< https://newmatilda.com/2016/02/17/false-balance-move-along-nothing-here-says-abc-boss/>
A highlight: %%% The causal chain of political pressure Examine, for a moment, the following facts. All are established and on the public record. We know that Malcolm Turnbull was highly critical of the ABC’s coverage of the Coalition’s NBN policies. We know that Turnbull said so publicly, on Twitter and at industry events, and privately, in conversations with Mark Scott. We know that Nick Ross wrote regularly on the NBN – 21 articles – with no senior editorial sanction until after he wrote a long feature article critical of Coalition policy (a piece which followed a feature article critical of Labor). We know that Ross was not sanctioned or disciplined by the ABC for his ‘Vast differences’ article, and that he was not even aware it was under scrutiny until after The Australian falsely reported that he had been disciplined. We know that when Ross wrote a second pro-fibre/anti-copper article, he was called in for a meeting with his superior Bruce Belsham, and told to write an anti-Labor article as “insurance”. At that meeting Belsham said he was under pressure from the “fourteenth floor” and “the Turnbull camp” over NBN coverage. We know that Ross’ pro-fibre piece was then withheld until after the federal election. We know that Ross was sidelined from covering the NBN properly. His credibility was assailed by a negative story in Media Watch. His career at the public broadcaster was effectively ruined. Paul Barry, host of Media Watch for 2016. The program has pointedly refused to cover the Nick Ross affair. We know that the ABC’s coverage, post-election, of the NBN under Malcolm Turnbull was weak, lacked context, and was often absurdly favourable to Turnbull and Bill Morrow’s spin. We know that the ABC’s managing director has refused to reveal details of an internal investigation into the matter to a Senate committee. We know that when the ABC’s Paddy Manning uncovered a major and damaging admission of fudged costings from NBN boss Bill Morrow on Radio National’s premier investigative program Background Briefing, not a single ABC journalist followed up. You don’t need to believe in any kind of conspiracy to find these events at the ABC concerning. An ABC journalist was publicly criticised by Malcolm Turnbull. NBN coverage was discussed with the managing director of the network. That journalist was subsequently instructed to write anti-Labor articles for “insurance” and “realpolitik.” The journalist was then sidelined, and made redundant. ABC coverage of the NBN was subsequently weak. On the face of things, this should be a very serious matter for those who value the ABC’s independence – far more serious than the decision by QandA to let Zaky Mallah appear in its audience. Astonishingly, when asked by Greens Senator Scott Ludlam why Ross’s copper story was not run until after the election, Scott could not explain. Scott: I would have to check. I do not have advice on that. Senator LUDLAM: That is what this whole question hinges on. Scott agreed to get back to Ludlam on that question. %%% -andyf _______________________________________________ Link mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.anu.edu.au/mailman/listinfo/link
