1 week Ago
ABC chair Kim Williams has denied interfering in editorial decision-making after the organisation's Media Watch program reported he pushed for teams to offer airtime to an Australian comedian. said Mr Williams intervened on at least five occasions to encourage interviews with comedian Sandy Gutman, better known by his stage name Austen Tayshus. The ABC's editorial teams are governed by a set of editorial policies designed to give them independence in editorial decision-making.
Mr Williams denied any attempt to "impose actions or outcomes on any editorial managers". "I emphasise this is just not the case," Mr Williams said. "If there have been misunderstandings in the process, or erroneous assumptions, I genuinely regret that they have arisen".
Austen Tayshus seeks support According to Media Watch, Gutman, best known for his 1983 hit Australiana, has since last year received more than 90 minutes of airtime on ABC local radio over 11 segments, with presenters frequently citing the details of his upcoming shows. The program said on some of those occasions local staff had initially declined to interview Gutman. In one incident described by Media Watch, after ABC Port Pirie turned down an interview, the performer telephoned Mr Williams to complain, alleging antisemitism.
New ABC chair Kim Williams has outlined his vision in his first major speech since taking on the role, calling for more government funding to help revitalise the national broadcaster. In response, Mr Williams called ABC head of audio content Ben Latimer who, Media Watch alleges, passed a message down to editorial staff on Mr Gutman's behalf. Days later, Mr Gutman was interviewed on ABC North and West SA local radio.
After Mr Gutman repeatedly lobbied Mr Latimer, the executive contacted Mr Williams to tell him that Sandy Gutman was out of line, according to Media Watch. In another incident, Media Watch alleges, Mr Gutman complained to Mr Williams about being denied an interview with ABC New England. Mr Williams forwarded the complaint to Mr Latimer, then director of audio, as well as another senior news executive, who was on extended leave.
Mr Williams denied interfering with editorial matters. Media Watch quoted from an email sent from Mr Williams to Mr Latimer in which he said he was "essentially on his [Gutman's] side". "Our people are often arrogant with talent," the email said.
"How often would someone like Austen Tayshus be in New England? Strange attitude. I know he can be demanding but he is talent." The editorial decision was subsequently reversed and Mr Gutman secured an interview with ABC New England Breakfast a week later.
In relation to the email, Mr Williams told Media Watch: "I did not at any time intervene and would never seek to override editorial judgement from local teams." "My comment was about responding to talent." 'Inappropriate' pressure Media Watch reported the actions prompted some staff members to raise concerns about editorial independence.
Managing director Hugh Marks, who joined the broadcaster earlier this year, described the matters raised by Media Watch as "important". "I have been at the ABC a short time but I am vigilant to ensure the proper delineation of responsibility between the Board and management, and will act appropriately to ensure the best interests of the ABC, its people and audiences as we move forward," he said. Hugh Marks said the matters raised by Media Watch are "important".
Former ABC editorial director Alan Sunderland told Media Watch board members needed to take great care not to be seen as "lobbying or pressuring for a specific editorial outcome". He said in the examples cited, the chair appeared to be intervening on behalf of someone he knew. "This sort of pressure on program teams from any board member, let alone the chairman, is in my view inappropriate," he said.
"The fact that it was not only passed on but acted upon by program teams who felt pressured to change their editorial judgement, indicates a significant failure of process and judgement, both on the part of the chairman and senior management." While Mr Gutman described Mr Williams as a "friend", Mr Williams said he was an acquaintance with whom he had "brief involvement some 27 years ago". In a later statement, Mr Gutman said he was not sure if he had ever met Mr Williams.
"I contacted him because I thought he may be able to help me with what I perceived as lack of impartiality on the part of some journos," he said. "All I expected was some help with some interviews and that's what I got from him and Ben Latimer." ABC News approached Mr Latimer for comment.
In response to the Media Watch segment, the ABC said in a statement: “In recent months ABC management spoke with Mr Gutman to express clear expectations of his behaviour to staff when pitching interviews and discuss how the ABC makes editorial decisions. “The ABC regularly engages with members of the performance community for appearances across our networks and it’s important for the arts and entertainment sectors that we continue to do so. “The ABC Chair has always made clear he expects ABC management to follow its own independent decision-making on content.
As the Editorial Policies state, the trust and respect of the community depend on the ABC’s editorial independence and integrity.”.
