ABC boss David Anderson said the public broadcaster will edit its controversial “white supremacy” story

The public broadcaster has begun a process to edit a controversial radio report that claimed there were elements of ‘white supremacy’ at an Alice Springs community meeting.

ABC managing director David Anderson. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The ABC has begun editing a controversial radio report that claimed there were elements of “white supremacy” at an Alice Springs community meeting and blamed the airing of the story on “logistical and editorial management breakdowns”.

ABC managing director David Anderson – who will be grilled about the reporting at senate estimates on Tuesday – has admitted the ABC should have taken swift action in dealing with the matter, but he stood by airing the claims.

The ABC’s corporate affairs department initially defended the AM report, despite the public broadcaster being swamped by extensive criticism, however, four days after the story was broadcast, it did a backflip and apologised for airing an “incomplete” story.

On Monday, Mr Anderson wrote to Liberal senator Sarah Henderson, who has been pursuing the matter, and admitted the ABC’s editorial systems had failed. “We accept that we should have publicly recognised the flaws in the AM package earlier and apologised to audiences,” he said in the correspondence seen by The Australian.

“After reviewing the story and the actions leading up to its broadcast it became clear that logistical and editorial management breakdowns had contributed to an incomplete report being aired. The ABC has apologised to audiences and drafted an editor’s note which links to stories containing a broader range of perspectives.”

The AM report remains online unedited and the claims of “white supremacy” also aired on other ABC platforms, including its social media channels and 7pm news bulletins.

The ABC’s news division is led by Justin Stevens, who was appointed to the role 11 months ago.

Mr Anderson said the editing process of the AM report had already started, however, he stood by airing the claims of “white supremacy”. “ABC news management had already commenced re-editing and reposting the original story,” he said. “The perception of racial tension in Alice Springs is the honestly held opinion of some Alice Springs residents. That perspective, including the description of ‘white supremacy’ is significant and it would be remiss of the ABC not to report it, if that is what is being told.”

Senator Henderson said: “The ABC has not explained how these editorial failings occurred, its conflicting positions or provided information about any measures it has put in place to avoid such offensive and one-sided reporting in future,” she said. She has asked the Australian Communications and Media Authority to investigate the matter.

Mr Anderson said the ABC ombudsman Fiona Cameron received 18 complaints about the original AM report and she shared her preliminary findings with ABC management on Friday.

Alice Springs mayor Matt Paterson spoke with Mr Anderson on Monday and he said the ABC boss was “quite apologetic” and he was pleased the story would be edited.

The ABC has sent an editorial direction to staff to be careful with the language they use when talking about NT alcohol restriction.