ABC needs to be more accountable

IT’S not embarrassing or shameful for media organisations to correct an error.

EVERY newspaper across the country makes corrections on a daily basis.

It’s not embarrassing or shameful to correct an error. Clarifications are responsible and essential.

Readers are in the habit of seeing corrections and they don’t think any less of a publication for fixing up inaccuracies. In fact, they trust their newspaper more because they know they can always rely on factual reports.

Yet, unlike every other media outlet around the country, the ABC has to be dragged kicking and squealing to any correction.

Last year, the Chaser aired a horrible portrayal of TV personality, Chris Kenny having sex with a dog.

Instead of simply apologising for something this despicable, the ABC is wasting legal fees defending it - legal fees that are presumably climbing into the tens of thousands of dollars. Legal fees paid by the taxpayer.

Media Watch cut interview quote

How outrageous. No one would want their hard-earned tax dollars wasted because the ABC can’t simply apologise for an horrific portrayal.

Media Watch last week made some inaccurate claims about The Australian newspaper’s finances.

Chris Mitchell asked for a simple correction.

It’s not so hard.

But Paul Barry couldn’t bring himself to admit he was wrong.

When I spoke to him today, he was defensive and unapologetic.

His attitude means that, once again, the ABC is wasting our money on legal fees as its lawyers try to grasp at reasons for why they got the information wrong.

As the ABC managing director Mark Scott flies to Canberra for Senate estimates tonight, he should remember the news organisation he leads is not immune from public or government scrutiny. The ABC needs to be accountable.