Friends of the ABC (NSW) Inc. quarterly newsletter August 2009 Vol 17, No.2 update friends of the abc Guess who’s coming to dinner? and entertainment, local, national and A word from the NSW President - Mal Hewitt international, particularly in rural and NSW Friends of the regional Australia. ABC is delighted to The budget success of the ABC announce that the guest highlights the importance of Friends of of honour at the 2009 the ABC maintaining regular contact Annual Dinner will be with Federal Members of Parliament. distinguished ABC We must keep reminding Canberra that journalist and, for many the ABC is a vital part of the life of years presenter of the 7.30 Report, every Australian, and must receive Kerry O’Brien. Kerry will speak to us sufficient funds to enable it to about his long career with the ABC, continue to serve the Australian give us some insights into the community, as well as our neighbours workings of ABC TV’s flagship in Asia and the Pacific. One Federal program, and reflect on the many MP, when asked why the ABC did so hundreds of political and international figures he has interviewed over the years, as well as answer questions from inside the audience. If you have another Kerry Obrien Mark Scott thanks Friends of the engagement on Friday 2nd October, ABC for their support 3 cancel it! The dinner promises to be three years. There will be $67 million War on The Chaser 4 one of those memorable occasions in for the new digital children’s television What is the future for Friends of the the life of Friends of the ABC. Details channel (aiming for 50% Australian ABC in a more benign climate? 6 and booking arrangements can be content in 3 years), $70 million for found in the box on page 3 of Update. new Australian drama (most of which A better process, but what about the product? 8 Non-FABC members are most welcome will go to independent studios in co- to come. productions), and $15 million for A motherhood statement around 50 new regional broadband and a booby prize 9 FEDERAL BUDGET RECOGNIZES “hubs,” interactive local “town Fight for the mixed model of TV IMPORTANCE OF THE ABC squares” where individuals and production 9 In a very difficult budget climate, organizations will be able to Branch News 10 when in the space of a few months a contribute content and react to Too much screen time blanding $20 billion surplus very quickly material being broadcast. Again the us down? 13 became a $58 billion deficit, the ABC ABC will be a leader in new styles and was extraordinarily successful in techniques of communication, “Please keep broadcasting.” 14 receiving an increase in funding of highlighting the importance of the Nothing quite as it seems with almost $160 million over the next ABC as a source of news, information News and ABC International 15 Page 1 well, indicated that in pre-budget crammed into the Wentworth Falls Update Publication Information discussions in Canberra the ABC was School of Arts to hear an expert panel a recurrent theme amongst our of Mark Scott, Quentin Dempster and Update is published four times a year by political representatives. A letter from Annabel Crabb (SMH Journalist) discuss Friends of the ABC (NSW) Inc. (FABC), Mark Scott thanking Friends of the the positives and the pitfalls of the PO Box 1391 NORTH SYDNEY 2059. ABC for their support during the ABC’s digital future. Printpost approved PP245059/00002 budget process is reproduced The forum is reported in detail To become a member phone elsewhere in Update, along with elsewhere in Update, but I take the (02) 9990 0600 or email to further analysis from Darce Cassidy. [email protected] opportunity to thank and congratulate or access our website Without wishing to seem ungrateful the Blue Mountains Branch for yet www.fabcnsw.org.au. for the Government’s recent another outstanding example of local Extracts from newspapers and other generosity, it is necessary to point out branch initiative and organizational publications appearing in Update do not that the additional funds are tied to expertise. The forum has become an necessarily reflect the views of the specific programs, and that funds for annual event on the NSW FABC members of FABC. the daily operation of the ABC remain Update is distributed to all members of calendar, and is always stimulating and FABC, as part of the membership fee. desperately short (about half what challenging, as well as an opportunity Update is also supplied to journalists, they were in 1986 in real terms), to learn more about the ABC. politicians and libraries across Australia. particularly in news, current affairs It is edited and produced in Sydney but and radio, as the never-released FABC LIST - END OF AN ERA contributions are welcome from NSW country and interstate branches. KPMG report pointed out to the For a number of years, NSW FABC has Howard government. So the battle for Material may be quoted or reproduced provided members and non-members from Update provided the source is adequate funding must go on. Roger with an online forum to engage in acknowledged and reproduction is sent to Raven reminds us elsewhere that the President FABC. discussion and debate on ABC matters. Friends of the ABC still has a very Maintaining the list has been an Would you like to receive Update strong reason for existence. magazine electronically? onerous and time-consuming task, Save the planet's trees and The Friends NSW FRIENDS OF THE ABC carried out with great dedication by printing and postage costs and read Update Chris Cartledge. magazine on your computer. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Each quarter, when Update is published, you An invitation to our AGM on The time has come for Chris to will receive an email with a link to the latest “hang up his hat” on the list, and we issue (each magazine is around 0.5MB). Saturday 10th October is included in You can try this now by going to our this edition of Update. It is very clear express our deep appreciation to Chris website at www.fabcnsw.org.au and that Friends of the ABC still has a for the time, energy and expertise that clicking on Update. vital role to play in lobbying he devoted to the task. It was also If you prefer this delivery option for future politicians for funding and support, becoming increasingly difficult to Updates please send an email to the Membership Secretary. maintaining a healthy dialogue with maintain the list in the current format ABC management on aspects of and technology, so the decision has Who to write… policy and programming, and been made by the NSW executive that Anyone seeking basic information about writing to persons of influence might find it providing members with it will cease to operate. It is possible helpful to go to the FABC NSW website opportunities for further insights into that a similar online forum will be www.fabc.org.au where there are some ABC programs as well as opportunities developed in the future – anybody with menu items under "Be Active" leading to pages of information: Who can I write to? to meet ABC presenters. an interest in this should contact me. What can I say? At the AGM you will find out more Chris Cartledge continues the about FABC plans for the future, but important job of maintaining the FABC FABC (NSW) Executive Committee Office Bearers most importantly you will meet and website. President - Mal Hewitt hear Jonathan Holmes, another I also pay tribute to the work of two Phone: 9637 2900 veteran of a number of roles and other FABC stalwarts in Val and John Email: [email protected] programs in the ABC, and the current Carter, who for the past couple of years Secretary & Treasurer - James Buchanan presenter of Media Watch, that have been our mailout volunteers, Phone: 9371 5621 indispensable program which applies Email: [email protected] another onerous, repetitive but vitally the blowtorch to all types of media important job in maintaining Membership Secretary - Angela Williamson across Australia, including the ABC Phone: 9416 4463 communication with the membership. itself. Email: [email protected] We thank Val and John for their Update Editor - Mal Hewitt Please take the opportunity to have countless hours of voluntary service, PO Box 1391 N. Sydney NSW 2059 your say in future directions for Email: [email protected] but the baton has been passed to Friends of the ABC, as well as to hear Margaret Kitson, who continues this Cartoonist - Phil Somerville one of our most respected journalists work. Thank you, Margaret! Editorial Cartoonist for The Sun Herald and media commentators. (Sydney) [email protected] ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL BLUE Mal Hewitt Layout Artist - Paul Martens MOUNTAINS FORUM NSW President Membership Line: 9990 0600 On Sunday 26th July, over 250 people Friends of the ABC Page 2 Mark Scott thanks Friends of the ABC for their support changing media landscape, it was more NSW Friends of the ABC received important than ever that the ABC play a the following letter on 13th May: vital role in the lives of Australians Last night the Government announced a everywhere. The increased funding is a $58 billion deficit. In the light of this vital stepping stone towards enormous budgetary pressure, it is establishing the ABC as a great public pleasing that we can press ahead with broadcaster in a digital media era. our plans for new services and distinctive In doing this work, we had strong content.