ABC Current Affairs Threatened with Extinction

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Writing in "The Age" (11th July, 2000) Mark Colvin the Presenter of PM writes to defend the ABC's flagship current affairs programs AM, PM and The World Today. The fact that he feels obliged to defend these programs is disturbing. Until the appointment of Johnathon Shier as Managing Director of the ABC and Max Uechtritz as Head of News and Current Affairs these programs have been highly regarded. Suddenly their future is in question as is the future of the 7.30 Report and its Presenter Kerry O'Brien.

Jonathon Shier has assured Friends of the ABC that robust and independant current affairs remains a key part of the ABC's output. Mark Colvin writes that Max Uechtritz has given him similar assurances it remains to be seen if these assurances will save AM, PM and the 7.30 Report.

-- Anonymous, July 10, 2000

Answers

What is disturbing about this report is that there is an implication that something is wrong with ABC current affairs and that audiences are dissatisfied. But there is no suggestion of this. ABC current affairs in all its programs, radio and television, are highly regarded by its audiences and by the community. The community trusts ABC news and current affairs and looks to the ABC to probe political and commercial affairs. There is a strong suspicion that this reported move is politically motivated.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2000

The Australian of 22/7/00 reported that the discussion segment of Lateline is to be axed from Monday.

This is one of the most interesting of the ABC current affairs programs, different from the others in that the interaction between the different interviewees is fascinating and often quite spirited. There has been a wide range of topics. Although the program is late it is one of my favourites on ABC. Can something be done?

-- Anonymous, July 23, 2000


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