ABC CEO Mark Scott hits out at concentrated attack from News Corp
ABC CEO Mark Scott says the public broadcaster has come under concentrated attack from News Corp in his first interview following a string of stories in the Rupert Murdoch controlled newspapers.
Scott told ABC News 24 the broadcaster had acted in the public interest by reporting the Indonesian spying story based on information from Australia’s Electronic Intelligence Agency leaked by US whistleblower Edward Snowden and shared with the ABC by The Guardian Australia.
In two separate articles The Australian reported Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s disappointment at the ABC’s decision to publish the spying scandal story, as well as a separate article citing the Attorney General’s concerns leaked information could jeopardise counter-terrorism operations.
And the front page of The Australian today is dominated by pictures of Scott and Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger, heading a story that suggests a “bromance” between the two. Scott and Rusbridger were seen having a breakfast meeting before the publication of the spy story, the Australian reports.
The Oz is truly pathetic.
Scott argues,
“The question really is when an important story was presented to us, were we really going to walk away from that because it was controversial, because it might generate a bit of political heat? That’s a very difficult thing for an independent public broadcaster to do.”
What about J Gillards involvement in the AWU scandal?
What about Craig Thompson?
Is Scott saying….Move along no controversy here?
There was plenty of evidence and potential political heat, just no Coalition members involved.
yes, of late, the Aus seems to have tired (for the moment) of spraying their seemingly never-ending bile in the direction of Fairfax towards a new target: the ABC. Very reminiscint of the battlelines Murdoch opened up with the BBC in the UK. He seems very threatened for someone who continually espouses the value of his newspapers’ “quality” journalism.
Surely Scott must read his own quotes and cringe.
The attacks on Scott are frankly unhinged. “Bromance”? I mean really. When you cut away all the snide innuendo what are they accusing him of? Having a good professional relationship with on of the world’s leading editors. Scott is one of the better MD’s the ABC has had. We should appreciate him, not attack him with manufactured nonsense.
I once had a great deal of respect for the Australian. I refuse to buy it now and subscribe to the Guardian instead.
I’ve had enormous respect for what Rupert Murdoch has created at News Corp, but as the media world is changing, and his hold on media slowly but slips away, his newspapers are looking very much like a spoilt brat kid used to getting his way, but no longer afforded that opportunity. Take the election coverage: while I was gunning for Tony Abbott, the articles about Kevin Rudd were just embarrassing. From a media proprietor of his stature, this is not good enough. Rupert, at least go down with some dignity.
@John Marsh
“There was plenty of evidence and potential political heat, just no Coalition members involved.”
John, the last time I checked the reported spying on Indonesia happened under a Labor government. So I don’t think the intention behind reporting on the issue was about damaging Coalition credibility.
I also don’t think the alleged activities of Gillard in relation to the AWU and Thompson in relation to use of his credit card are comparable to international spying allegations. Especially at a time when the issue of privacy is being highlighted globally following the Snowden leaks.
I’m not trying to debate any bias in the ABC toward Labor but you’re going to have to do a better job than that.
Thank you Mark Scott for speaking out agains the sustained attacks on the ABC.by News Ltd. These were happening long before the Indonesian phone tapping story. I like the independance of the ABC. News Ltd very much favours right wing politics, especially Andrew Bolts substantial coverage of politics, and we need an independant media outlet to give alternative points of view. Thank you ABC. it is good to be able to hear all sides to a political story.
Good on Mark Scott for not being intimidated by The Australian. What we are seeing is the gradual dying of the light for Rupert’s influence as his media desperately attacks anybody who stands between him and a dollar. The government would be most unwise to start attacking the ABC and do Rupert’s bidding. It will make Abbot look vengeful and ungracious, a man who started off unpopular and who is remaining so. And with Christopher Pyne by your side who needs a Labor Opposition or an allegedly biased ABC. Oh and I’m just waiting for that in depth story on the failings of Lachlan Murdoch and the Ten Network.
That other kid is playing with my toys
News Corp has along history of attacking other news organisations which cover stories better than The Australian has done. Well done ABC, keep up all the good work.
Hey John Marsh and Robbo, i tried to draw my bow to that length, sadly it snapped too early.
As long as the ABC insists it is a corporation it is in trouble. What happens if Fed Govt insists that all real estate “owned” by ABC be sold and proceeds used to create fund to pay out defined benefit superannuation/leave/redundancies of long-standing employees who are/might be surplus to needs? Feds will pick up leases on properties as part of triennial funding. Nightmare. Trust me. That’s the nightmare. It’s on.
Oz = Crap.
ABC = Gold.
Nuff said.
Bias in in the eye of the individual. To the Bolts of the world, the Daily Telegraph, The Australian and 2GB provide a balanced view of the world and the ABC is extreme left wing. To many others with a more centralist view, the ABC and SMH is balanced and the Oz, DT and 2GB are extreme right wing. The positions aren’t right or wrong as such, as long as everyone accepts that, unlike catholic doctrine, there is more than one perspective, others are entitled to have that perspective and their perspective is not automatically ‘wrong’ because you don’t agree with it.
That’s a fair comment Mark. Except whenever I peek at The Australian or The Tele in a newsagent or supermarket (I refuse to buy them) I fume over not just their point of view but the hideously skewed reporting of the facts to make the facts fit better with their pre- determined editorial line. It’s all about misrepresentation and in some cases it’s what they don’t print that’s worse. Again, if it doesn’t fit the editorial line and ideological position, it won’t be printed. And please, can’t we keep the opinions in the opinion section?
The attacks by the Merdeoch sty on the ABC get shriller and shriller – and it is disconcerting that a media outlet owned by a foreigner is in lockstep (or is it the other way around) with the Coalition party room. And yet this is an organisation to whom Top Secret information can be leaked from the office of a Cabinet Minister (the Wilkie report to Andrew Bolt from Downer’s office) and snippet after snippet from intelligence sources various to Sheridan – (Iraq War anyone?) and it is apparently OK. Thusly according to the Limited News rabble the national interest is only what favours the political proclivities of its proprietor and those representing his interests in the Parliament. It would be laughable if it were not so profoundly disconcerting. Fact is, and fortunately however, regional Australia relies very heavily on the ABC – the Nationals know this – and so do the Libs.
The Murdoch press and in particular the “broadsheet” Australian has become nothing but a running joke. I’d like to see ABC radio and television when they do their evening and morning segments on what tomorrow’s or today’s papers say give the Green Left Weekly’s headlines equal prominence to that they give the Australian. Both papers are about the same in terms of their balance. That should really help push Murdoch’s minions over the edge.
If the Murdoch press was half as good at reporting the news as the ABC is then the News Corp newspapers would be worth reading.
@ John Marsh – you may want to check Mr Scott’s background before he joined the ABC. Then you may remove your foot from your mouth. Maybe then turn your computer off so you can focus on 2GB.