The ABC: A Grand Obsession

Like many journalists who’ve honed their careers at the ABC, economics writer Peter Martin began in a small local newsroom and moved through the ranks to become a specialist reporter and a foreign correspondent. Having subsequently worked in commercial media, he has a renewed appreciation of the ABC, both professionally and personally. Here he reflects on his strong lifetime attachment to the ABC, and the lessons he’s learnt about both the skills of the profession and the responsibilities of be...
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Under Fire: Ita Buttrose Goes into Battle for ABC Independence

For the current government “the enemy” appears to be anyone trying to hold that government to account – and right now, that’s the ABC. Here ABC Alumni director Quentin Dempster backgrounds the issues leading to Ita Buttrose – the Prime Minister’s “captain’s pick” as ABC Chair – becoming a prime target for politicians and others with grievances about the public broadcaster.By Quentin Dempster / Nov 18, 2021 Ita Buttrose’s statement was explicit. “The fact that these powers [legal responsibility ...
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Under Fire: Ita Buttrose Goes into Battle for ABC Independence

For the current government “the enemy” appears to be anyone trying to hold that government to account – and right now, that’s the ABC. Here ABC Alumni director Quentin Dempster backgrounds the issues leading to Ita Buttrose – the Prime Minister’s “captain’s pick” as ABC Chair – becoming a prime target for politicians and others with grievances about the public broadcaster.By Quentin Dempster / Nov 18, 2021 Ita Buttrose’s statement was explicit. “The fact that these powers [legal responsibility ...
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ABC Chair Ita Buttrose AC OBE Condemns Latest Senate Inquiry

In a strongly worded statement, ABC Chair Ita Buttrose AC OBE says a new Senate Inquiry into the ABC’s complaint handling process “appears to be a blatant attempt to usurp the role of the ABC Board and undermine the operational independence of the ABC”.Helen Grasswill, Deputy Chair, ABC Alumni (Acting Chair) 14 November 2021 The new inquiry announced last Thursday (11 November) by Liberal Senator Andrew Bragg, on behalf of the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, has all...
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ABC Chair Ita Buttrose AC OBE Condemns Latest Senate Inquiry

In a strongly worded statement, ABC Chair Ita Buttrose AC OBE says a new Senate Inquiry into the ABC’s complaint handling process “appears to be a blatant attempt to usurp the role of the ABC Board and undermine the operational independence of the ABC”.Helen Grasswill, Deputy Chair, ABC Alumni (Acting Chair) 14 November 2021 The new inquiry announced last Thursday (11 November) by Liberal Senator Andrew Bragg, on behalf of the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, has all...
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ABC International today

ABC International today operates on a budget of $11 million per year, estimated to be less than a third of pre-2014 levels. It has a staff of 38 who work mainly in media development programs for the Pacific region, and sometimes parts of Asia, and a small number who manage and administer its various international broadcast channels (radio and TV) as well as wide-ranging digital content activity. ABC International management and staff have been committed to keeping the ABC and Australia relevant...
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ABC International today

ABC International today operates on a budget of $11 million per year, estimated to be less than a third of pre-2014 levels. It has a staff of 38 who work mainly in media development programs for the Pacific region, and sometimes parts of Asia, and a small number who manage and administer its various international broadcast channels (radio and TV) as well as wide-ranging digital content activity. ABC International management and staff have been committed to keeping the ABC and Australia relevant...
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Your ABC vs Their IPA

For almost 90 years the ABC has been at the centre of Australian cultural life, providing a range of much-loved programming and services. It’s our country’s most trusted news source (across all platforms – radio, television and online) and where we turn in times of crisis like bushfires, floods and the current pandemic. But the ABC is under threat. Budget cuts and massive staff redundancies over the last eight years are well known.That’s why ABC Alumni was formed – we’re a group of former ABC s...
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Your ABC vs Their IPA

For almost 90 years the ABC has been at the centre of Australian cultural life, providing a range of much-loved programming and services. It’s our country’s most trusted news source (across all platforms – radio, television and online) and where we turn in times of crisis like bushfires, floods and the current pandemic. But the ABC is under threat. Budget cuts and massive staff redundancies over the last eight years are well known.That’s why ABC Alumni was formed – we’re a group of former ABC s...
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