Friends of the ABC (NSW) Inc. quarterly newsletter November 2009 Vol 17, No.3 update friends of the abc TONY DELROY and NIGHTLIFE receive BROADCASTING EXCELLENCE AWARD for 2009 ony Delroy openly admits to mix of news and current affairs, being a bit eccentric. After all, lifestyle and entertainment. Regular The does preside over the features include the incredibly witching hour, broadcasting Tony popular Challenge. Money matters, Delroy's NightLife across midnight science and technology, spiritual throughout Australia on ABC Local questions, human and family issues Radio. are discussed with experts, and Tony's career in radio began while he listeners are given many opportunities was studying for his HSC. As he tells for interaction and talkback. it; 'I got a job in the 2SM newsroom. NSW Friends of the ABC is delighted They always say start a the bottom, to be able to recognise the work of and the newsroom was in the another ABC broadcaster who is basement.' After finishing his exams, passionate about his craft and Tony joined the ABC newsroom while committed to Excellence in waiting for University to begin. He Broadcasting. then worked as a late night DJ at Bathurst, while studying journalism. Tony joined 702 ABC Sydney in 1987, inside filling in on everything from breakfast The President writes – to afternoons, Grandstand to news A Report on 2009 2 bulletins, before becoming the host of the late night program. Within two Missing in Action on 'Your ABC' 4 years, the program went national. A tale of three lectures 6 Tony admits that his wide range of The Murdoch dynasty’s war on interests is carried into the program public broadcasting 7 and he spends his spare time reading Branch News 8 books, magazines and newspapers. Governemnt acts on Board Tony had an ulterior motive behind Appointment Process 9 wanting the late night shift. 'My previous job as News Director of 2UE The Fall of Rome: Media after Empire 10 meant rising at 3.30 every morning, and I vowed that I was going to find a LETTERS to the EDITOR 13 job where I could sleep in'. He loves Reviving the Radio National his hours and adores his late night Imbroglio 14 family of listeners, who range from 9 Going up: public approval for year olds to 90 year olds. ABC's content - and the chief Tony Delroy's NightLife is a diverse executive's salary 15 Page 1 Update Publication Information The President writes – Update is published four times a year by Friends of the ABC (NSW) Inc. (FABC), A Report on 2009 PO Box 1391 NORTH SYDNEY 2059. Printpost approved PP245059/00002 operates on $107 per person per year in To become a member phone wrote last year expressing (02) 9990 0600 or email to disappointment that the first year the UK – the ABC receives a little more [email protected] of the Rudd Labor Government that $40 per person to do the same job. or access our website I had produced no positive benefits for www.fabcnsw.org.au. the ABC. It is pleasing to be able to THE RADIO NATIONAL Extracts from newspapers and other report that, in a very difficult budget PROBLEM publications appearing in Update do not climate, the ABC was successful in necessarily reflect the views of the Lack of funds to adequately fulfil its gaining an increase in funding of members of FABC. charter underlies the battle with ABC Update is distributed to all members of $160 million over the next three management over programming on FABC, as part of the membership fee. years - $67 million for the new digital Radio National, a battle in which Update is also supplied to journalists, children’s channel (aiming for 50% politicians and libraries across Australia. Friends of the ABC was much less Australian content in three years), $70 It is edited and produced in Sydney but successful than the one with politicians contributions are welcome from NSW country million for new Australian television over funding. The sweeping changes to and interstate branches. drama (most of which will go to the RN program lineup which Material may be quoted or reproduced independent studios in co- from Update provided the source is produced such an extraordinary and productions), and $15 million for 50 acknowledged and reproduction is sent to negative response from listeners are the President FABC. new regional broadband “hubs,” now a fact of life, and the RN audience interactive local “town squares” Would you like to receive Update is the poorer as a result of the changes. magazine electronically? where individuals and organizations We have lost the breadth and detailed Save the planet's trees and The Friends will be able to contribute content analysis of programs like the Religion printing and postage costs and read Update and react to material being broadcast. magazine on your computer. Report, the Media Report, The Ark, In The ABC has consolidated its Each quarter, when Update is published, you Conversation, The Sports Factor, and will receive an email with a link to the latest leadership in new styles and none of the exciting new and issue (each magazine is around 0.5MB). techniques of communication, innovative programs promised by You can try this now by going to our highlighting the importance of the website at www.fabcnsw.org.au and management seem to have ABC as a source of news, information clicking on Update. materialized. Stephen Crittenden, in If you prefer this delivery option for future and entertainment, particularly in the opinion of many the most Updates please send an email to the rural and regional Australia. Membership Secretary. knowledgeable and experienced broadcaster anywhere in the world, Who to write… IS THERE STILL A ROLE Anyone seeking basic information about was, after a period in the “sin bin,” writing to persons of influence might find it FOR FRIENDS? reassigned to Background Briefing, helpful to go to the FABC NSW website For those who question the relevance where his specialist knowledge is of www.fabc.org.au where there are some little use. The combined weight of menu items under "Be Active" leading to or necessity for Friends of the ABC, it pages of information: Who can I write to? is worth noting that one Federal MP, Heads of Churches, Catholic bishops, What can I say? when asked why the ABC did so well, distinguished former ABC staff, and indicated that in pre-budget thousands of letters from listeners was FABC (NSW) Executive Committee Office Bearers discussions in Canberra the ABC was not enough to save the Religion Report President - Mal Hewitt a recurrent theme amongst our – an interesting example of ABC Phone: 9637 2900 political representatives, which management completely ignoring the Email: [email protected] suggests that our concerted campaign wishes of its audience. Paul Collins, Secretary & Treasurer - James Buchanan throughout the months of the budget former Editor-Religion for the ABC, Phone: 9371 5621 reports in this Update on the gaping Email: [email protected] preparation was successful, and the holes in the ABC’s coverage of religious Membership Secretary - Angela Williamson intense lobbying and letter-writing by Phone: 9416 4463 branches, individual members and affairs since the demise of The Religion Email: [email protected] state organizations paid off. Members Report. Update Editor - Mal Hewitt must be reminded, though, that the PO Box 1391 N. Sydney NSW 2059 DEPTH and QUALITY vs additional funds are tied to specific Email: [email protected] programs. Funds for the daily BUDGET SHORTFALLS Cartoonist - Phil Somerville Editorial Cartoonist for The Sun Herald operation of the ABC remain The Radio National problem reflects a (Sydney) desperately short (about half what widening gap between creative people [email protected] they were in 1986 in real terms), who make programs and management Layout Artist - Paul Martens particularly in news, current affairs people who determine the budgets on [email protected] and radio, so the battle for adequate which those programs depend. Membership Line: 9990 0600 funding must go on. The BBC Program makers of long standing are Page 2 finding the relentless pressure from recognizes that he has been a very activities, particularly in drives for managers to compromise on quality strong advocate for the ABC in membership. There should also be an and depth very debilitating. discussions with government, and has examination of ways in which NSW Traditional ABC values of been passionate and effective in his ABC can support the other states programming based on merit are leadership of the ABC into the new where, apart from Victoria, Friends of disappearing, and the assets of time, digital technologies. In two recent the ABC is not a strong presence. experience and dedicated staff public lectures, delivered in London (essential for good programming) are and in Melbourne, Mark Scott mounts MEMBERSHIP in DECLINE being steadily stripped. Long-term a passionate defence of public Membership must be a concern – our staff speak of a loss of diversity, and broadcasting in response to the recent Membership Secretary reports a moves towards presenter-led “flow- attacks from the Murdoch empire. steady decline in membership programming” (the style adopted by Part of his A.N.Smith Memorial numbers over the past two years, and 702 and ABC local radio),the very Lecture in Journalism is reproduced in it may well be that there is a antithesis of broadcasting of depth, this Update, and Darce Cassidy perception that the ABC is no longer insight and quality, because it is provides an analysis. under threat from a seemingly cheaper to produce. benign and sympathetic Labor BOARD VACANCIES government.