard-based sci- to raise and debate issues or watch objectives the speakers on video streaming. ence-humour magazine "The Annals The Congress dealt with many of Improbable Research" (AIR) to hon- The Rural Online site was a com- subjects including sustainable devel- our people whose scientific research prehensive, multimedia experience opment, food safety, social and eco- "cannot or should not be repro- enabling people from around nomic issues for rural women, and duced". They are intended to "cele- Australia to be virtual participants in their access to technological innova- brate the unusual, honour the imagi- the event, while Paula Doran and tion, public policy and more. native and spur people's interest in Rosemary Grant fed first hand science, medicine and technology". Dr Karl, scientist, radio personality, Roy tive games and contests for sports newspaper columnist and author of lovers, the trivia conscious and the 22 popular science books, received and artistically talented (challenged?) alike. his award before a crowd of 1200 people, including three Nobel H.G The ABC’s media release put it this Laureates and a 2001 winner, Peter Online way: "If art is more your style, the Barss of McGill University, who sub- 'Funnel Web 2002 Life Art Challenge' mitted a staggering medical report and Outrageous welcomes visual ideas for 'This "Injuries Due to Falling Coconuts" Sporting Life' products. Roy and 'This Sporting Life' in also online H.G. will post ideas for 'The Royal Dr Karl's Ig Nobel-worthy with a new interactive website Australian Trouser Club Travel research, was an international survey launched by ABC New Media and Brochure' adult only adventurer week- of Belly Button Lint (aka 'belly button triple j. If the three hours of sporting ends for those who are excited by the fluff'). This ground-breaking project facts and mayhem on triple j by 'Life thought of waking up in a tent with a sought to uncover answers to two hosts' Roy Slaven and H.G. Nelson wild pig and a sharp stick. Or per- important questions posed by listen- fail to satisfy, they now dish it out haps design the sleeve jacket for the ers to Dr Karl's science radio show: online at http://triplej.abc.net.au/thiss- chilling, seat of your pants epic thriller What exactly is it? Why is it almost portinglife written by Glen McGrath, 'Who Moved always blue? the Cheese?' email Rampaging Roy The site brings not only the and the Immortal H.G. at: Sunday afternoon antics of the http://triplej.abc.net.au/thissportinglife dynamic duo online and interactive for the first time, but also offers interac-

update Print Post Approved PP 245059/00002 Update is published four times a year by Friends of the ABC NSW, P.O. Box 1391, North Sydney 2059. Phone 9960 5542. Fax 9960 5767 web site: ww w. f a b c . o r g . a u / n s w Opinions in the newsletter, which includes articles from Background Briefing published by Friends of the ABC, do not necessarily reflect those of the executive committee of the Friends of the ABC (NSW) Inc. Current and past Background Briefing issues can be accessed at www.fabc.org.au. Up d a t e goes to all members of FABC (NSW) Inc., as part of the membership fee. Up d a t e is also sup- plied to journa l i s t s , politicians and libraries across Australia. It is produced and edited in Sydney but contributions are welcome from NSW country and interstate branches. Material may be freely quoted or rep r oduced from the newsletter provided the source is acknowledged and rep r oduction is sent to FAB C ’ s President Gary Cook, Editor Brian Davies, Layout format & assembly Irwin Kurtz. Unattributed text is by the editor. FABC Update Post The Editor C/–FABC Update PO Box 1391 North Sydney NSW 2059

Page 18 ties. Our latest foray has been to talk times of crisis in the world, funding It's Not Good Bye to the newly elected independent must be increased so that Australians but simply Au Revoir Members and Senators all of whom can continue to see and hear the are supportive of the ABC. reporting and measured analysis which Continued from Page 3 helps them make sense of the world. During the Shier peri- that day and letters later saying “it's od, the phone ran hot, They also need to see Australian the first time I've smiled in 12 months”. sometimes with 80 phone content in drama and comedy. Open calls a day. This means up your television guide and see the This year has been the ABC's 70th there was no time to do anything else wall-to-wall BBC programs. Sure Anniversary and it has been wonderful ex c e p t answer the phone all day every there is SOME Australian content, eg to be attending birthday celebrations day. Luckily that settled down this MDA and Back Berner, but think instead of protest rallies. ABC Friends year! back to the 1980’s when there was Groups in Gosford, Blue Mountains 100 hours of Australian drama alone a Parramatta, Wollongong, Bathurst and However, just because things are a year! We’re lucky to be getting a tenth finally in December, in Merimbula have little quieter, this does not mean we of that now. It’s not good enough! celebrated the anniversary of our can quit. The ABC’s Triennial funding wonderful public broadcaster. Many comes up in 2003. This is a danger- The price of freedom is eternal vigi- cakes have been consumed and many ous time for the ABC - It’s core fund- lance. I would add to that. The price fine speeches made. ing MUST be enlarged. It’s no good of democracy is a well-informed pop- politicians raving on about funding ulace. And the price of a well informed We now have 14 rural and region- being needed elsewhere. Australians populace is a well funded, public al groups and in August this year held MUST be informed -- especially dur- broadcaster free from government our first state conference to codify ing such difficult times. in t e r f e r ence. Remember “A governm e n t rules and regulations of the groups to which does not inform its voters does Friends of the ABC NSW Inc. It was Radio Australia received a little not trust them” Eric Bogle.The ABC is superbly run with a terrific facilitator money on a temporary basis - But NOT a cost, it provides an essential Judy Stubbs who helped us achieve this extra money now needs to be put service to ALL Australians. It is a ben- what we planned in the two days of into core funding. During the terrible efit and an essential one for us all. the conference events of 11th September 2001 and 12th October 2002, ABC journalists Bless all of you who have worked We now have a phone tree with have worked tirelessly on the spot to with me. More power to the elbows of which to contact members in Sydney bring pertinent, balanced, sane those who will carry on. I have great and much of New South Wales. We reporting and careful analysis, to help faith in Gary Cook and his team. Gary have an email chat room, the FABC us back home try to make sense of is different to me and his presidency List, which can be used to notify the senseless. will be different. But that’s how it members and ABC fans about crises, should be in a living, growing and events and celebrations. Last year in The $17 million that was given to thriving organisation. Keep up your the election period, groups of our regional areas for radio is welcome. memberships. And prevail upon your members contacted and visited many But it is only temporary. It MUST be friends and relatives to join. It’s impor- local members and candi- put into core funding. Fifty-five people tant! dates in marginal seats. have been employed to help bring These groups ran public local programs to regional and rural Thank you all for meetings during the elec- areas. After four years that funding your support and tions to “meet the candi- ceases and so do the jobs and the friendship. date”. service. Then there is digital broad- casting and the new channels Fly Penelope As well, over the last five years, we and Kids TV. They are being funded have gone to Canberra a number of out of the pot - the ABC is not only times to lobby politicians from all par- wrung out, its bones are wrung out. In

Your Friends Need YOU to go out and recruit! Start a new Friends’branch in your neighbourhood. Regional NSW has 13 branches! Sydney has one - at Parramatta, a lively and active one. But what about the Northern Peninsula? Shouldn't there be a St. George & Sutherland Shire Branch? What about the North Shore? And surely there must be ABC friends in the eastern suburbs? Go Forth & Multiply! Contact FABC (NSW) to find out how: Phone 9990 0600 speak slowly or go to our website: www.fabc.org.au/nsw

Page 19 State and regional branches of Friends of the ABC New South Wal e s Central Coast Or a n g e AC T Penelope Tol t z John Hale Alan Sisley Ma r g a r et O’Connor PO Box 1391 21 Stephenson Rd. 52 Casey Stree t GPO Box 2625 North Sydney 2059 Bateau Bay 2261 Orange 2800 Canberra ACT 2601 Ph: 9960 5542 Ph: 4333 8107 Ph: 63623775 Ph: 6251 1880 Fax: 9960 5767 jh a l e @ t a c . c o m . a u al a n s @ i x . n e t . a u t Fax: 6244 6690 (W fa b c n sw @ o p t u s n e t . c o m . a u ma r go fo rt e @ h o t m a i l . c o m Eu r o b o d a l l a Pa r r a m a t t a Al b u r y Michael Tay l o r South Australia ABC Support Grou p Mal Hewitt 12 Hawkins Rd 31 Queen St, Granville 2142 Joan Laing Jim Saleeba Tur oss Head, NSW P.O. Box 1758 c/- 621 Lindsay Ave Ph: 9637 2900 Ph: 4473 8261 (W) ma c i a n @ p e n t i re . c o m Hutt St, Albury NSW 2640 Ph: 4473 8561 (H) Adelaide SA 5000 Ph: 6021 5690 tay l o r a @ a c r. n e t . a u Port Macquarie/ Ph/Fax 08 8271 0751 Fax: 6021 0616 Mid North Coast jl i a n g @ s e n e t . c o m . a u sa l e e b a @ a l b u r y.n e t . a u Great Lakes Drusi Megget Au d r ey Semon (Secret a r y ) PO Box 1752 Wes t e r n Australia Ar m i d a l e Roger Raven Priscilla Connor 4 Bundacree Place Port Macquarie NSW 2444 Forster 2428 Ph: 02 6583 8798 PO Box 179 41 Judith Stree t Darlington Armidale NSW 2350 Ph: 6554 8507 dr u s i @ fe l g l o w.c o m . a u as e m o n @ t s n . c c WA 6070 Ph: 6772 3454 or 6772 2217 Vic t o r i a Ph/Fax: (08) 9370 1785 [email protected] Il l a w a r r a Friends of the ABC (Vic ) [email protected] Ba t h u r s t Jan Kent (Secret a r y ) GPO Box 4065MM Norah Tay l o r Me l b o u r ne VIC 3001 Tas m a n i a Friends of the ABC Illawarra Austra Maddox 254 Keppel St PO Box 336,Unanderra 2526 Ph: 03 9682 0073 Bathurst 2795 Fax: 03 9682 0074 5 Albuera Stree t Phone/Fax: 4271 3531 Battery Point, Ph: 6331 1273 fa b c v i c @ v i c n e t . n e t . a u [email protected] ja n ke n t @ b i g p o n d . c o m Tasmania 7004 Ph: (03) 6223 2981 (H) Be g a Ne w c a s t l e Qu e e n s l a n d (03) 6211 9314 (W) Eleanor Beasley Hank Wil l e m s Elisabeth McClement au s t r a m a dd ox @ o z e m a i l . c o m . a u 2 Main Stree t c/ PO Box 265 P.O. Box 1658 Merimbula 2548 Me r ewether 2291 Toowong QLD 4066 Ph/Fax: (07) 3378 7930 No rt h e r n Terr i t o r y Ph: 6495 1392 gs t r u c k @op t u s n e t . c o m . a u Brian Holm Fax: 6495 3202 de m c @ p i c k n ow l . c o m . a u Northern Rivers PO Box 210 Blue Mountains Neville Jennings Gold Coast Ho w a r d Springs NT 0835 John Derum PO Box 167 Alstonville 2477 Frances E. Rolls Ph: (08) 8983 1251 PO Box 342 P.O . Box 469 Ph/Fax: 6674 3830 (H) Fax: (08) 8941 3350 Springwood 2777 Nerang QLD 4211 nj e n n i n g @ s c u . e d u . a u Mob: 0409 831 251 Ph: 4758 6979 Ph: (07) 5596 3835 ab c f r i e n d s _ n t @ we - wo n t - jo h n d e r u m @ b i g p o n d . c o m byt e. c o m Membership form Please fill out the form below and return it with your payment to: The Tre a s u r e r , Friends of the ABC (NSW) Inc. PO Box 1391, North Sydney NSW 2059.

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