The ABC’s new head of news has issued a “heartfelt apology” to employees who have experienced bigotry and racism after an internal investigation uncovered disturbing examples of cultural insensitivity at the public broadcaster.
ABC news boss Justin Stevens told employees in a staff email he had received the findings of a project led by an internal advisory group which explored the experiences of Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse staff members.
ABC news director Justin Stevens said he wanted to stamp out racism at the public broadcaster.
Stevens said the “most disturbing aspect” of the report was accounts from Indigenous and culturally diverse employees of experiencing racism and cultural insensitivity while working in the news division.
“To anyone in news who has ever experienced any racism or bigotry in our workplace, current and former news employees, as director, news I would like to express my sorrow for that and make a heartfelt apology,” Stevens said in the email, sent on Thursday. “I am sorry.”
Stevens took over the powerful role of news director in April after he was promoted from executive producer of 7.30.
Outlining the “toxic behaviour” some non-white staff members have experienced, Stevens said: “Some feel they’re not welcomed into or embraced by the workplace and other team members as they ought to be.
“Some feel their voices are not heard in team discussions as they ought to be.
“Some feel that at times there aren’t enough support mechanisms in place when something occurs and that, even when a formal complaint is made, processes aren’t always adequate.”
He said culturally diverse staff members also said they were subject to especially intense abuse on social media and via email after they work on stories.
“These things should never happen,” Stevens wrote.
“The ABC will not allow or tolerate any racism in the workplace. Ever. Our newsrooms, teams and workplace must be respectful, inclusive and welcoming at all times of all employees. No one should ever feel that they don’t belong at the ABC because of their cultural background.”
Stevens said it was up to all ABC employees – not just those from diverse backgrounds – to create a more inclusive workplace.
“Positive change in the workplace can’t rest solely with those who are being subjected to toxic behaviour,” he wrote.
He said the advisory group also received positive feedback, including that the ABC’s newsrooms have become more diverse and diversity in storytelling has improved.
Stevens said ABC Managing Director David Anderson would lead an organisation-wide effort to improve the broadcaster’s culture, including by holding staff forums and consulting outside experts.
Stevens said the ABC was committed to reflecting the diversity of modern Australia to make it a better organisation, not as an act of tokenism.
“Every one of our colleagues who is Indigenous, from a diverse background or is a person with disability is here because they deserve to be, based on their talent, and because they have earned that place through hard work,” he wrote.
“ABC News does not employ people as a box-ticking exercise.”
ABC reporter Jason Om, who is of Asian heritage, said Stevens’ email was an “important first step” to cultural change at the broadcaster.
“Over the years, I have felt quietly disappointed by what I have seen, heard and experienced in the ABC,” he wrote on Twitter. “Sometimes the broadcaster you love lets you down.”
Media Diversity Australia chief executive Mariam Veiszadeh said: “No organisation is immune to issues of racism and bigotry and the public broadcaster is no exception.
“The ABC’s new News Director Justin Stevens has made a powerful acknowledgement and we recognise his efforts to be open and transparent about issues that continue to plague Australian society at all levels.”
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