GUTHRIE GONE BECAUSE DID AND DIDN'T DEFEND BIASED STAFF
ABC chairman Justin Milne hints he sacked Michelle Guthrie in part for not tackling staff bias: "A source close to him said: 'For a chairman not be involved in those discussions is arguably a dereliction of duty.'" But staff like Jon Faine complain she didn't defend them enough: "She would not take on her role as a champion for this organisation."
There is a very interesting split developing in how ABC chairman Justin Milne and ABC staff justify the sacking of managing director Michelle Guthrie.
Milne, a close personal friend of former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, hints he sacked Guthrie in part for not tackling staff bias:
Ms Guthrie was said to feel undermined by pressure from Mr Milne to act on complaints from the government about ABC journalism... A source close to him said: “For a chairman not be involved in those discussions is arguably a dereliction of duty.”
But ABC staff wanted her gone for not defending their claimed (and clear) bias.
This is the kind of criticism that got them upset, but which Milne now seems to suggest he wanted Guthrie to tackle:
In February, Turnbull’s office complained to the ABC when chief economics correspondent Emma Alberici wrote an analysis criticising the government's plan to cut the corporate tax rate, calling it "one of the most confused and poorly researched articles I've seen on this topic on the ABC’s website" (the article was removed, and an internal check found some errors).
Probyn was found to have been "judgmental" and "declarative" by the media regulator for calling former prime minister Tony Abbott "the most destructive politician of his generation".
Both events appalled ABC employees who believe the journalists were unfairly targeted.
Milne may have pressured Guthrie to do more to combat staff bias, but staff wanted her to defend it. Here's ABC presenter Jon Faine:
She would not take on her role as a champion for this organisation publicly. She would not advocate for us in the public domain, in the public space, which was an astonishing fail on her part.
"I don’t think anyone will be too heartbroken...,” said one employee. "...Staff wanted someone who could stand up and defend our reputation as Australia’s most trusted media source.”
Journalism lecturer Jenna Price, of the tribal Left:
The viewers - and ABC staff - are watching and waiting for someone who can defend our ABC.
ABC TV newsreader Juanita Phillips, partner of former Labor minister and ACTU secretary Greg Combet:
Whoever the next MD is, they need a deep understanding of the history, purpose and importance of an independent public broadcaster, and be ready to fight bare-knuckled to protect it.
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young:
The ABC has faced budget cuts, frivolous ideological complaints... Whatever happens next, the ABC needs a strong advocate at the helm who will stand up to the relentless attacks from the Coalition government and their anti-ABC cronies.
ABC Media Watch presenter Paul Barry, fact-free defender of the global warming scare:
Guthrie was also reluctant to defend and articulate what the ABC stands for... Why did she take the job, given it requires a passion for public broadcasting and a determination to fight its many critics...?
ABC presenter Rafael Epstein, also of the Left, retweeted this highly provocative tweet from ABC Melbourne, showing the extent of the staff capture of the national broadcaster:
"Are the staff going to mourn her passing? I think the answer's 'no'...
— ABC Melbourne (@abcmelbourne) September 24, 2018
Are we losing a passionate advocate for public broadcasting? Again the answer's 'no', I think."@ABCmediawatch @TheRealPBarry reacts to ABC MD Michelle #Guthrie sackinghttps://t.co/FVf6IFzglR
Epstein himself:
11. Personally; staff & audiences want someone who will champion and advocate MORE publicly for what we do, and why we do it.
— Rafael Epstein (@Raf_Epstein) September 24, 2018
When the ABC is front page news, the board and management should be out there telling staff and audience what is going on and why.
Whichever reading is right - Guthrie was sacked in part for not tackling/not defending ABC bias, the reality is that the next managing director will have even more reason to think they are safer not to make staff angry.
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