Former ABC chair Ita Buttrose says journalists at the broadcaster are too sensitive to criticism

The former ABC chair said reporters need to more actively present opposing arguments in a debate and accused journalists at the broadcaster for being ‘too sensitive’ to criticism.

Ita Buttrose pictured in North Sydney. Picture: Sam Ruttyn.

Some interviewers at the ABC are reluctant to tell both sides of the story and the public broadcaster needs to improve the quality of its journalism, the taxpayer-funded organisation’s recently-departed chairwoman Ita Buttrose has declared.

In extraordinary comments just four months after she stepped down from the ABC board, Ms Buttrose warned the ABC was too sensitive to criticism and its reporters should just give up if they cannot handle scrutiny.

Ms Buttrose’s comments were the media doyenne’s most strident criticism of the broadcaster she once led and have been backed by another recently departed ABC board member, businessman Joe Gersh.

Speaking to ABC radio on Monday, Ms Buttrose said that having both sides of the story was “much better” for the broadcaster’s audience and blasted un-named presenters for not doing so.

“I think there’s no harm in presenting both sides of an argument, and I don’t understand the reluctance of some of our interviewers not to do that,” she said.

“Have both sides of the story, it’s much better for the viewer or the listener.”

Former ABC board member Joe Gersh – who was on the board alongside Ms Buttrose before his tenure ended in 2023 – said he agreed with Ms Buttrose’s comments.

The Jewish businessman said the ABC could have done a much better job at reporting on anti-Semitism during the Israel-Hamas conflict.

“As a member of the Jewish community, a supporter of the ABC and a former director, I’ve been extremely troubled by the ABC’s apparent lack of concern at the alarming and unprecedented rise of anti Semitism in Australia,” Mr Gersh said.

“The failure of the ABC to meet its impartiality obligation in respect of the Israel-Hamas conflict means that in some respects it is part of the problem, rather than part of the solution.

“The ABC has an obligation of impartiality and it’s of concern of when it falls short of meeting that obligation.”

ABC chair Ita Buttrose in 2023. Picture: Emma Brasier / Women in Media

Ms Buttrose finished her five-year term at the ABC in March and was replaced by Kim Williams.

The Australian asked Mr Williams on Monday if he agreed with Ms Buttrose’s remarks but he would not comment.

Mr Williams said in March: “If you don’t want to reflect a view that aspires to impartiality, don’t work at the ABC.”

During the interview Karvelas claimed News Corp, which includes mastheads such as The Australian, “have gone after ABC frontline reporters and presenters pretty hard, including me.”

“Is that something that you think is concerning and does it have a chilling kind of impact,” Karvelas asked.

Ms Buttrose dismissed the claims put to her.

“No, look, quite frankly I think you are all too sensitive about News Corp; let them do what they want to do, it doesn’t really matter,” she said.

“When Kerry Packer was alive he didn’t like the ABC either and I used to have vehement arguments with him about the role of the ABC, because I was brought up on the ABC because of my father (journalist Charles Buttrose).

“I used to have big arguments with Kerry about the role of the ABC and why it was important, and News Corp seems to share Kerry’s feelings about the ABC.

“If the ABC can’t take the criticism then it should just give up. It doesn’t matter what they say, it doesn’t matter, don’t keep worrying about what they say. Just keep doing your own job, which you have to do, just do it.”

In 2023 Karvelas was cautioned by ABC management after she shared a social media post that including a selfie with the Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney on the night of the 2022 election and described her as a “legend.”

The post remains online.

This woman is a legend and looks like she will be the next Indigenous affairs minister #UluruStatementpic.twitter.com/l0UtPZUjLQ

— Patricia Karvelas (@PatsKarvelas) May 21, 2022

Despite Karvelas being cautioned over the matter, when concerns over bias were raised in 2022, the ABC’s managing director David Anderson said he did not think it suggested any political bias.

During the radio interview Karvelas also asked Ms Buttrose about the ABC’s biggest challenges. The former ABC chair said it was reaching as many Australians as possible and delivering “what they want.”

Ms Buttrose also labelled the five-day strike action by staff at Nine Entertainment including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Australian Financial Review, WAToday and Brisbane Times as an “unwise decision.”

“This is a major investment for the Nine network, the Olympics,” she said.

“If, as a company, you’ve made a major investment in something like the Olympics you expect everyone to toe the line, quite frankly.”

She said Nine CEO Mike Sneesby’s attendance in Paris to work with advertisers was important to the business.