UpdateAugust 2019 Vol 27, No. 2 Thrice Yearly Newsletter DEFEND FREEDOMMEDIA ABC FRIENDS RESPOND conference in London Australian Foreign Margaret Reynolds Minister, Marise Payne was embarrassed establishing ABCF National in campaign ABC Friends National to have Australia identified as a democracy mode to Defend Media Freedom. We President failing to maintain standards of journalistic have been overwhelmed by members and - freedom and citizens’ right to information. supporters expressing their anger and Speaking as the United Kingdoms Special disbelief that Australia has joined the ranks n recent weeks ABC Friends National Envoy on Media Freedom, Amal Clooney of those regimes around the world which has been focussed on a response spoke about the way journalists can be at criminalise journalists. Ito the AFP raids on the ABC on risk in both democracies and authoritarian Wednesday 5 June, followed by At an international media freedom regimes. continued on page 4. Media chiefs unite on press freedom 6 ABC Funding: Too Much, Too Little, About Right? 12 Inside News Corp, ABC to launch legal challenges over AFP raid warrants 7 ABC Friends cements ties with our British colleagues 13 To protect press freedom, we need Update more public outrage 8 From ABC Backstory 14 The ABC didn’t receive a reprieve in Kerry O’Brien issues fiery call to the budget 9 action in Logies Hall of Fame speech 15 From the Editor 2 David Anderson is the new Jon (Darce) Cassidy 16 Somerville cartoon 3 managing director of the ABC 10 State News 17 Be better than North Korea 5 ‘It should be us’ 11 NSW Branch News 25 Update Publication Information From the Editor Update is published three times a year by ABC Friends National Inc. PO Box 3620 Manuka ACT 2603 Print Post approved: PP245059/00002. n the April edition of Update I wrote: Funding Cuts have greatly Extracts from newspapers and other “The outcome of the forthcoming diminished our ABC publications appearing in Update do Federal election will be crucial to not necessarily reflect the views of the I the survival of the ABC that we know We are all impacted by the loss of members of ABC Friends. and love.” The somewhat unexpected programs and services, especially since Update is distributed to all members of the drastic cuts of 2014, and it is not ABC Friends as part of the membership return of the Coalition government difficult to see, read and hear daily the loss fee. Update is also supplied to has not provided the ABC with the journalists, politicians and libraries certainty that it needed to plan for the of quality and depth in so many much- across Australia. future. The government has made no loved programs because the ABC no Update is edited and produced in promises and given no guarantees longer has the resources even to fulfil the Sydney and contributions are welcome about future funding levels and freedom requirements of its charter. In this Update from state and regional branches. Email you will find a detailed examination and your contribution (in Microsoft Word) to from political interference. The recent [email protected] or vote by the Federal Liberal Party to analysis of those cuts over an 8-year post to address below privatise the ABC has given little cause period by two academics, Alexandra Material may be quoted or reproduced for optimism about future funding needs Wake from RMIT and Michael Ward from from Update provided the source is and independence. Accusations of the University of Sydney, and commentary acknowledged and reproduction is sent by Prof Ed Davis, NSW President and to the Editor at the above email or postal bias against the ABC were repeated National Vice-President of ABC Friends. address. by politicians of the right, and News Corporation outlets accelerated their Their observations must surely strengthen Would you like to receive anti-ABC campaign. the resolve of all ABC Friends to do all that we can to ensure that our public Update newsletter However, the May Federal election saw electronically? broadcaster is not further diminished in a level of activity and involvement by its capacity to speak the truth, and shine Save the planet’s trees and ABC Friends’ ABC Friends across the nation that we printing and postage costs and read the light in those places that some of our have not seen before, in a campaign Update on your tablet or computer. When leaders would prefer we did not go. It which saw the ABC brought into focus Update is published, you will receive an also seems bizarre that the government email with a link to the latest issue (each as a major election issue, especially responsible for axing ABC TV to the newsletter is a 2-3MB PDF). in marginal seats, and it is likely that Pacific and Asia via the Australia Network, You can try this now by going to our campaign influenced the result in and the Radio Australia service on short www.fabcnsw.org.au and clicking on some of those seats. In the seat of “Newsletter”. If you prefer this delivery wave is now offering $17m to commercial Blue Mountains, where I happen to option for future Updates please contact TV to broadcast into the Pacific. Inflicting your local state branch (see back page). live, and the final seat to have the result our commercial TV on unsuspecting declared, there is no doubt that the Pacific Islanders does not seem to be the Who to write… future of the ABC was one factor which act of a good neighbour! Anyone seeking basic information about helped to determine the final result, and writing to persons of influence might find return Susan Templeman, the sitting it helpful to go to www.fabcnsw.org.au AFP Raids resonate around the where there are some menu items Labor member, and a strong supporter World under “Be Active” leading to pages of of the ABC. information: Who can I write to? What The reports from states, branches and International reaction was swift and strong can I say? groups in this Update will describe in as media reported on the AFP raids on the detail the work of Friends before and ABC and News Corporation, especially in Update Editor - Mal Hewitt during the election period, and will give the UK and USA, and serious questions PO Box 1391 North Sydney 2059 have been asked about the freedom of [email protected] some indication of the countless hours which members devoted to the cause, the press in Australia. Peter Greste, an Assistant Editor - both in fundraising for the campaign, Australian journalist with bitter personal Angela Williamson organising rallies and public meetings, experience in a country where the press [email protected] and in the production and display of is not free, reflects on the raids in this Proofreader – Dr Diana Wyndham spectacular posters, banners and Update, and we report on an unusual media alliance of Hugh Marks (Channel Cartoonist - Phil Somerville handouts and in social media. We must 9 Chief Executive), Michael Miller (News Phil currently runs an online topical record our thanks to Jeff Waters and Corporation Executive Chair) and David cartoon by paid subscription called Line Ranald Macdonald for their vital role in of Thought. Enquire at phil.somerville@ the crowdfunding campaigns, social Anderson (ABC Managing Director), somervillecartoons.com media and the production of information joining to address the National Press Club Layout Artist - Paul Martens and resources, and National President in Canberra. [email protected] Margaret Reynolds for her indefatigable ABC Friends has responded with the leadership throughout the campaign. Defend Media Freedom campaign, Page 2 launched by National President Margaret New Website our thanks Chris Cartledge for his Reynolds on the front page of Update. skills, patience and professionalism Friends please note that we have a new A pamphlet has been produced, and in creating the new website. national website on abcfriends.org.au we urge all Friends to take the action which should greatly assist our operations Mal Hewitt OAM recommended in that pamphlet, which as a national organisation, and we record ABC Friends can be found on abcfriends.org.au Welcome to new ABC leaders ABC Friends welcomes warmly the recent appointees to the ABC. Ita Buttrose AC OBE brings to the position of Chair of the Board a lifetime of experience in the media, and a record of support for a publicly funded broadcaster. We applaud her strong statement on press freedom in response to the AFP raids. David Anderson brings to the position of Managing Director 30 years of experience in the ABC in several different roles, and a high degree of credibility amongst ABC staff. We look forward to working with both as we advocate for the ABC, and are delighted that Ita Buttrose has agreed to address the Annual Dinner of NSW Friends on 6 September. We Honour Two ABC Veterans Margaret Throsby embodies all of the qualities that we admire in our broadcasters, and has completed an astonishing 50 years as an unmistakable voice of the ABC. We feature Margaret, and her thoughts on her long career in broadcasting. It was wonderful to hear her recently for several weeks on ABC Classic, filling in for Ed Ayres on her weekend program. Kerry O’Brien’s enormous contribution to quality journalism was recognized when he was recently inducted into the Logie Hall of Fame, and we include a report of his typically challenging acceptance speech. Kerry was also very active in the ABC Friends election campaign, where we appreciated his calls to arms in defence of our ABC.