Content Plan 2020-22 ABC CONTENT PLAN 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN

Contents

Opening statement 3

Who, why and how 4

The changing landscape 7

Our ongoing purpose 10

Priorities for 2020-22 16 2

Right: Yumi Stynes Our content 22 Cover (L-R): Aaron Pedersen in What we value and how we work 70 Mystery Road 2 (Bunya Productions. Photo David Dare Parker.); Annabel Crabb; Anh Do hosts Anh's Brush With Fame (A Screentime production. Photo Luke Cameron.); and Virginia Trioli ABC CONTENT PLAN 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN

Opening statement

The ABC is one of the nation’s most trusted1, As you read the Plan, you’ll see the depth and important and valued institutions. We are breadth of our programs and services. Join us integral to Australians, with our television, as we share what it means to be Australian, radio and digital services a constant from Conversations that profile amazing companion to many. Australians, to the marine and animal life on and off our shores in Australia's Ocean The values that have been at the heart of Highway, from the solemnity of Anzac Day the ABC since 1932 – outstanding journalism, to the celebration of One Night Stand, from hosting conversations that matter, delivering Mystery Road to travelling the Back Roads compelling content that is distinctive, high- and investigating the issues and covering the quality and Australian – ensures the ABC stories that matter to you. will remain strong, relevant and essential to future generations.

Although the media landscape has changed The ABC is accessible, bold, creative significantly since the ABC was founded, and we are Yours, Australia 3 our purpose and the community’s need for public broadcasting services continue. We connect Australians wherever they are. We unite them in moments that matter and offer solace and observation in times Gaven Morris of sadness. In times of crisis, we provide Director of News a lifeline. We proudly celebrate Australian people and moments. Through our international services, we present a uniquely Australian perspective to the world and promote Australian values and culture. Judith Whelan This Content Plan sets out our creative Director of Regional & Local ambitions for the next three years. It articulates how we will deliver services for all Australians and make distinctive content with impact. It shows how we will build and reflect our cultural identity by looking and sounding like contemporary Australia, encouraging Michael Carrington creativity and pushing boundaries in the Director of Entertainment & Specialist way we tell stories.

1 Source: ABC Corporate Tracking Study, 2017-18; Roy Morgan State of the Nation 31 – Media Report August 2019 ABC CONTENT PLAN 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN

4 Who we are We are the independent source of conversations, culture & stories for all Australians.

Left: Shaun Micallef hosts Shaun Micallef's Mad As Hell (An ITV Studios Australia and Giant Baby production) ABC CONTENT PLAN 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN

Why we exist Since 1932 we’ve told stories, sparked discussions and delivered experiences guided by the principles enshrined in our Charter.

These are to:

• be independent and innovative • be widely appealing and specialised 5 • inform, entertain and educate • encourage and promote the performing arts in Australia • contribute to a sense of national identity • reflect the cultural diversity of the Australian community • encourage an international Right: Jemima from Play School understanding of Australia.

ABC CONTENT PLAN 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN

How we do it We speak with honesty, without fear or favour. We are bold and courageous, ambitious and accessible.

We are Yours, Australia.

6

Left: Dandrogyny in You Can’t Ask That ABC CONTENT PLAN 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN

The changing landscape

Since 1932, Australia has changed significantly, and we've evolved with it. From a single radio service, the ABC now operates from 56 Australian and 11 international locations to deliver 11 national radio networks, local radio services across Australia, four national TV channels, international services for radio and TV and a variety of digital services including ABC News, ABC iview, ABC listen and ABC Life. This evolution will continue as we respond to changes in Australia's population, the way people engage with media and the broader media landscape. 7

Left: Costa Georgiadis ABC CONTENT PLAN 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN

A growing and diverse population Australia’s population2 is:

• growing – It’s already grown by 3.7 million people in the past 10 years to 25 million and is forecast to grow to 29.9 million people by 2030.

• increasingly diverse – 26% of Australians (>6 million people) are born overseas, 2.8% identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and 21% of Australians speak a language other than English at home (with Mandarin the most common).

• spreading into the outer suburbs – By 2056 it’s projected that in our capital cities, the outer suburban population will have more than doubled (with modest growth in other areas). This means: 8 • there are more people to reach.

• we have to form new relationships with people who haven’t traditionally grown up with the ABC.

• we’ll need to continually evolve to be relevant and accessible to the changing make-up of Australia.

Left: Dalara Williams in Black Comedy (A Scarlett Pictures production. Photo Kelly Gardner.) 2 Source: Population Projections Series B ABS Nov 2018; Population ABS Dec 2018, 2008 ABC CONTENT PLAN 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN

The explosion of technology Media globalisation and Below: Sarah Ferguson How Australians source media is becoming increasingly fragmentation digital and on demand with: How Australians source content is becoming more • broadcast usage flat or declining – While still the fragmented and global with: ABC’s broadest reaching platform, since 2016 ABC TV • more global media players going directly to Australian usage has declined (from reaching 54% of Australians audiences every year – This includes Google, each week to 46%). Since 2017 ABC Radio stations have Facebook, Netflix, Spotify, Amazon, Apple and Disney. seen time spent listening decline by 5.6%.3 • Australians using these global platforms in increasing • digital devices and usage up – In 2019 there are on numbers – In 2019, 43% of Australians claim to use average 17 digital media devices in each Australian Netflix each week and Australians 18–24 spend household (up 25% from 2017)4 and 31% (up from 20% on average 48 minutes per day on YouTube. Both in 2016) of Australians access the ABC weekly via our Facebook and YouTube reach 71% of the Australian apps and websites.5 population each month, with Google’s reaching 80%.7 • on demand media now mass – 76% of Australians This means: claim to use a video on demand (VOD) service weekly (up from 68% in 2018), Apple News is used by 25% • we need to be distinctive and compelling to reach 9 of Australians (~6 million people) each month (with and engage with people. ABC the #1 News provider on it) and 16% of Australian households own a smart speaker (up 191% YOY).6 • to allow people to find and engage with our content we’ll need an increased focus on building content This means: relationships and brands.

• we have to develop, commission, produce and • our purpose in contributing to ‘a sense of national distribute content in ways that work for audiences and identity’, being a ‘source of independent Australian how they use an increasing number of broadcast and stories’ and ‘supporting the Australian media digital platforms. We need to be where they are as well production sector’ is more important than ever. as building strong distribution channels of our own.

• there are new ways to tell stories and reach Australians based on the technology they use. We need to explore this while balancing opportunity and long term value.

3 Source: OzTam – 5 City Metro Reach (%), 2016; GFK 24HR 5 City Nets + DAB (2017 – 2019) – Total ABC Radio Combined, 2019 4 Source: Telsyte Australian Digital Consumer Study, 2019 5 Source: ABC Corporate Tracking Study, August 2019 6 Source: ABC Video on Demand Study (claimed usage), 2019; Telsyte Digital Consumer Study, 2019 7 Source: ABC Video on Demand Study; Nielsen Digital Content Ratings, Jan-June 2019; Nielsen DCR Monthly Total, Ppl 2+, based on Jan-July 2019 month avg, 2019. Our ongoing purpose 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN

Although the landscape has changed significantly, the ABC’s purpose and the community’s need for public broadcasting services remains essential. 10

Over the next 3 years, we will continue to:

Inform – by helping people stay up-to-date, understand and act on the stories that matter to them.

Entertain – in ways that are distinctive, relatable and uniquely Australian.

Educate, inspire and explain – by exploring the world we live in and our place in it.

Make a difference – by promoting positive change for individuals and society as a whole.

Connect the nation – by celebrating and reflecting on the things that bring us together.

Left: Antony Green ABC CONTENT PLAN 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN

Inform For example: We’ll help people stay up-to-date, More outer metropolitan coverage understand and act on the stories In 2020 ABC News is sharpening its focus on serving that matter to them by: Australians who live in outer metropolitan areas. We have already embedded our teams in areas as diverse as Tarneit • working with people and communities and Box Hill (VIC), Sunnybank (QLD) and Mandurah (WA) to to identify and share the stories, raise the issues that matter most to those communities. As part of this we will be expanding our bureau in Parramatta (NSW) to concerns and topics that matter to them ensure we have the broadest range of issues and perspectives • objectively reporting on issues represented in our news. and events as they happen, focusing US Election on stories that are vital for strong The 2020 US Election will be keenly watched around the globe. communities and a healthy Election coverage is one of the ABC’s key strengths and serves democratic society a broad audience across all our touchpoints. We’ll make sense of the result for all Australians through key insights from our Washington Bureau, the ABC’s chief elections analyst Antony • investigating and surfacing injustice 11 and holding institutions and Green and the team from Planet America. organisations to account Big Weather (and how to survive it) This is an unmissable series hosted by Craig Reucassel. Craig • helping people understand why answers the big questions; how have extreme weather events stories are important and what shaped our nation’s story? Why are these events becoming they mean less predictable and more intense? And what can ordinary Australians do to adapt, survive and thrive into the future? • hosting diverse opinion The series embeds on the frontlines, showcasing the warmth, and healthy debate. humour, resilience and experiences of Australian communities and emergency services personnel who are confronted by bushfires, floods and cyclones. triple j Hack Hack is the ABC’s news and issues program for young Australians (18–24s), with a daily radio program and digital content made especially for young audiences. Hack is focused on the stories that matter to young people’s lives, so talks about sex, drugs and mental health as often as it discusses politics and economics. The show has a strong social media presence and experiments with new content forms on platforms such as Instagram stories. The program combines with The triple j News bulletin and The Hook Up sex & relationships content to provide comprehensive talk and written content for the millions of young Australians engaging with triple j every week. ABC CONTENT PLAN 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN

Entertain For example: We’ll entertain in ways that are Stateless A flagship drama that weaves together the stories of an distinctive, relatable and uniquely unlikely detainee (Yvonne Strahovski, The Handmaid’s Australian by: Tale), a guard (Jai Courtney, Suicide Squad), a bureaucrat (Asher Keddie, The Cry) and an asylum seeker (Fayssal Bazzi, • creating compelling, authentic The Merger) to depict life in a remote detention centre and relatable drama, comedy and confront us with tough questions about Australia’s and entertainment policies towards ‘unlawful non-citizens’. Also starring (and co-produced by) Academy Award®-winning actress Cate • making people feel, laugh and cry Blanchett (Thor: Ragnarok, Blue Jasmine), and Dominic West (The Affair, The Wire). • enriching people’s lives through music and art More Australian children’s content In 2020 ABC KIDS & ABC ME will feature more Australian titles! • discovering, promoting and Breakout “Australian Made” series Bluey returns to audience celebrating Australian artists, acclaim with new episodes of the hilarious and heart-warming musicians and creators life in the Heeler family. Kangaroo Beach will premiere its 12 first season introducing the junior lifesaving crew and Play • exploring new ways to tell and School and Giggle & Hoot will return as firm favourites. Itch, share stories made possible by Mustangs FC Series 3, 100% Wolf and Are You Tougher Than Your Ancestors will expand older kids thinking with big global our audience’s embrace of new questions alongside the ups and downs of everyday life. technology. ABC Classic Beethoven 250 In 2020, the world will celebrate 250 years since the birth of the greatest musician in history; Ludwig Van Beethoven. ABC Classic will feature new live recordings from Australia’s best orchestras and ensembles across 2020, special live to air events and a weekly Beethoven program, which aims to play every piece of music that the composer ever wrote. It is a celebration of music, of passion, of creativity and of one person’s giant achievement in humanity. New Year’s Eve Each New Year’s Eve, the ABC brings the party to all Australians with a broadcast spectacular that showcases Australia’s brightest talent and culminates with coverage of one of the most spectacular New Year’s Eve firework displays broadcast to viewers around the world. ABC CONTENT PLAN 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN

Educate, inspire and explain For example: We’ll explore and explain the world we Dark Emu Based on his award-winning book, author Bruce Pascoe leads live in and our place in it by: us on a revelatory and inspiring journey across Australia to • helping make sense of the political, present a very different history of our nation and the First Australians. This is a story you have never heard, facts you economic and social forces and trends were never told. The true story of Aboriginal achievement. The changing our world First Australians as farmers, bakers, designers, traders and astronomers. This 2 x 1 hour series will redefine Aboriginal • giving carers and educators history and will present lessons from our past that can shape content that explains childhood our future. development, stimulates learning experiences and enhances everyday How Food Works A 2 x 1 hour Catalyst special in April 2020. How Food Works is life skills, underpinned by education a unique blend of science and culture. In this series chef Paul curriculums and learning frameworks West, Dr Nobby Leong and Professor Clare Collins uncover the latest research that will help you cook better and eat • helping Australians share and enjoy healthier – and may also save you money. 13 the art, creativity and heritage that connects us Reputation Rehab Reputation Rehab sees co-hosts Kirsten Drysdale and Zoe • covering developments and inspiring Norton Lodge find reputations in distress and provide a curiosity in science, health and unique opportunity for transformation and redemption. We technology and explaining how are living in an age of outrage culture and everyone is tired they’re relevant to our daily lives of it. Barely a week goes by without someone getting publicly crucified in a torrent of angry tweets, by opinion pieces, radio • examining the ethical questions and TV punditry, for real or imagined mistakes. we face today and the diversity This series is a timely response to the culture everyone of Australian faiths and beliefs wants to change. It tackles shame head-on and breaks the outrage cycle by using comedy and empathy. Steeped in the • celebrating the people and cultures conventions of reality TV, Reputation Rehab draws inspiration past, present and emerging, that from scandals, personal failure and public humiliation. shape us • showcasing Australia’s unique landscapes, flora and fauna. ABC CONTENT PLAN 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN

Make a difference For example: We’ll promote positive change for The Australian Dream The Australian Dream shares the inspirational story of AFL individuals and society as a whole by: player Adam Goodes, while exploring broader themes of race, • sparking national conversations on identity and belonging. In this screen documentary written by Stan Grant, Adam Goodes and those around him reflect on his important issues and events that personal journey, while asking deeper questions about racism matter to audiences and communities in society and how we can reconcile our history to move forward together. • helping people understand and respond to choices and challenges Shaun Micallef’s On the Sauce in their lives and their communities Shaun Micallef doesn’t get alcohol. Why would you drink something that robs you of your reason? He’s tried it, he • championing the diversity of doesn’t like it and now he is on a mission to understand Australian voices and opinion Australia’s love affair with the sauce. This series is a dramatic snapshot of Australia’s cultural relationship with alcohol • giving back to our communities. today. As he experiences the highs and lows of alcohol consumption, Shaun has his own revelations about our 14 national pastime and how it’s changing rapidly, right under our noses. Shocking, surprising, and of course very funny – this is Shaun Micallef’s On the Sauce. ABC Heywire For 22 years, ABC Heywire has created a powerful launchpad for young regional Australians to be heard, to share their stories and initiate projects that strengthen their communities. This year ABC Heywire and the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal will add a new grants round to the program to support Trailblazers, young people already making a difference in regional Australia. Life’s approach to food ABC Life helps Australians navigate the challenges and choices in their lives—food and cooking can fall into either category, depending on your life stage or simply the kind of day you’re having. Our recipes meet audiences where they are, whether they’re trying to assemble a meal their kids will actually eat, experimenting with vegetarian dinners in an effort to cut back on meat, or making time to bake as a way to unwind. ABC CONTENT PLAN 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN

Connect the Nation For example: We’ll celebrate and reflect on the things triple j’s One Night Stand It takes a community to build a One Night Stand. This is triple that bring us together by: j’s annual regional concert event, where some of Australian • hosting and covering Australia’s music’s biggest names put on a show for locals and tens of thousands of travellers. The triple j team collaborates unique and diverse events, places, with ABC Regional & Local and works closely with the local communities and people Council to turn a footy oval into a concert arena for one night only. In 2019, triple j took over Lucindale in South Australia • observing events of national (population c. 500) where the Hilltop Hoods, Ocean Alley, Meg importance Mac and G Flip played to a crowd of 15,000. In 2020, who knows which Australian town will be having a One Night Stand with • bridging the vastness of the triple j and the ABC? Australian continent, its cultures and communities by presenting on Football on ABC TV and iview the ground from 56 local bureaux The ABC is broadcasting the A-League, W-League, Matilda’s and Socceroos on TV and iview over the next two years as across Australia. the free-to-air broadcast partner for Football Federation 15 Australia. Football fans can watch the A-League on ABC TV for the first time, while the W-League returns to ABC TV for the first time since 2017. International Women’s Day Every year on March 8, the ABC highlights the immense contribution of women to our societies and culture around the world. Through features and interviews, the stories of women and struggles for equality are in the foreground all day across ABC TV and Radio. From Kids and ME, to Local and News, the ABC is fronted by our experienced and emerging female presenters. On our Music networks, Double J, triple j and Unearthed put Girls To The Front with all-female music, features and presenters. ABC Classic lifts the profile of female composers with airplay and special programs dedicated to unheralded women in classical music. ABC CONTENT PLAN 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN

Priorities for 2020-22

So that the ABC remains strong, relevant and essential to future generations, over the next 3 years we will prioritise delivering public broadcasting services that: Are relevant for all Australians We’ll make the stories we tell and the way we tell them accessible and valuable to key, growing audience groups. 16 Deliver public benefit with impact We’ll deliver distinctive, public benefit content that engages mass audiences, builds national conversations and creates meaningful change. Look and sound like contemporary Australia We’ll increase the diversity of our content and the people making it, so that our stories, people and organisation truly reflect the breadth of modern day Australia. Are creative, push boundaries and take risks We innovate and pioneer, our Charter demands it of us. We’ll put creativity and exploration at the heart of everything we do.

Right: Yvonne Strahovski in Stateless (A Matchbox Pictures production. Photo Ben King.) ABC CONTENT PLAN 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN

Be relevant for all Australians

We’ll make the stories we tell and the way 17 we tell them accessible and valuable for all Australians by focusing on important, growing audience groups:

We’ll continue to serve our most engaged audiences: • children aged 2–12 • adults aged >55.

While focusing on content that can engage: • adults aged <55 • culturally diverse families Left: • Australia’s growing suburban population. Christine Anu We’ll also seek targeted ways to be more relevant to: • young adults aged 18–29 • older teens aged 12–17. ABC CONTENT PLAN 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN

Deliver public benefit with impact

We’ll make distinctive content that’s broader, reaches more people, connects more 18 communities and creates meaningful change

We’ll share stories and spark discussion about things that matter to audiences and communities that others in the media sector won’t.

We’ll harness all of our platforms and partner with grass roots organisations to build these into national conversations that act as catalysts for positive change. Left: Deborah Mailman in Total Control We’ll make the complex and the unfamiliar (A Blackfella Films accessible by explaining them simply and clearly. production. Photo John Platt.) We’ll be compelling and entertaining and focus on quality over quantity. ABC CONTENT PLAN 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN

Look and sound like contemporary Australia

We’ll increase the diversity of our content and the people making it so that we’re engaging to more 19 Australians

We’ll share stories that authentically reflect more people’s lives, perspectives and experiences.

We’ll do this across different age groups, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds and in every part of the country.

By doing so, more people will be able to see themselves in the ABC and engage with it.

Left: Bluey (A Ludo Studio Production) ABC CONTENT PLAN 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN

Be creative, push boundaries and take risks

We’ll make creativity and exploration the heart of what we do 20 We know that nothing is off the table if it’s distinctive and valuable for our audiences.

We’ll try new things responsibly, comfortable in the knowledge that not everything will work.

We’ll learn by doing.

Right: Richard Fidler ABC CONTENT PLAN 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN

National Conversations News Right: Fierce Girls Regional & Local Factual & Entertainment Specialist Drama, Comedy 21 & Indigenous Music Children’s Targeted Initiatives Our Acquisitions Audio Studios Content Ideas Lab Education Content: International ABC CONTENT PLAN 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN

Our content

This section lays out the ambitions, strategies and inspiration for our audio, video and written content over the next three years. It introduces some of the national conversations we’ll spark and the plans for our teams. It also gives an overview of areas who BROAD DISTINCTIVE focus on targeted audiences and formats. AND LARGE IMPACT For each team and targeted area, we highlight key content, initiatives and slates for 2020. Where relevant we present slates in quadrants to show the focus and mix of content.

How to read these quadrants:

• Content in every quadrant will deliver value and public benefit to audiences. 22 • Content in upper quadrants (Broad, distinctive and large impact) is expected to appeal to larger and broader audiences.

• Content in the upper-right quadrant (Distinctive and large impact) is expected to deliver strong FOCUSED HIGH PUBLIC BENEFIT engagement and real-world impact.

• The lower quadrants are focused on content that either meets the needs of a particular audience (Focused) or delivers a public benefit that’s independent of audience size (High public benefit e.g. triple j Unearthed).

• For each team, the spread of content across these quadrants is different, based on their focus.

• To meet our priorities, we balance the ABC’s portfolio with a spread of content across each quadrant. ABC CONTENT PLAN 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN National Conversations As the national broadcaster we are uniquely placed to build national conversations on issues that are important to Australians. Throughout the year we 23 mobilise teams across radio, television and online to collaborate and produce content around themes of national importance. We heighten awareness, increase understanding, spark discussion and give Australians practical tools they can use and actions they can take.

Right: Craig Reucassel Upcoming themes for 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN 2020 include: Climate and weather Ideas and stories that inspire, Most Australians accept that climate change is real. challenge and entertain However, many of us don’t know what we can actually We’ll come together across all platforms to do about it. Bombarded by contradictory political build on Australia’s love for Book Week and messages and intangible climate targets, many of Science Week. us feel powerless on how to make a difference. In both entertaining and informative ways, In 2020, the ABC and our external partners will build a we’ll draw on data from the Australia Talks super-sized conversation on climate change to inspire survey to explore the things that Australians accelerated action. We will provide easy to digest care about – whether it's mental health and information and tools for Australians to understand wellbeing on World Mental Health Day (October better how to make a difference to their lives and the 10) or gender equality and hope for future future of the planet. generations on International Day Of The Girl (October 11). The centre-piece will be two prime time shows. Fight for Planet A: The Climate Challenge focuses on how Winter is a chance to make the most of staying Australians can reduce their food, energy and transport inside. We’ll stack together our favourite TV carbon footprint to help reduce climate change. Big and podcast series, as well as highlight recipes Weather (and how to survive it) asks how we can and long reads to provide plenty of excuses for be better prepared to survive and thrive in a land having a quiet weekend in. of increasingly intense and unpredictable weather 24 In November we’ll once again mark Ausmusic extremes. Month at the ABC. Whether discovering new Australian composers on ABC Classic, listening Walking Together to live jazz performances on ABC Jazz, or Throughout 2020 teams across the ABC will come donning a favourite band t-shirt for triple j’s together, working alongside external partners, to inspire Ausmusic T-Shirt day, music lovers of all genres and enable all Australians to contribute to reconciliation. will have a part to play come November. It’s 20 years since Indigenous and non-Indigenous people walked together across the Sydney Harbour Bridge, one of the largest demonstrations ever in Australia. A referendum on constitutional recognition of Australia’s Indigenous people is set to happen in the next three years. We will celebrate Indigenous culture through listening, sharing and building – on TV, on radio, on social media, our own digital platforms and in the community. To walk together Australia must challenge itself to honour the history and experiences of First Australians with Indigenous voices and perspectives leading the conversation. ABC CONTENT PLAN 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN

Pictured: Leigh Sales

25 News Our ambitions Our inspiration 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN • Present journalism and coverage that is valuable • We are part of Australian communities, and relevant to all Australians, particularly addressing listening and collaborating to tell the stories younger, female, suburban and culturally diverse that matter to them. We are the home of audiences. important conversations that people care about and invite their participation. We look • Be a trusted part of communities, listening to and and sound like Australia; all Australians can collaborating with Australians to tell the stories and see and hear themselves in our stories. explain the issues that matter to them every day. • We are approachable, distinctive, engaging • Objectively and accurately report on events and constructive. Our stories highlight that matter to Australians using simple and solutions and provide information that clear everyday language. audiences can use. We speak simply and • Strengthen Australian society and democracy clearly using everyday language and provide by informing people, holding the powerful to account explanations and context that make sense of and promoting media literacy. complex stories.

• Highlight solutions and provide information that • We deliver high-quality, independent audiences can use. journalism that earns the trust of audiences by being accurate, objective and impartial. • Invite Australians to participate in the important Our first commitment is to the public interest conversations that they care about. and we strengthen Australian society by informing people and holding the powerful to 26 account. We approach our journalism bravely, honestly and ethically, and seek constantly to How we’ll do this improve it. • Include a range of perspectives that reflect the • We earn our audiences’ attention and loyalty breadth of contemporary Australia, so that all by ensuring the news they need is available Australians can see themselves in our stories. and accessible when, where and how they need it. • Align our editorial values to the interests and concerns of more Australians through the stories we cover and commission, the perspectives we reflect, the style and tone of our reporting and the services we provide.

• Embed in more communities to increase the variety of stories we tell and to cover the issues and events other media organisations aren’t focussing on.

• Change the way we work to create content that is more easily accessible to Australians whenever and wherever they seek their news and information. From our team Our highlights 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN More outer metropolitan coverage “We’ll work hard so the stories we tell and the In 2020 ABC News is sharpening its focus issues we explain have the broadest range of on serving Australians who live in outer community perspectives represented. We metropolitan areas. We have already embedded serve all Australians and our journalism will our teams in areas as diverse as Tarneit and put the public’s interests front and centre.” Box Hill (VIC), Sunnybank (QLD) and Mandurah Gaven Morris, Director, News (WA) to raise the issues that matter most to those communities. As part of this we will be expanding our bureau in Parramatta (NSW) to ensure we have the broadest range of issues and perspectives represented in our news.

“By doing away with assumed Explaining our complex world knowledge and simplifying complex With Sarah Ferguson in Beijing, we’ll spend more topics in a quick digestible way we can time explaining China to Australia and exploring expand the audience of daily news.” China’s impact in Australia. We’ll invest more Jacqueline Howard, resources to tell stories from our Pacific Visual storyteller, News neighbours and place coverage of the broader Asian region as our international priority. A U.S. presidential election late in the year will be covered from all angles through our Washington 27 bureau and specialist programming like Planet America.

The Signal returns One of the ABC’s most successful podcasts, The Signal, is back in 2020. After more than doubling its growth from last year and bringing new and younger audiences with it, this daily news podcast helps cut through the noise by covering the biggest stories, explaining not only what is happening but why. It's an entertaining 15-minute show, perfect for the commute or getting ready in the morning.

Left top: ABC’s chief elections analyst Antony Green Left centre: The Signal Left bottom: Kyle Harley shooting Creightons Creek fire ABC CONTENT PLAN 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN

Our content

BROAD DISTINCTIVE AND LARGE IMPACT

News Apple News 7.30 News Breakfast (TV) 7pm News Channel (TV) AM News Facebook Australian Story News Instagram Four Corners News Radio Foreign Correspondent News YouTube Insiders News Digital (Web and app) 28 Q&A

FOCUSED HIGH PUBLIC BENEFIT

National Press Club Background Briefing News Channel Programs (e.g. Planet Behind the News America, The Business The Mix, One Plus PM One) Question Time (TV) News Messenger RN Breakfast RN Drive The Drum The Party Room The Signal The World The World Today ABC CONTENT PLAN 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN

Pictured: Ali Clarke

29 Regional & Local Our ambitions Our inspiration 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN • Maintain our loyal audience on traditional platforms • Be everyday for everyone by connecting (TV and Radio) and broaden it by reaching more Australians with content about real life, real people on more platforms, particularly digital. people, real places.

• Reach Australians in every community – urban • Be the first choice for Australians looking to and suburban, regional and rural, every day. connect with their communities.

• Make content that engages, strengthens and • Strengthen communities through content celebrates communities across Australia. that builds resilience and supports informed decision making about issues that matter to • Connect communities of shared geography, identity local communities. and interest across all platforms. • Celebrate our shared experiences and national events, and the unique stories and perspectives of Australian people and places.

How we’ll do this • Look and sound like contemporary Australia • Provide audiences with more everyday content by sharing the stories and experiences of that is relevant to their lives so that we become an diverse voices. essential part of their daily routine.

• Provide a personalised content experience for audiences so they can better connect with the content 30 that is relevant to them.

• Collaborate with teams across the ABC to deliver digital content that is practical and useful for our audiences’ lives.

• Continue to bring together national audiences around our common interests, including the big shared moments and events like New Year’s Eve and Australia Day.

• Use external partnerships to engage with non traditional ABC audiences and tap into alternative distribution methods.

• Increase the diversity of our staff, our presenters and guests, our topics and stories.

• Support strong and resilient Australian communities through our content and activities, including the emergency broadcasting work undertaken by our teams. From our team Our highlights 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN The Australian Dream “The better our conversations are with The Australian Dream shares the inspirational the communities we serve, the better story of AFL player Adam Goodes, while our programs and content will be. exploring broader themes of race, identity and Strengthening these connections to belonging. In this feature documentary for the our audiences enables us to cover the screen written by Stan Grant, Adam Goodes and issues that matter to them, every day.” those around him reflect on his personal journey, Warwick Tiernan, Head Capital City while asking deeper questions about racism in Radio Network society and how we can reconcile our history to move forward together.

“Landline has always showcased the country’s The Little Green Pod very best farmers and the latest innovations Feel like you want to do more to help the planet in agriculture; but it’s much more than that. but not sure how to fit anything else into your We set out to find stories and people who life? Produced in collaboration with Audio epitomise the resilience and adaptability of Studios, Little Green Pod provides practical rural Australians. We celebrate their guidance and advice as host Fiona Poole successes and triumphs and share their investigates quick and easy ways to live a little tragedies in tough times.” greener. Pip Courtney, Presenter, Landline Football on ABC TV and iview 31 The ABC is broadcasting the A-League, W-League, Matildas and Socceroos on TV and iview over the next two years as the free-to-air broadcast partner for Football Federation Australia, increasing the diversity of our sports coverage and broadening our audience reach, including suburban audiences. Football fans can watch the A-League on ABC TV for the first time, while the W-League returns to ABC TV for the first time since 2017. ABC Heywire For 22 years, ABC Heywire has created a powerful launchpad for young regional Australians to be heard, to share their stories Left top: The Australian and initiate projects that strengthen their Dream shares the story of communities. This year ABC Heywire and the ex AFL player Adam Goodes Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (Good Thing Productions (Aus) & Passion Pictures will add a new grants round to the program (UK). Photo Andy Boag.) to support trailblazers, young people already Left centre: Students participate in the ABC making a difference in regional Australia. Heywire 2019 Grants Launch Left bottom: The Little Green Pod podcast ABC CONTENT PLAN 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN Take over Emergency Broadcasting Young Australians will have the chance to take over In times of emergency, Australians turn to the their local ABC, and have a say on the future of their city. ABC. Each year our Emergency Broadcast team Modelled on the hugely successful ABC Heywire regional supports local radio teams to keep communities youth program, the ABC will partner with Government up to date and informed on fast-moving natural to empower young people in suburban Australia to be disasters such as floods, fire and cyclones. This heard and make a difference in their communities. specialist team works closely with emergency services to bring the most accurate and timely Local for you information to people when it is most needed. ABC local stations and bureaux will continue to connect and inform audiences, delivering news and information ABC Adelaide – Guess your bin night direct to their inbox through newsletters that extend Every day across Australia, ABC Radio the impact of local radio from broadcast to print. Local presenters engage with their audience in newsletters will deliver the relevant national stories for unique and personal ways, building strong local audiences, the local stories and information, and relationships through daily interactions with importantly, what is local for you. local listeners. ABC Radio Adelaide’s Jules Schiller has taken ‘getting to know’ his audience New Year’s Eve a step further through his weekly segment Each New Year’s Eve, the ABC brings the party to ‘guess your bin night’. Jules gets just three all Australians with a broadcast spectacular that questions before he has to guess a listener’s showcases Australia’s brightest talent and culminates bin night and if he fails, comes over to with coverage of one of the most spectacular New Year’s put out their bins the following week. Eve firework displays broadcast to viewers around the Now that’s commitment! 32 world. ABC CONTENT PLAN 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN

Our content

BROAD DISTINCTIVE AND LARGE IMPACT

ABC Australia Facebook ANZAC Day (Events Landline (S24) coverage and Gardening Australia (S31) programming) Local Radio Gardening Australia Facebook (Broadcasts across Australia All Over Australia) Gardening Australia YouTube Back Roads (S6) Regional local news Local Radio Breakfast and Drive Programs and stories (Radio, around Australia Football TV, News digital) New Year’s Eve Internationals – Socceroos and The Australian Sports documentaries Matildas (TV) Dream 33 Weekend Grandstand (Radio)

FOCUSED HIGH PUBLIC BENEFIT

AFL (Radio) NRL (Radio) A-League (TV) Regional Storyteller Scholarship Australia Wide Offsiders (S11) AFLW (Radio) Remote community Cricket YouTube Series Overnights Ausmusic Month Concert coverage Farmer of the year Sports podcasts Australia Day (Events Rural news (Radio, digital) coverage and Features for Metro & Surburban stories focus programming) Take Over Regional audiences (Radio across platforms and digital) Australian of the Year The Country Hour The Men’s Ashes 2021 Awards Golden Guitars 2020 (Radio) The Helpmann Awards Emergency broadcasting Golf: HANDA Women's The Women’s Ashes 2021 W-League (TV) Australian Open and (Radio) Heywire and Trailblazers Victorian Open WNRL (Radio) Indigenous Seasonal ICC Women’s T20 World Weather Cup 2020 (Radio) Nightlife Men and Women’s football – Soccer (Radio) ABC CONTENT PLAN 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN

Pictured: Julia Zemiro

34 Factual & Entertainment Our ambition How we’ll do this 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN • Maintain a broad audience with shows that have mass • Create and connect content across platforms appeal. to amplify impact.

• Create content offers that connect with ABC’s • Build a broad slate that balances ‘brand engaged audiences while extending reach with defining returners’, ‘spiky new reach drivers’ those not engaging with the ABC – particularly adults and ‘public service culturally significant, under 55. Charter based productions’.

• Create real-world impact by igniting national • Ensure the ABC has enough depth of content conversations and actions around topics of social and to sustain habitual appointment viewing cultural significance. occasions across weeks and seasons on broadcast and build returnable on-demand • Empower individuals to make sense of and respond destinations. to challenging issues that impact their lives and communities. • Strengthen the production sector by encouraging and supporting creative talent • Be a home for comedy and satire that deliver and bold storytellers from around the country. entertaining ways to help us understand our world so that Australians can laugh throughout their day.

• Reflect and support the cultural, gender, regional and socio-economic diversity of Australia in the Our inspiration stories we tell and the way they are told. 35 • Reach broad audiences. • Give a voice to misunderstood, judged or marginalised Australians. • Produce brand defining content that’s distinctive and high quality. • Provide insight into the heritage and history of the diverse peoples and cultures that have shaped • Connect with audiences by asking the Australia and our national identity. questions ‘Why this story? Why now?’, then creating content that resonates and is • Foster an appreciation for Australia’s unique memorable. landscapes, environment and wildlife. • Tell stories that are entertaining but • Nurture and celebrate Australian talent, creative informative. Offer an alternative, new or communities and the arts sector. surprising perspective on subjects both familiar and unfamiliar.

• Think about how our stories can be told across all platforms and contribute to growing a diverse slate.

• Tell stories with, for and about the diversity of contemporary Australia.

• Nurture creative partnerships and talent.

• Be innovative, inspirational and creative with ideas and execution. From our team 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN

“Through big, bold and ambitious “The Factual and Entertainment team are Factual series we go to the heart and passionate to be bringing our slate to soul of who we are as Australians. the Australian people. We work with We strive to take risks, go beneath outstanding creatives to deliver the surface, celebrate our diversity content that innovates, entertains and push the boundaries in ways and begins conservations that inspire, that resonate with Australian challenge and bind our audience. Our audiences.” aim is the same whether we are Julie Hanna, Manager of Factual creating Gruen, Anh Do’s Brush with Fame, Restoration Australia, Mad as Hell or Old People’s Home for Four Year Olds; to “Entertainment and comedy are deliver ‘TV with purpose’ that strengthens delivery systems for ideas. They our connection to the audiences we serve. We tickle the part of the brain that are honoured to tell these compelling wants to learn and to laugh. In each Australian stories that reflect the depth and project we ask ‘what is the idea?’ breadth of our diverse Australian and ‘how can we do it differently?’. community.” Sometimes we aim to reach as many Josie Mason-Campbell, Head Factual & people as possible, other times to Entertainment. touch fewer people more deeply. But 36 we always aim to entertain.” Nick Hayden, Manager of Entertainment “In my role as Manager of Development and Partnerships, it is a privilege to work with the best TV creative minds in the country, both inside and outside of the ABC. Their dedication to telling the stories of our nation in new and innovative ways ensures that the Factual and Entertainment department continues to create surprising and illuminating content that ignites national conversations and impacts the lives of our broad and diverse audiences.” Richard Huddleston, Manager of Development Left above: Craig and Partnerships Reucassel hosts Big Weather (and how to survive it) and Fight for Planet A: The Climate Challenge Left below: Anh Do hosts Anh’s Brush With Fame (A Screentime production. Photo Luke Cameron.) Our highlights Shaun Micallef’s On the Sauce 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN Shaun Micallef doesn’t get alcohol. Why would Big Weather (and how to survive it) you drink something that robs you of your This is an unmissable series hosted by Craig Reucassel. reason? He’s tried it, he doesn’t like it and now Craig answers the big questions; how have extreme he is on a mission to understand Australia’s love weather events shaped our nation’s story? Why are these affair with the sauce. This series is a dramatic events becoming less predictable and more intense? snapshot of Australia’s cultural relationship And what can ordinary Australians do to adapt, survive with alcohol today. and thrive into the future? The series embeds on the frontlines, showcasing the warmth, humour, resilience Shaun looks beyond the clichés and and experiences of Australian communities and misconceptions to discover the new face of emergency services personnel who are confronted by alcohol in Australia. Gone are the days of Bazza bushfires, floods and cyclones. Mackenzie and the six o’clock swill. Australia is no longer a nation of beer drinkers and Fight for Planet A: The Climate Challenge alcoholism is seeping into surprising sections Most Australians accept that climate change is real. of our community. How much is too much? How However, many of us don’t know what we can do about have we changed? Is there a sweet spot for our it and feel powerless on how to make a difference. In this relationship with booze? As he experiences the series host Craig Reucassel looks at the solutions and highs and lows of alcohol consumption, Shaun the practical day-to-day changes that each and every has his own revelations about our national one of us can make to reduce our carbon footprint and pastime and how it’s changing rapidly, right help minimise the impact of climate change. under our noses. Shocking, surprising, and of course very funny – this is Shaun Micallef’s Episodes look at our relationship with food, energy On the Sauce. 37 and transport, demonstrating the scale of problems in ways that are compelling, emotionally engaging and Reputation Rehab easy to understand. The series features five families who Reputation Rehab sees co-hosts Kirsten have been challenged to reduce their carbon footprint, Drysdale and Zoe Norton Lodge find reputations which will also knock some money off their household in distress and provide a unique opportunity for budget. And far from taking the pressure off politicians transformation and redemption. We are living in and business, the series asks whether they are doing an age of outrage culture and everyone is tired enough to make the changes we need in our homes, of it. Barely a week goes by without someone schools and workplaces. getting publicly crucified in a torrent of angry tweets, by opinion pieces, radio and TV punditry, for real or imagined mistakes.

This series is a timely response to the culture everyone wants to change. It tackles shame head-on and breaks the outrage cycle by using comedy and empathy. Steeped in the conventions of reality TV, Reputation Rehab draws inspiration from scandals, personal failure and public humiliation.

Left top: Annabel Crabb hosts Further Back In Time For Dinner Left centre: Spicks and Specks Left bottom: Shaun Micallef A warm welcome back to our Wednesday 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN night brands Hard Quiz, Gruen, The Weekly, Shaun Micallef’s Mad As Hell and Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery will continue to tickle our funny bones with their trademark wit, humour and insightful analysis of our society. Further Back In Time For Dinner After capturing Australia’s hearts, the Ferrone family are back. Guided by Annabel Crabb, they’re going further back than they’ve ever gone before. Battling the bubonic plague, butchering their own meat, growing their own food, not to mention surviving two world wars and the depression will ensure this time machine will continue to engage and enthral our audiences. Australia's Ocean Highway We live on a planet whose waters were the birthplace of life. Around five hundred million years ago life left this blue womb and colonised the land, but we are still intricately linked to the ocean. Our climates, coastlines, ecosystems and economies are tied to the perpetual movement of water between continents. The great ocean currents are the arteries and veins of the planet. This 38 is the story of one fascinating flow; The East Australian Current, a massive oceanic river that stretches the length of the East Australian coast, is one hundred kilometres wide and home to an incredible array of life. ABC CONTENT PLAN 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN

Our content

BROAD DISTINCTIVE AND LARGE IMPACT

Anh's Brush with Spicks and Specks Big Weather (and how to survive it) Fame (S5) Specials Fight for Planet A: The Climate Challenge Hard Quiz (S5) The Weekly (S6) Further Back In Time For Dinner Julia Zemiro's Home Gruen (S12) Delivery (S7) Revelation New Year’s Eve Shaun Micallef: On the Sauce Restoration Australia (S3) You Can't Ask That (S5) Shaun Micallef's 39 Mad as Hell (S11/12)

FOCUSED HIGH PUBLIC BENEFIT

Dream Gardens (S3) Outback Ringer

Melbourne International Comedy Festival Reputation Rehab Sammy J (S5) Miriam Margolyes: Almost Australian Australia's Ocean Highway ABC CONTENT PLAN 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN

Pictured: Kumi Taguchi

40 Specialist Our ambition • Foster talent as a key part of our relationships 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN with audiences, and the trust they have in us. • Bring our content to wide audiences and to We will continue to create openings for new Australians with more focused interests. voices and find ways to develop them across what we do. • Make stories that connect broadly around big, resonant subjects and stories that cater to • Deepen our digital thinking – we already passionate fans. have deep expertise across a range of platforms – and the ability to move content • Use our expertise to provoke and enrich the national across them to maximise reach and find conversation on subjects from health and well being audiences where they are. We will innovate to the arts, religion and the future of work. with new shapes of storytelling to reach new • Be a trustworthy guide for Australians to help audiences and create digital communities understand and navigate what’s happening to them around shared interests. and their communities. • Develop new stakeholder relationships and • Celebrate and promote understanding of our diverse partnerships, so we can increase our ambition cultural achievements. Tell stories of belonging and and amplify our impact. explore the questions of culture, science, belief and ethics that matter deeply to Australians.

• Reflect the voices, stories and interests of modern Australia. We’ll expand the range of our output and the Our inspiration people we work with so that we can achieve a greater • Empower individuals to take control of their 41 diversity of output across our platforms and how we lives – for example in areas like health and look and sound. well being – and inspire individuals and communities to make a difference. • Encourage and promote the arts in Australia. • Help people understand their world and find • Continue to be a key driver of ABC quality a place in it by telling our most powerful and distinctiveness. and moving stories in culture and arts, and understanding ethical and religious dimensions to our lives. How we’ll do this • Reflect the beliefs and backgrounds of all Australians; and look to explore what brings • Take more risks with our content; especially with the us together. We do light, not heat. shape and form of what we do. We will continue to innovate in how we tell stories and explore new topics. To stand out and be noticed, we need to be noisier in our offer.

• Widen the appeal of our broad offer so that we attract new audiences, make the relationship with our fans deeper and more engaged. From our team Our highlights 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN Arts on ABC TV “How did Utzon come up with the ‘idea’ of the ABC Arts engages with some of Australia’s finest Opera House? How did he pull it off? What filmmakers to produce documentaries that tell was it about Michael Hutchence and his stories about Australian artists and how art music that we all felt so immediately and intersects with our lives. In 2020, the suite of deeply? Art and the artistic process Arts programs will include major documentaries provokes and inspires me simply because about Bangarra Dance Theatre and Midnight Oil. it reminds me what is possible.” How Food Works Miranda Culley, Executive Producer, Arts A 2 x 1 hour Catalyst special in April 2020. How Food Works is a unique blend of science and culture. In this series chef Paul West, Dr Nobby “Podcasting is exciting because no one Leong and Professor Clare Collins uncover the really knows how it works yet. But here at latest research that will help you cook better ABC Science, we’re keenly experimenting and eat healthier – and may also save you to figure it out. From international money. collaborations (BBC, Gimlet) to viral smash hits (The Labradoodle RN. The home of ideas at the ABC of Regret), it’s a great time to be in Its role has never been more important as the digital first science audio.” our world turns upside down. From Geraldine Joel Werner, Audio Lead, Science Doogue to Waleed Aly – we showcase some of the most incisive and best informed 42 broadcasters across Australia. “Every day in this job, my mind wanders. It explores the world, discovers new Compass perspectives, and gains understanding Compass is the only weekly program on – all via the radio. I work with incredibly Australian television devoted to issues of faith, diverse programs, but they’re united by a ethics & values, drawing stories from myriad curiosity that builds on itself, each grassroots communities spread across the question leading to the next. It’s a very continent. The program provides a distinctive exciting world to be a part of.” lens on the diverse lives that comprise modern Monique Ross, Society & Culture Digital Lead Australia. In 2020 the team will again produce break-out hour specials for a prime-time audience, complementing the unique weekly Compass mission. ABC CONTENT PLAN 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN

Our content

BROAD DISTINCTIVE AND LARGE IMPACT

Science on Facebook All in the Mind

Backburning: Midnight Oil

Catalyst (S21)

How Food Works: A Catalyst Special

RN (Broadcast and Podcasts)

43

FOCUSED HIGH PUBLIC BENEFIT

Adelaide Festival Arts on RN (e.g. Screen Show) Compass Compass Specials Firestarter: The Story of Bangarra Science and Health online publishing Science and Health on RN Society and Culture on RN Religion and Ethics on RN Religion and Ethics online ABC CONTENT PLAN 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN

Pictured: Fallout (Working title)

44 Drama,Comedy & Indigenous Our ambitions Our inspiration 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN • Maintain a broad audience with shows that have • Tell stories that anticipate the zeitgeist with mass appeal or target unique and underrepresented cultural currency, relevance and authenticity. audiences. • Be distinctive, bold and ground-breaking in • Entertain and defy expectations with bold, ground- our choice of stories and how we tell them. breaking and uniquely Australian stories that are recognised via awards, critical acclaim and global • Know what works, but don’t be formulaic. impact. • Tap into the emotional and make people feel.

• Tell distinctive and inclusive stories that shape the • Use drama and comedy to generate positive cultural conversation and engage with broad and social impact. diverse audiences. • Focus on visibility and representation. • Reflect the diversity of contemporary Australia so that Help diverse audiences feel seen and their all Australians can see and hear themselves in our lives and experiences acknowledged and stories. authentically reflected in the stories we tell. • Identify and nurture new and diverse talent in In particular, redefine Indigenous stories and production and performance, particularly emerging representation indigenous talent and people of culturally diverse • Foster new, diverse talent. Be a cradle of backgrounds. creativity for all Australia. • Cultivate and strengthen the production sector, 45 especially outside of NSW/VIC.

How we’ll do this • Build a slate that balances known ‘broad returners’ and bold ‘calculated risks’. Do controlled experimentation with genre, narrative and form to find new audiences and non-traditional distribution to meet them where they are.

• Ensure we have a balanced mix of drama types e.g. crime, procedural, genre, relationship and uniquely Australian.

• Ensure the ABC has a depth of content that can sustain habitual appointment viewing occasions across weeks and seasons on broadcast and on- demand.

• Identify and work with the best creative talent in the industry. From our team Our highlights 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN Stateless “In all our content we first and foremost want to A flagship drama that weaves together the entertain and surprise audiences, but it’s stories of an unlikely detainee (Yvonne really important to me and my team that we Strahovski, The Handmaid’s Tale), a guard (Jai engage them emotionally – that’s how you Courtney, Suicide Squad), a bureaucrat (Asher change hearts and minds. We are constantly Keddie, The Cry) and an asylum seeker (Fayssal looking for ways to defy expectations of our Bazzi, The Merger) to depict life in a remote content and the ABC”. detention centre and confront us with tough Sally Riley, Head of Drama, questions about Australia’s policies towards Comedy and Indigenous ‘unlawful non-citizens’. Also starring (and co- produced by) Academy Award®-winning actress Cate Blanchett (Thor: Ragnarok, Blue Jasmine), “ABC is the home of Australian comedy. and Dominic West (The Affair, The Wire). Our aspiration is to strengthen that position with national audiences, against rising Dark Emu competition, while continuing to bring our Based on his award-winning book, author Bruce outstanding shows to the rest of the world Pascoe leads us on a revelatory and inspiring through international co-investment. journey across Australia to present a very My job is truly an honour.” different history of our nation and the First Rick Kalowski, Head of Comedy Australians. This is a story you have never heard, facts you were never told. The true story of 46 Aboriginal achievement. The First Australians “I get to work with a great team of content as farmers, bakers, designers, traders and makers who are passionate about telling astronomers. This 2 x 1 hour series will redefine cracking good stories and are wholly Aboriginal history and will present lessons from committed to genuine inclusion and our past that can shape our future. representation. There’s no better place than the ABC where we can make The Heights S2 dramas and comedies that speak The Heights is a warm and positively geared to who we are as Australians.” relationship drama series for Australian Que Minh Luu, Executive Producer, Scripted audiences to come home to. It’s about community and life in urban Australia and reflects the world as we know it – one that is inclusive and grounded in truth, and that explores social issues and conversations of today in an accessible and family friendly space. Off screen, The Heights empowers diverse storytelling and escalates talent in the television industry. ABC CONTENT PLAN 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN

Our content

BROAD DISTINCTIVE AND LARGE IMPACT

Harrow (S3) Fallout (Working title) Rosehaven (S4) Mystery Road (S2) Stateless

47

FOCUSED HIGH PUBLIC BENEFIT

Awaye Black Comedy (S4) Dark Emu Little Yarns Speaking Out The Heights (S2) Pictured: Sally & Erica ABC CONTENT PLAN 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN

48 Music Our ambition How we’ll do this 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN • Increase triple j’s share of the 18–24 year old audience. • Find new audience and engage current Influence content tone, topic and treatment for the audiences via: rest of the ABC aiming for this demographic. – returning campaigns and events such • Increase broadcast radio audiences for ABC Classic as Classic 100 and Hottest 100 and Double J. Maintain broadcast radio audiences – targeted digital and video content for ABC Jazz and ABC Country. – targeted campaigns and platforms • Reach younger audiences (<50) on ABC Classic, while for regional audiences retaining the existing audience. – extending the triple j Hack content offer. • Find new and diverse audiences interested in classical, jazz and country music via digital platforms. • Increase artist representation of: • Give young Australians a voice. – women via International Women’s Day campaigns including the Classic Female • Build audience communities around musical interest Composers focus and triple j and Double J’s and identity. Girls To The Front, and on air targets

• Reflect the diversity of Australia, including CALD – culturally and linguistically diverse people and regional / rural audiences. via on air targets and leveraging Unearthed • Support female and culturally diverse artists – indigenous people via Unearthed 49 and presenters. scholarships and ABC Classic live recording projects and on-air targets

– young artists via Unearthed High.

• Help other ABC audiences become aware of and engage with music that is relevant to them by: – migrating older audiences (>30) from triple j to Double J and beyond

– making RN, Local and TV audiences aware of Double J, ABC Classic, Country and RN Music by providing music and commentary for them.

• Reach more audiences for traditionally niche genres of classical and jazz by: – making the offers more accessible to audiences by matching mood and time of day

– making music programs focused on adjacent niches (e.g. Film and Gaming). Our inspiration From our team 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN • Make people’s lives better through music. “ABC Classic provides the soundtrack • Launch the careers of Australian artists, help to people’s lives. Whether waking up, their music find audiences and give them a concentrating at work or career trajectory. celebrating the end of the week, • Share the voices, opinions and ideas of young we inspire our audiences with the people. very best music written across 1000 years, brought to life by a • Take advantage of the immediacy of live family of beloved presenters.” radio and digital / social content to talk to Toby Chadd, Content Manager, audiences immediately and quickly about ABC Classic & ABC Jazz their lives and interests.

• Find new, diverse talent and share them with “triple j is privileged to be the rest of the ABC. simultaneously a voice and a mirror • Use music to connect people to a live to young Australians, often as they community of people like themselves and navigate experiences for the first contribute to their sense of belonging. time. To be a guide and a friend, triple j considers every piece of content through the prism of 18– 24s and every piece of content 50 needs to be fit for the platform it’s on” Ollie Wards, Manager triple j, Hack, Unearthed

“Double J speaks the language of our 30–50 year old audience. We know a song is more than a piece of music, it shapes who we are and reminds us of the best time of our life. We embrace our history and give context to new music.” Meagan Loader, Content Manager Double J, Rage and ABC Country Our highlights 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN triple j Hottest 100 triple j Hack The Hottest 100 is the biggest music campaign of its Hack is the ABC’s news and issue’s program for type in the world, capturing the imagination of young young Australians (18-24s), with a daily radio Australians every summer when triple j collates millions program and digital content made especially of votes and counts down the greatest 100 songs of for young audiences. Hack is focused on the the year. The Hottest Weekend is the soundtrack to stories that matter to young people’s lives, so thousands of parties and BBQs at the end of January as talks about sex, drugs and mental health as an estimated 3.2 million people listen to the countdown often as it discusses politics. The show has a live across triple j and the retro countdown on Double J. strong social media presence and experiments The Hottest 100 is without doubt the largest radio event with new content forms on platforms such as in Australia. The success of the Hottest 100 is mirrored in Instagram stories. The program combines with the increasing audience for the Classic 100 and in 2020, triple j News bulletins and The Hook Up sex & we will introduce a special Jazz 100 on ABC Jazz. relationships content to provide comprehensive talk content for the millions of young International Women’s Day / Girls To The Front Australians engaging with triple j every week. Every year on March 8, our music networks highlight the immense contribution of women to music culture triple j Unearthed High around the world. Led by Double J, the triple j family look Unearthed High is a national Unearthed talent at female musical pioneers, while triple j Unearthed search for Australia’s best high school aged highlights some of the best upcoming women on the band or artist. The campaign has built over Australian scene. ABC Classic works to lift the profile a decade and now receives over a thousand of female composers who are vastly underrepresented entries each year with five finalists profiled 51 in the history of classical music, with past features and given airplay on triple j. Previous winners including Clara Schumann and Hildegard von Bingen include Kian, Gretta Ray, Japanese Wallpaper alongside Australia’s best such as Elena Kats-Chernin. and Stonefield. The campaign also includes an ABC Classic also commissions new recordings of works Indigenous Initiative, giving one Indigenous high by female composers, bringing their work to a new and school act a prize of mentorship, management interested audience. This day connects with our music support and an APRA/AMCOS Songmaker networks overall efforts to increase the proportion of workshop at their school. female artists in daily playlists. Like A Version Every Friday morning, another act drops in to the triple j studios to play an original song and a cover. It’s a simple premise that is now the most popular live music segment across the ABC, spanning radio, podcast, video and audio on-demand. It is the ABC’s biggest segment on third party video, with Youtube numbers in the tens of millions for acts such as Childish Gambino, Arctic Monkeys and Chvrches. triple j’s Youtube channel is the biggest in the ABC, recently topping 1 million subscribers. triple j is now expanding in to new segments such as Bars Of Steel – a weekly freestyle video that highlights rappers from diverse cultural backgrounds. triple j’s One Night Stand 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN It takes a community to build a One Night Stand. This is triple j’s annual regional concert event, where some of Australian music’s biggest names put on a show for locals and tens of thousands of travellers. The triple j team collaborates with ABC Regional & Local and works closely with the local Council to turn a footy oval into a concert arena for one night only. In 2019, triple j took over Lucindale in South Australia (pop.500) where the Hilltop Hoods, Ocean Alley, Meg Mac and G Flip played to a crowd of 15,000. In 2020, who knows which Australian town will be having a One Night Stand with triple j and the ABC. ABC Classic Beethoven 250 In 2020, the world will celebrate 250 years since the birth of the greatest musician in history; Ludwig Van Beethoven. ABC Classic will feature new live recordings from Australia’s best orchestras and ensembles across 2020, with some special live to air events and campaigns. There will be a weekly Beethoven program, in which ABC Classic aims to play every piece of music that the composer ever wrote. It is a celebration of music, of passion, of creativity and of one person’s giant 52 achievement in humanity.

Below: triple j’s One Night Stand ABC CONTENT PLAN 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN

Our content

BROAD DISTINCTIVE AND LARGE IMPACT

triple j Breakfast and Drive ABC Classic triple j Like A Version Ausmusic Month triple j Splendour in the Grass Hottest 100 triple j YouTube, Facebook and Instagram triple j triple j Hack triple j News triple j One Night Stand 53

FOCUSED HIGH PUBLIC BENEFIT

ABC Classic Breakfast and Drive Classic 100 ABC Country Girls To The Front ABC Jazz International Women's Day weekend Double J RN Music Show Double J 90s triple j Unearthed Rage Saturday Night Country ABC CONTENT PLAN 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN

Pictured: Angharad ‘Rad’ Yeo

54 Children’s Our ambitions • Support parents, families, carers and the early 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN childhood sector with educational resources • Entertain and inspire the 4.4 million Australian and co-viewing programs as the trusted age children (between 2-14yrs) with light entertainment, appropriate source. drama, comedy, preschool and factual content that’s underpinned by early learning and childhood • Support the Australian production development principles. community with a commitment to pathways for emerging diverse talent and working with • Help children build life-long connection to the ABC Australia’s brightest creators and producers through podcasts, premium TV programs, live streams, to make premium Children’s Content. music, digital content and educational resources delivered on ABC linear and digital platforms. • Commit to authentic voices and representation in front and behind the • Tell stories that: camera with a focus on under-represented – reflect our diverse and rich Australian identity groups from CALD, Indigenous and Disabled communities. Continue our 50/50 female cast – guide children through the big and small transitions and crew targets. of childhood

– connect city & regional kids to each other and the global village Our inspiration – empower children to speak up and participate • Listen to our audience and make them laugh, within their communities. think and feel. 55 • Be bold, brave and take creative risks while empowering, entertaining and informing. How we’ll do this • Always take an inclusive lens to give children content that they can see themselves in. • Make expertly crafted content for younger audiences Create a sense of belonging in an expanding with age appropriate pace and style using a range national identity. of production techniques including world class live- action, puppets, songs and animation for learning and • Never patronise children and their caregivers. entertainment in equal measure. Let parents’ parent and respect the intelligence of children. • Make premium comedy and drama content with a distinctively Australian point of view to speak directly • Work with passionate, driven content creators to Australian kids and global audiences who are who love making kids content as much as fascinated with our big-hearted characters and epic we do. locations. • Focus on accuracy and pushing the • Supercharge kids “smarts” and intelligence through boundaries of stories and topics while entertainment and factual programs that put them in balancing trust and risk in a noisy & complex the driving seat, allowing them to explore, investigate information world. and make sense of the world around them. • Experiment with new formats and approaches to content development, designed for the platform of consumption. From our team Our highlights 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN More Australian content “ABC Children’s programs are the cultural In 2020 ABC KIDS & ABC ME will feature more touchpoints that shape our children’s sense of Australian titles! Breakout ‘Australian Made’ themselves and what it means to be series Bluey returns to audience acclaim Australian. Wherever they end up in life, with new episodes of the hilarious and heart- they can draw on the collective memories warming life in the Heeler family. Kangaroo of Play School or Bluey to connect with Beach will premiere its first season introducing others and their country. Instilling kids with the junior lifesaving crew and Play School and a lifelong love of Australian culture and the Giggle & Hoot will return as firm favourites. arts is the beating heart of everything we do.” Itch, Mustangs FC Series 3, 100% Wolf and Are You Tougher Than Your Ancestors will expand Libbie Doherty, Head of Children’s older kids thinking with big global questions alongside the ups and downs of everyday life. “Every child should see themselves, their New ABC KIDS Listen podcast lives and their experiences being reflected Story Salad is a storytelling show that back at them – see their families, their introduces kids to the fun of improvisation and friends, their struggles and their creative storytelling. Expert Play School and achievements wrapped up in stories ABC ME hosts are given three words to make that are entertaining, genuine and inclusive. a stupendous story using them, right then and They should know that their voices are all there, on the spot! What do Jellyfish, rainbows equal, all important and all represented in and spaghetti have in common? No idea! 56 our content.” But we’ll mix them together and find out. Amanda Isdale, Executive Producer Early childhood resources As the trusted source on childhood “Pre-school content is limitless in what you can development, for parents, families, carers do (a family of talking dogs may be the most and the early childhood community we will relatable show on TV!), and the fun is never- continue to create and publish resources ending – however our audiences are that keep parents up to date on the latest unequivocal, so we must always be on top childhood research and studies and provide of our game. That’s exciting!” early childhood workers with practical and fun Bryson Hall, Series Producer Play School exercises that can be used in centres around the country. Industry development initiative Play School Directors Attachment Scheme. In 2020 Play School will be working with mid- career directors from CALD backgrounds as Directors attachments, gaining on the ground Left top: Bluey (A Ludo experience in the ABC multi-cam studio on Studio Production) Left centre: Play School arguably Australia’s most well-oiled production. Nursery Rhyme News Time Left bottom: Mustangs FC (A Matchbox Pictures production. Photo Sarah Enticknap.) ABC CONTENT PLAN 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN

Our content

PRE-SCHOOL (2-8YRS) CHILDRENS (7-14YRS)

ABC KIDS listen, including podcasts 100% WOLF Imagine This (S3) & Little Yarns Are You Tougher Than Your Ancestors? Bluey (S2) DisRupted (Disability initiative) Giggle and Hoot First Day Kangaroo Beach Get it Together! (S2) Little J and Big Cuz (S2) Good Game SP (S13) Play School Specials, Art Time, Story Time, Nursery Rhyme News Time. Itch 57 Mustangs FC (S3)

Prank You Very Much

Space Nova

Stacked

Teenage Boss (S2)

Thalu

The Strange Chores

What's for Dinner? (S2)

What It’s Like (S3) ABC CONTENT PLAN 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN

Pictured: Killing Eve (BBC America)

58 Targeted Initiatives Our ambition Our inspiration 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN • Attract new audiences and retain core audiences High quality unique stories, fresh perspectives allowing commissioning to focus resources on that engage audiences and connect people. younger Australian audiences.

• Acquire unique and distinct local and international content for ABC audiences. Our content • Provide content with broad audience reach for linear broadcast and on-demand.

• Provide international perspectives on topics and Documentary, factual entertainment, issues of interest. comedy, drama and children’s.

• Be proactive and responsive in a dynamic programming and commercial environment.

• Bolster Australian content hours.

How we’ll do this • Deliver a broad range of high-quality 59 content that shines a light on stories from around the world.

• Spot and secure the must-see programs that will have people talking.

• Maintain and develop strong relationships with key distributors and producers.

• Source specifically targeted local and international content that complements commissioned titles and broadens the audience experience.

• Act quickly to secure content and negotiate the best- value outcome for the ABC.

• Track the state of the content marketplace to ensure the ABC is primed to acquire content that meets audience needs.

• Bolster Australian content hours with local enhanced acquisitions. Our ambition • Create innovative content for family and 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN shared co-listening experiences. • Attract new audiences to the ABC through bold, world- class and market-leading podcasts. • Focus on growth areas such as series- based narrative podcasts, and scripted and • Reach under-served ABC audiences, including younger fictionalised podcasts. audiences, SINKS/DINKS, home duties and working families with tailored podcast content. • Provide practical information and non- judgmental advice that helps people better • Build the habit of audio listening in digital control their lives. environments to increase on-demand consumption and reach. • Partner with other ABC departments to create enticing companion digital content. • Explore and experiment with new and emerging audio storytelling techniques. • Scale our podcast expertise across the ABC and the broader industry via workshops, • Create podcast content that is native to the format training, Ozpod conference, participation in and fit for platform. industry events. • Focus equally on both the creation and the distribution of our world-class podcast content. • Lead the ABC and the Australian industry on best- Our inspiration practice principles for podcast production. • The future for audio – like video – is on demand, so we create content that’s native 60 to the podcasting format. How we’ll do this • Tailored podcasts designed for an audience on-the-go is a growth opportunity. Audio • Use audience insights to drive our audience-focussed Studios is at the centre of the current commissioning process and measure our success. renaissance in audio storytelling in the on- • Focus on content which can acquire non-core demand environment. audiences and transition them to other ABC audio • Audiences want niche content, specific to content. their needs and aspirations. Podcasting is the • Produce content on topics, in genres, and via story way the ABC can offer this and complement treatments that appeal to underserved audiences and the broadcast offer. market gaps such as: True Crime and History, Comedy, • To constantly test and measure our processes Work and Career, Parenting and Families, Women’s and offer, to constantly refine and pivot Health, Wellbeing and Sexuality, and Sustainability. our slate. • Reach younger audiences by focusing on niche • Take brave and calculated risks to create content specific to their needs and aspirations, and distinctive content. making content that is accessible and relevant to them. From our team Our highlights 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN The Eleventh “The future for audio – like video – is on demand. This explosive spy thriller explores the People don’t want to wait for content and downfall of Gough Whitlam. Reporter Alex increasingly they aren’t. Audiences want Mann re-examines the role of the CIA and great content readily available on the Buckingham Palace in the events surrounding platforms they’re already on. Audiences the dismissal of Australia’s 21st Prime Minister. also want niche content specific to their We introduce new characters and relive the needs, wants, desires, aspirations. scandals and subplots that brought down a Podcasting is where the ABC can give prime minister. This seven-part podcast makes them that. Tailored podcasting content Australian political history accessible to a designed for digital consumption on mobile younger audience through a contemporary platforms is a growth opportunity the ABC can’t and compelling narrative style. afford to ignore.” Kellie Riordan, Manager of ABC Audio Studios Judith Lucy is Overwhelmed and Dying Judith Lucy’s boyfriend has been stealing money from her. Her brother, the last remaining member of her family, has died suddenly. On top of this, she’s wondering whether to give up comedy. And every time she looks at her phone she feels depressed by the current state of the world. Surely this isn’t how life was meant to be? This 61 eight-episode podcast sees Judith on a quest to regain hope, reclaim happiness, and to make the most of her remaining years. In her search for meaning, Judith Lucy attempts to address her own health, sex life, relationships, career, faith, and purpose in life.

Mackaroy (working title) Tien and Mitchell are 14-year-old best friends who live in the small country town, Mackaroy. Tien and Mitchell spend all their spare time investigating conspiracies for their YouTube show. One day, they realise something very strange is going on. In their home town, at the same time every night for one hour, the internet goes down. What, and who, is sucking up all the data, and more to the point, why? This scripted podcast examines how much of our data others have access to, why that’s not necessarily a great thing, and also the lengths companies will go to, to influence us to buy their products. Created in collaboration between ABC Audio Studios and ABC Children’s. Mackaroy is the ABC’s first audio product for children aged 10-12. ABC CONTENT PLAN 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN

Our content

Conversations

Ladies, We Need to Talk

Short & Curly

The Pineapple Project (S4)

ABC Comedy Presents

Fierce Girls (S4)

Judith Lucy is Overwhelmed & Dying

Mackaroy (working title) 62 Little Green Pod

Parental As Anything with Maggie Dent

Tall Tales & True (S7)

New Scripted Comedy Musical (working title)

Mindfully

The Eleventh

Right: ABC podcasts Content Ideas Lab Our inspiration 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN • Create lasting value to audiences with distinctive content with longtail appeal. Our ambitions • Engage and involve the audience in telling • Focus on growing Australian audiences currently underserved stories. by the ABC e.g. younger audiences (18–40 year olds), women, outer metropolitan audiences and diverse audiences with • Sit with conversations and allow them to respect to culture, disability, gender and sexuality. breathe over time and build, slowly.

• Work with teams across the ABC to explore new and refine • Combine personal experience with expertise existing ways of: to create content that is relatable and – reaching underserved audiences e.g. younger women for credible. ABC Life • Create, publish and share content in ways – telling different types of stories e.g. the topics / formats / that are most useful to its audience. tones / treatments we explore and use • Starts conversations and creates a space to – working together e.g. the processes, workflows and tools continue them. we use. • Content is made collaboratively to ensure • Help audiences act on challenges and choices in their lives it is inclusive and relevant. and connect with other people facing similar situations. • Reflects the diverse moods of our audience to build enjoyment and resilience. 63

How we’ll do this • Evolve and incubate offers optimised for targeted audiences important to the ABC.

• Trial new content types, tones and treatments.

• Build, measure and learn through trials, experimentation and prototyping of new technology and formats.

• Support ABC teams through coaching, collaboration, and providing resource and expertise; particularly in the discovery phase of new initiatives.

• Start with audience needs to help people build the lives they want. ABC CONTENT PLAN 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN From our team Collaboration Collaboration has been at the heart of ABC Life’s

ways of working across the organisation to “What sets ABC Life apart is that we are here to achieve what it has for audiences in its first year mirror the full and rich diversity of Australian of being live. These collaborations will expand lives today. Whether it’s in our relationships across the nation as the service continues with each other, or those big moments of to evolve, ensuring that we’re as relevant as transition or the everyday niggles, we want possible to Australians everywhere. to be able to provide meaningful help.” Bhakthi Puvanenthiran, ABC Life Editor Storybox In Q1 2020 we launch an innovative local storytelling project using public space media in

ways never tried before. Partnering with a local “In Content Ideas Lab we get to work with teams council, a screen in a busy public square will across the ABC to turn opportunity areas into deliver digital, experiential media to enhance creative content ideas that we can pilot and connections between people and place. Content test with new audiences. We want to help Ideas Lab will commission original video build a vibrant and compelling ABC now content made specifically for consumption in and into the future.” public space, as well as curating and reworking Anisha Khopkar, Content Strategist existing ABC video content. The video works will tell high quality Australian stories and showcase Australian culture, diversity, culture and the local community. This experiment will 64 “We’re passionate about interacting with explore ABC’s place in public screens and, if Australian audiences and do it every day. successful, has potential to scale to Local This daily engagement builds connection Government Areas around Australia. and community, and puts us in touch with audience members who have a Evergreen content story to tell." Content Ideas Lab is exploring the future Sonya Gee, ABC Life Assistant Editor state of digital evergreen text content at the ABC. Through rigorous analysis with data scientists and expert interviews with subject matter experts, we aim to uncover the biggest opportunities to reach new audiences through Our highlights evergreen/long tail content. We will build on ABC’s already successful text and graphics ABC Life’s approach to food content through scalable pilots. ABC Life helps Australians navigate the challenges and choices in their lives—food and cooking can fall into either category, depending on your life stage or simply the kind of day you’re having. Our recipes meet audiences where they are, whether they’re trying to assemble a meal their kids will actually eat, experimenting with vegetarian dinners in an effort to cut back on meat, or making time to bake as a way to unwind. Our ambition • Expand participation in initiatives that 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN engage the community and allow that • Focus on educators, students and carers with content community to drive conversations that enhances learning experiences. (e.g. BTN at Garma).

• Expand our content for teen student audiences. • Leverage Learn English content for Australian local audiences. • Connect further into local communities.

• Educate, inspire and delight students, whether they are learning at school, home or virtually.

• Equip young people with the skills, knowledge Our inspiration and attributes of being active, informed citizens in • Work in a platform-agnostic, digital-first way Australian democracy who think critically. that benefits all of the ABC.

• Push the boundaries of stories and topics we cover, • Explore new and emerging content formats balancing trust and risk. for educational audiences using new production methods.

• Focus on issues that inspire young people to act and participate in a democracies at local How we’ll do this and global level. • Produce curriculum-focused digital education • Create content for children from diverse resources that allow educators to strengthen communities that they can see themselves in, 65 education and learning opportunities for their creating a sense of belonging in an expanding students. and evolving national identity. • Acquire early stage high school audiences with • The students and teachers in schools across content that has different tones, treatment, topics and Australia who help us understand what distribution methods. content works in Australian classrooms. • Build communities in digital and real spaces.

• Introduce children to the world around them by explaining current news events and topical issues.

• Engage local and global audiences in media literacy by continuing to participate in Media Literacy Week and working with organisations who are dedicated to the area.

• Connect Australian teachers and students to stories from across Australia, cities, suburbs and regions that help them understand the world in which they live (e.g. Agricultural Economy Digibook).

• Give local communities a voice to tell their stories or place a local lens on key stories or topics of the moment using our regional networks and connections. From our team Our highlights 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN Partnerships “Making learning resources that work brilliantly Forthcoming content for 2020 includes in the classroom comes with a plethora of National Gallery of Victoria featuring their creative challenges! Students come to our antiquities collection, Sydney Living Museums content via teachers (who are time poor). and a collection made in partnership with the We are one of many resources available. Department Primary Industries NSW on sharks Relatable references and contemporary designs are key hooks. Our presentation of Ag Heroes (working title) complex concepts needs to strike the right A series of at least 20 short form clips that explores the major Agricultural Industries that balance. Resources must be simple, useful AND contribute to Australia’s economy. The history exciting and inspiring. The tone and voices used and production processes of these industries must resonate. Our creative partnerships with will be explored through the lens of young content and production specialists are crucial. people on farms and whose families work in Schools have such a disparate range of devices and these industries. It will cover the geography, teaching environments. There are multiple modes history and science curricula. to consider (working as a class, in groups, individually). Interactives need to work on Life Chat projectors (plus desktops, laptops and tablets). We A series of ten role-plays for the Learn English experiment with new formats such as our audience that will be included on iview, interactive lessons to meet these needs. We also International iview and Learn English. These strive to make interactives as accessible as are for both international audiences and local 66 possible.” audiences who may be learning English as an Amy Nelson, Senior Producer and additional language. Content Strategist, ABC Education Media Literacy We will continue to work with ABC News, “In 2018, there were nearly 3.9 million students ABC Local and Regional and national and and over 288,000 full-time equivalent international partners to create content for our teaching staff in 9,477 Australian schools.1 Media Literacy Week website. These resources to help students and teachers fight threats such I’m proud to work for a team that caters for as “fake news” underline the commitment by this crucial segment of Australian society. I the public broadcaster to inform and educate love bringing teachers industry-specific people by fostering social inclusion, trust and news and articles, knowing it not only helps understanding in the world around them. in their practice of educating future Australians, but also highlights the incredible resources available on ABC Education and the brilliant content across the ABC that we package for classrooms. I’m also thrilled to be providing students with plain-language articles they can connect with directly to satisfy their thirst for knowledge.” Ara Sarafian, Editor, ABC Education

1 Source: Schools, Australia ABS Nov 2018 4221.0 ABC CONTENT PLAN 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN

Our content

Financial literacy

Agriculture digibook

Child Convicts

Continue to curate content from across the ABC and match to the curriculum.

Immigration digibooks

International Media Literacy Week October 21-27

Learn English role-plays 67 Learn English social content (short vocab. explainers)

Media / news literacy

The News Diet Challenge

Bruce Pascoe digibook

Work with BTN production team to produce short explainers on topical news / history concepts.

Content partnerships with galleries, libraries, archives and museums across the country.

Community competitions

Articles to support educators and parents Our ambitions Our inspiration 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN • Focus on Australia’s neighbours in the Pacific, • Bring Australia’s diverse and inclusive stories Indonesia, the Chinese and Indian diasporas, and the to the heads, hearts, and hands of people 1.2 million Australians abroad, in particular on: around the world.

– influential people of the Indo-Pacific region who • Share Australian culture and values to build a have an interest in connecting with Australia for safer more inclusive region. family, business, education, or leisure • Be a daily media source for Australians – young people (often the largest demographic in our abroad. target countries) • Be a trusted source of information, education, – speakers of Chinese, Bahasa Indonesia and Tok Pisin and entertainment for people of the Indo- – Australians working and traveling abroad. Pacific.

• Grow Australia’s standing around the world by • Reinforce Australia’s place the Indo-Pacific, targeting people who are politically, culturally, or particularly as the interface between “east” economically influential. and “west”. • Increase Australia’s curiosity and knowledge of the Indo-Pacific region. How we’ll do this • Increase media literacy and build capacity within communities in the Pacific to be able to 68 • Grow audiences on ABC Australia and ABC Radio tell their own stories. Australia broadcast channels by increasing the breadth of the content offering across news, sport, • Be a place for conversations and education, drama, comedy, and kids; and by increasing collaborations with the CALD communities to distribution of the service. amplify our inclusive community and values overseas. • Work with key genres that speak an ‘international’ language such as arts, music, science, and children’s to shape content that can increase international audiences.

• Translate content into key relevant languages – Chinese, Bahasa Indonesia, and Tok Pisin (for PNG).

• Create news content in partnership with communities so it is more inclusive in approach and tone.

• Internationalise key ABC activities like New Year’s Eve coverage.

• Experiment with newer forms of content including podcasting and digital story telling that reach younger audiences on more platforms including local media channels in the Pacific, Indonesia, and China, which are part of their natural media consumption. From our team Our highlights 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN Pacific focus “There are over one million Australians of The countries of the Pacific face environmental Chinese heritage. We will collaborate with and political challenges and Australia has a them to tell stories about travel, health, big role to play in navigating them. News, talk, lifestyle, arts, culture that will engage sport, and culture will be priority content areas. Chinese audiences all over the world and This will include a revitalised Pacific Break – a will build greater understanding between competition for Pacific musicians with the Australia and China.” winner playing at the Womadelaide festival. Grace Feng, ABC Chinese Learn English English-language learning is a strong international audience drawcard particularly

via social media. New lessons will be created “Australia shares deep historical and cultural for use across multiple digital and broadcast ties with people of the ‘blue continent’. The platforms. ABC has been Australia’s voice in the Pacific for decades and a competition like Pacific Digital storytelling Break will engage and unite young people A digital first storytelling team will focus on through music.” vertical video storytelling and making content Ilaria Walker, ABC Indo-Pacific in the ways that younger audiences are consuming content. This will include dedicated social media/ community producers. Content 69 will include sharing stories of success from Australia’s diverse communities, and Australian Heart – a series about Australians abroad making a difference in improving peoples’ lives. What we value and how we work 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN

To complement the specific A constructive part of the community Bold and compelling We’re part of communities across Australia We know that no treatment is off the guidelines our teams use and work with them to tell their stories and table if it makes our stories compelling, to make decisions, we’ve share their perspectives. We do more than surprising, entertaining and valuable just report events and raise issues, we help for our audiences. described some universal people and communities understand them, qualities we look for in know what’s being done about them and the content. We’ve also described practical things they can do themselves. how we will work and Distinctive and Australian We tell stories for and about everything that’s measure success over the uniquely Australian – our people, places and next three years to meet communities. We raise and discuss the things that others won’t. We do so with depth, rigour our priorities. and lasting relevance. We value content that is 70 Relatable and approachable We tell stories about the things that Australians care about and the issues and events that matter to them. We help people connect with these stories by speaking clearly, embracing feeling and using personal experience, drama and humour.

Right: The Weekly with Charlie Pickering (A Thinkative Television production. Photo Kelly Gardner.) When we work we 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN

Start with audience Build destinations and brands Partner and collaborate We focus on our priority audiences. In every We make complementary content to build We work with teams across the ABC to tell discussion we ask ‘Who is this for?’, ‘How will destinations and brands that help audiences stories that are broader, reach more people it be relevant?’ and ‘What does the data or to discover content and build habits. We do and build conversations. We work with grass audience insight tell us?’ this with enough variety to keep audiences roots organisations and cultural institutions interested. to increase social impact. Consider platform We make content for the platforms our Make it returnable Are creative and grounded audience use. We balance making content We craft narratives and connect content We experiment and try new things, that works across multiple platforms with to make audiences return across episodes, but don’t discard what works. We learn content designed for specific platforms series and seasons and move across our from our past and trends here and overseas, and their audiences. platforms. Ultimately, we look to build lifelong but are never formulaic. relationships with Australians. Consider our content mix Rally around returning events Content doesn’t exist in a vacuum. We use existing events (e.g. New Year’s Eve) To balance our content mix, we ask: and make new ones (e.g. Jazz 100) to unite engaged people and build audiences. • What is unique about this content? Are we avoiding unnecessary duplication 71 Blur genres and over-servicing of a particular audience? Some of our biggest and most distinctive content blurs genres intentionally. When we • What aspects of the content might have connect public benefit to entertainment, more universal or broader appeal? How can we people connect with it. (e.g. Comedy & News – maximise this while creating a distinctively The Weekly With Charlie Pickering, Art & Human ABC offer? Interest – Anh’s Brush With Fame). • If we are focusing on a targeted audience, are we creating content for Australians we wouldn’t normally reach?

• Can we connect this to other ABC content to tell a more compelling story overall?

• Is there similar or adjacent content that will help us to create broadcast schedules and Left: Karl Kruszelnicki online platforms that are habit building for our audiences? Measuring success 2020-22ABC CONTENT PLAN

We will measure success against each of our four priorities: Relevant for all Australians Look and sound like Creative, push boundaries We will determine how relevant and essential contemporary Australia and take risks our portfolio of content is by continually We will monitor the diversity of talent used We will measure the quality and distinctiveness assessing where our audience gaps lie and in the story selection, curation, creation, of our content in meeting audience needs tracking the awareness, reach and engagement performance and presentation of our content and expectations and ensure that we remain of our content (individual and collective) across as well as audience perceptions of diversity, innovative in our approach to creating all audience segments. balance and inclusion to ensure we truly look extraordinary experiences. and sound like contemporary Australia. Deliver public benefit with impact We will understand the extent of the impact and public benefit our content delivers by monitoring the real world impacts on the behaviours and attitudes of Australians.

72

Left: Wil Anderson hosts Gruen (A CJZ production. Photo successIan Corridore.)