Why conservatives knock back invitations from the (possibly unreformable) ABC
Janet Albrechtsen likens the ABC to the UN Human Rights Council, The Australian, yesterday:
I joined the ABC board in 2005 with a … naive hope that the national broadcaster could be reformed to meet its fine mandate. Alas, it suffers a similarly entrenched and biased culture as the UNHRC. Given that both institutions are unreformable, it raises the question: why bother with them at all?
Julia Baird, the presenter of ABC television’s The Drum, says conservatives often turn down invitations to appear, Twitter, Monday:
This is a constant struggle on The Drum — even the very people who rail against us refuse to join our panel. Very frustrating … We continue to cast nets weekly in order to maintain our balance. But it is worth noting how many people criticise the ABC for not representing their views, then refuse to appear on it.
Conservative Gray Connolly agrees. Twitter, Monday:
Yes. there is a leftward bias in the ABC but there are still too few people on the right who are willing to turn up at the ABC and engage in the argument.
No fee for an appearance, and exclusive deals elsewhere are among the reasons, but Chris Kenny says it’s not just to do with selection of panel guests. Twitter, Monday:
It is about the jaundiced journalists and producers and the endemic views on climate, borders, indigenous affairs, feminism, education and economics … tedious homogeneity.
A modest proposal from Kenny. Twitter, Tuesday:
Instead of $2.6 million on bonuses for lefties, #theirABC could employ perhaps 20 right of centre voices — 20 among 4000 might make some sort of an impact.
Albrechtsen wants more than the odd invitation. Twitter, Monday:
… until the ABC takes its role seriously, by including conservative voices as paid hosts of major programs, I can’t take any invitations very seriously. Reflecting Australia in full is the quid pro quo from getting $1bn+ from taxpayers.
Baird undaunted. Twitter, Monday:
Hi Janet! You know I’ve wanted you to come on the Drum for ages, for your insights, not your gratitude. We have a loyal, engaged audience of 200k who’d be keen to hear from you. We don’t see our panel positions as crumbs; we see them as a unique place to engage in civil debate.
Rita Panahi is sceptical. Twitter, Monday:
Yeah, it’s surprising busy conservative commentators with their own programs/outlets won’t work for free on the ABC. You must think being the *token* conservative on a Leftie dominated panel holds some weird appeal.
Daniel Breban is another doubter. Twitter, Monday:
You seem surprised by conservatives refusing to play the role of the ABC’s pinata …
Leigh Sales challenges a central assumption. Twitter, Tuesday:
… people who are ideologues assume that anybody who doesn’t vehemently & publicly agree with their political view must therefore disagree with it … hence the nonsense argument … that the ABC doesn’t have “one conservative broadcaster”. I say to them: prove how I voted in (federal elections).
Twitter user Michael R disagrees, Tuesday:
I think I have a very good idea if you’re conservative or not from the way you conduct your interviews.