Media regulator hits back at ABC after its ‘dismissive response’ to criticism about Fox News series

The ABC has been criticised by the media regulator for dismissing key findings from its investigation into a two-part Four Corners series about Fox News.

ABC presenter Sarah Ferguson in the Four Corners series on Fox News in 2021.

The media regulator has condemned the ABC for its “dismissive response” to problems found with its two-part Four Corners series on Fox News including that it breached accuracy and fair and honest dealing ­requirements.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority’s chair Nerida O’Loughlin wrote to ABC managing director David Anderson on January 20 and outlined serious concerns she had with the public broadcaster’s response to the outcome of the year-long investigation.

ACMA investigated episodes, hosted by Sarah Ferguson, that ­falsely portrayed the Murdoch-controlled Fox News’s coverage of former US president Donald Trump’s role in the 2020 US election and the riots that took place at the US Capitol on ­January 6.

In a question on notice at Senate estimates in February, Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson requested information ­regarding the correspondence between the ABC and ACMA, following the release of the investigation’s findings and the ABC’s criticism of the report.

Newly published documents showed Ms O’Loughlin wrote to Mr Anderson voicing her concerns with the public broadcaster’s response and called for an urgent meeting with Mr Anderson and the ABC’s ombudsman, Fiona Cameron.

“The public response from the ABC about this matter has done little to address the concerns raised in the independent review about the ABC’s dismissive response to criticism and its potential to impact on public trust of the ABC,” Ms O’Loughlin wrote. “In the ACMA’s view this is to the detriment of the broader Australian media landscape at a time when access to trusted news and information is more essential than ever. I would therefore welcome an open and constructive discussion between us, potentially including the ABC Ombudsman, on these matters with a view to aligning our expectations for the future.”

Ms O’Loughlin also said it response was “not the first in recent times where the ABC has disagreed with the ACMA’s interpretation and application of its code”.

The investigation found the episodes breached requirements of the ABC’s code of practice. “By omitting key information, the ABC did not give its audience the opportunity to make up their own minds about Fox News,” Ms O’Loughlin said at the time of the report’s release in December.

In response, the ABC attacked the media regulator, including publishing an article on its website written by Ferguson, who now hosts 7.30.

On December 22 she wrote: “ACMA’s final report and its inflammatory press release raise questions about the regulator’s understanding of journalism.”

In February, Mr Anderson responded to Ms O’Loughlin’s letter and conceded a meeting between the two and the ABC ombudsman would be useful.

In December, the ABC said t it had “serious concerns” that the ACMA’s interpretation of the ABC’s code of practice would have “negative consequences for the future production of strong public interest journalism” and whether its “subjective characterisation of the program” aligned with its statutory role to review compliance with the code. The ABC would not comment on Wednesday.

Rupert Murdoch is executive chairman of News Corp, publisher of The Australian.