Friends of the ABC (NSW) Inc. quarterly newsletter October 2011 UPDATE Vol 19, No.3 incorporating Background Briefi ng friends of the abc ABC LOSES THREE VERY SPECIAL STAFF Inside Update Broadcasting Excellence Award 3 Deliberate dismantling of the ABC 4 ABC is betraying its cultural heritage 5 Radio National - Why we exist 6 Ian Carroll 1946 – 2011 6 Mike Carlton on the ABC in 2011 7 Paul Lockyer Gary Ticehurst John Bean The Australian’s Art Attack on ABC 10 As a mirror to our culture... 11 helicopter accident near Lake It is a tragedy that their lives were At home with Julia inappropriate 11 Eyre on 17th August took the lost doing what they loved – bringing Alives of three highly esteemed a unique part of natural Australia into Branch News 12 and senior ABC staff - Paul Lockyer the homes of us all, giving us all the A perception of bias 14 (reporter), Gary Ticehurst (pilot) opportunity to share and experience and John Bean (cameraman). The the wonders and the drama of an Few value the gem of the nation 15 tributes which have fl owed since have Australia which many of us may Outsourcing the arts at Aunty 16 been a wonderful testament to their never see in reality. Ratings chase is no pursuit... 17 outstanding professionalism in their Friends of the ABC expresses its fi eld. They were highly respected by all deepest sympathy to the family, Who watches Media Watch? 17 who knew them and worked with them, friends and colleagues of Paul, Gary Media matters 18 but in each case their personal qualities and John. We all share the enormous engendered a very special relationship sense of loss which is felt by all who Changes to ABC Programming 19 with friends and colleagues. knew them. Page 1 Update Publication Information Update is published four times a year by Friends of the ABC (NSW) Inc. (FABC), From the President PO Box 1391 NORTH SYDNEY 2059. Printpost approved PP245059/00002 To become a member phone (02) 9990 0600 or email to he tragic helicopter accident populist material of doubtful quality [email protected] which took the lives of Paul which seems to occupy far too much or access our website TLockyer, Gary Ticehurst and time in the ABC TV schedule. It also www.fabcnsw.org.au. John Bean is a reminder of the emphasizes the constant need to Extracts from newspapers and other dangers which are a part of being pressure the Federal Government to publications appearing in Update do not a correspondent for the ABC, restore ABC funding to the level of the necessarily reflect the views of the particularly for those who are working early 80’s. members of FABC. in the world’s trouble spots. We take Update is distributed to all members of for granted that, day by day, we Michael Mason to Address AGM FABC, as part of the membership fee. will be kept up to date with what Head of Radio National, Michael Update is also supplied to journalists, is happening across our nation and politicians and libraries across Australia. Mason, has agreed to attend the NSW It is edited and produced in Sydney but throughout the world, but often FABC Annual General Meeting, where contributions are welcome from NSW country correspondents work at considerable he will outline proposed changes to and interstate branches. personal risk and great personal the Radio National lineup for 2012, Material may be quoted or reproduced discomfort. Typical was Paul Lockyer’s as well as respond to comments and from Update provided the source is reporting from fl ood areas early this questions from our members. Any acknowledged and reproduction is sent to year, when he was fi rst on the scene the President FABC. threat of the erosion of depth and on many occasions, thanks to the ABC intellectual challenge on RN is always Would you like to receive Update helicopter pilot Gary Ticehurst, with magazine electronically? of great concern – we have seen it John Bean behind the camera. As with happen before! Does the announced Save the planet's trees and The Friends many ABC broadcasters, they became printing and postage costs and read Update attracting of a younger audience mean magazine on your computer. family, and part of our lives. Paul, that programs will lose that depth Each quarter, when Update is published, you Gary and John, thank you for all you and rigour? Take the opportunity to will receive an email with a link to the latest have given us over many years – you put your views to Michael Mason issue (each magazine is around 0.5MB). are sadly missed. by attending the AGM, at Sydney You can try this now by going to our website at www.fabcnsw.org.au and Mechanics School of Arts, 280 Pitt St. clicking on Update. Also a great loss to the ABC was Sydney on Saturday 8th October at If you prefer this delivery option for future Ian Carroll, who has had such an 1pm. Michael has outlined his vision Updates please send an email to the infl uence over the past 30 years in for Radio National and the rationale Membership Secretary. many of the ABC’s ground-breaking for changes in this Update. Who to write… programs – a man of great vision Bias and Balance on the ABC Anyone seeking basic information about and humanity. Update includes an writing to persons of influence might find it eloquent tribute from Mark Scott and The need to constantly question and helpful to go to the FABC NSW website www.fabc.org.au where there are some Johnathan Holmes, which can be read challenge the messages we receive menu items under "Be Active" leading to in full on our website at www.fabcnsw. from our media is highlighted by pages of information: >OVJHU0^YP[L[V& org.au. the invaluable MediaWatch and the >OH[JHU0ZH`& inscrutable Johnathan Holmes, but ABC Television – What’s Left? the length of the journey we must FABC (NSW) Executive Committee sometimes take to fi nd and expose the Office Bearers The pages of Update include much truth is laid out for us in some detail President - Mal Hewitt discussion of the bleak future for by FABC member, David McIlwain. Phone: 02 9637 2900 In-House ABC production. Update Email: [email protected] He outlines the journey that he has invited Kim Dalton, Director of took in questioning the balance in Secretary & Treasurer - James Buchanan Television, to contribute, explaining a documentary shown on the ABC Phone: 02 9371 5621 and justifying both past changes and Email: [email protected] as ‘Collision Course’. Produced by future proposals. Particular focus is the BBC under the title “Death in Membership Secretary - Angela Williamson on Arts coverage on television – any Phone: 02 9416 4463 the Med”, the program examines the Email: [email protected] comparison between the present and circumstances surrounding the Israeli ABC TV in its earlier years shows attack on the fl otilla which attempted Update Editor - Mal Hewitt PO Box 1391 N. Sydney NSW 2059 how barren the landscape is. Surely, to break the Gaza blockade. We must Email: [email protected] with the multiplicity of channels always question the sources of the now available, there should be far Cartoonist - Phil Somerville information we are receiving, even on Editorial Cartoonist for The Sun Herald greater coverage of local concerts, the ABC. (Sydney) opera, ballet, dramas, recitals – all Nobody at the top of Murdoch’s [email protected] that cultural material that commercial News of The World was asking Layout Artist - Paul Martens channels totally ignore. enough questions about sources of [email protected] If, as Kim Dalton suggests, the information in the ongoing phone- Membership Line: 02 9990 0600 problem is lack of money, then he hacking scandal, least of all Rupert must seriously consider the allocation Murdoch. It makes it even more of scarce funds to the production of extraordinary that Rupert Murdoch Page 2 should have been invited by the ABC Mike Carlton proved to be a very Margaret Throsby, who has perfected Board to deliver the Boyer Lectures in popular speaker at the Annual the art of interview in her morning 2009, in which he used such words as Dinner of Friends of The ABC. He segment on Classic FM, but her career ‘truth’, ‘quality’, ‘integrity’ in relation spoke warmly of his early days as a spans well over 40 years, including to his own media organizations, cadet journalist in the 1960’s, and television, 702 radio and Classic FM. obviously with tongue fi rmly in the thoroughness of the training Margaret will be a worthy recipient cheek. There is clearly a need for the given to young journalists and future of the Annual Award for Excellence proposed inquiry into the print media broadcasters. It is a sad reality that in Broadcasting, presented at the in Australia, where Murdoch owns such training and grounding is not FABC Christmas Party, to be held on over 70%. part of today’s ABC - we reproduce a date to be announced. Please make a the latter part of his address, in which note in your diaries. FABC Dinner and he seriously questions the quality of Christmas Party much that is broadcast in 2011. Mal Hewitt Veteran journalist and broadcaster Another ‘veteran’ of the ABC is President, NSW FABC BROADCASTING EXCELLENCE AWARD for 2011 CLASSIC FM’s MARGARET THROSBY face and voice familiar Australia-wide, Australia (for Services to Broadcasting, 1989), and one of the ABC’s most popular Variety Club of Australia’s Radio Award, Two A and admired broadcasters, Margaret Avion Awards for the ‘Best in the World’ Throsby presents Mornings on ABC Classic in-fl ight audio programs (Qantas), FM from 9am to 11am, Monday to Friday.