Josh Szeps’ ABC exit brought forward after Sky News appearance

ABC Sydney Afternoons host Josh Szeps has abruptly left the broadcaster following an unauthorised appearance on Sky News program Sharri last week.

Szeps announced he was quitting the ABC live on air in November, but was due to continue presenting the Afternoons slot between 12.30pm and 3.30pm until Christmas.

Outgoing ABC Sydney presenter Josh Szeps.

ABC Radio Sydney acting manager Mark Spurway informed staff of the scheduling changes in an email on Monday morning; however, he did not address the reason for the change.

“From this week summer programs kick in with various presenters. As a late change Josh Szeps will not present his afternoon show for the rest of the year. Josh will not return to ABC Radio Sydney in 2024 and we wish him well on his many future endeavours.”

As a result, ABC Melbourne’s Jacinta Parsons will present a national afternoon program from this week until January 5 as his replacement. Next year, current ABC Sydney breakfast host, James Valentine will return to the afternoon slot in a line-up shuffle.

A senior ABC source not authorised to speak publicly said management made the decision following a string of run-ins, which included his on-air resignation last month.

Szeps appeared on Markson’s Sky News show on Thursday to discuss activism relating to the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, following a self-described “rant” on his podcast Uncomfortable Conversations earlier that day.

Szeps, whose grandparents are Holocaust survivors, outlined his views on online activism, particularly relating to a rise in pro-Palestinian sentiment and “blind spots” for those who claim support for minorities apart from Jewish people.

He noted a particular issue with the chant “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”, describing the gaps in knowledge with how people on social media discussed the conflict.

“Do you not understand that ‘from the river to the sea’ can also sound and maybe be misinterpreted as a call for an Arab Palestinian state all the way from the river to the sea? What happens to the Jews? How can you not see that there would be the prospect for misinterpretation there?

“But something’s happening at the moment, where there’s this kind of self-righteous, self-certainty that is accompanying people’s instinctive desire to be backing the right horse, to be on the right side of history, to be supportive of the poor, disenfranchised,” he said on the show.

Szeps also advocated for a two-state solution during the segment.

In November, the ABC house union committee, alongside several journalists signed an open letter urging “improved coverage” from Australian media, with ABC news director Justin Stevens saying the letter may bring into question the broadcaster’s ability to report impartially.

Announcing his resignation in mid-November, Szeps went out in a blaze of glory during a 10-minute address, calling himself “a bit too spicy” for the ABC in his attempts to address the most controversial subjects.

An ABC spokesperson declined to comment. Szeps also declined to comment.

The last radio ratings survey for the year will be published on Tuesday. In GfK’s Survey Seven radio ratings for the year, Szeps’ show fell from a 5.8 per cent share to a 5.3 per cent share.

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