ABC reporter Stephen Dziedzic caught making Sharri Markson slurs over Covid-19 origins

A senior ABC journalist was caught on a hot microphone admitting he did not consider ‘dispassionately’ reports about the origins of Covid-19, making derogatory remarks about Sky News presenter Sharri Markson.

Sharri Markson.

A senior ABC journalist was caught on a hot microphone admitting he did not consider “dispassionately” reports about the origins of Covid-19, making derogatory remarks about Sky News presenter Sharri Markson, and calling the ousting of former political editor Andrew Probyn “the worst decision”.

In audio aired on Sky News, a microphone appeared to capture ABC foreign affairs reporter Stephen Dziedzic in conversation with other reporters before a press conference.

He called Markson a “a pit bull” and “so unhinged”, and admitted to being “super dismissive” of reporting on the origins of Covid-19.

“She’s such a pit bull and she’s so unhinged, and yet she might still be right,” he said.

“I feel like I remember being super dismissive of that … that is just the most unhinged thing ever.

“And I reckon I was overly influenced by the fact that there were some truly nasty and crazy people who were already deep down the rabbit hole and I … probably didn’t look at it dispassionately enough.

“It just became very Trumpy.”

Stephen Dziedzic.

In the audio, he also said the decision to sack former political editor Probyn was “the worst decision” and believed “it was personal”, appearing to confirm reports of a falling-out between Probyn and ABC Canberra bureau chief Michelle Ainsworth.

Dziedzic has been contacted for comment.