Is this the beginning of the end of the ABC as we know it?
While the ABC cuts have focussed around traditional delivery mechanisms the investment in digital technology shapes the broadcaster for the future argue Brian McNair and Adam Swift in this cross-posting from The Conversation.
While Australia’s elected representatives argue over what then-opposition leader Tony Abbott meant when he promised “no cuts to the ABC, or SBS” the night before the last election, directly to the electorate, while advertising himself as a leader who could be trusted not to break his promises, the cuts are in and the announcements of what form they will take at the ABC have been made.
McNair
Most had been heavily trailed last week, but now we know for sure that some 400 jobs will go because of these cuts. Regional facilities will be closed, services and programs will be cancelled or, in Lateline’s case, moved to ABC News 24. ABC websites will be rationalised, with 100 or so earmarked for the chop. State-based sports broadcasting will go, along with the state editions of 7.30.
What a terribly silly column. Scott is clearly doing what is bleeding obvious. What he has not done is use this situation to create something.
Scott makes no attempt to sell change, not even the new money put into digital and a new regional news structure, both of which are presumably innovative.
Put simply, today’s technology demands reduction in production staff. That is simply the nature of the contemporary technologies in news media and digital media more generally. Offices are not essential either. Nor are layers of admin.
Scott had ample room here to makeover the ABC creatively. Instead he played the game of his critics.
Seriously Huh?, another Liberal Party stooge comment?
There’s always another option – run paid advertisements! Stacks of cash and they can do what they want.
Only the deeply stupid will celebrate the emasculation of the ABC, the weakening of an independent non commercial broadcaster, the diminished contribution to music and culture. Sure the ABC needed to improve its efficiency but the Governments aim is to render it powerless and as a result the intellectual capital of the country will be lessened and we will end up with too many dumbed down thinkers like @Huh, and @Jennifer who has posted on other items on the ABC.
It’s all very well for Mark Scott to push the ABC towards a stronger Digital presence but if you can’t afford to make decent content then what is the point?
The ABC’s strength is in news / current affairs so it makes no sense to be reducing expenditure on these programs e.g.. 4 Corners, Lateline, Foreign Correspondent and Australian Story.
@Groucho: I agree with the sentiment. It’s just that I think it’s Mark Scott and others in influence who are dumbing down the ABC.
Funny how we all bemoan the loss of local services like the ABC – but we aren’t prepared to pay for them.
Mumbrella represents a great community of media professionals, from journalists to advertising executives.
But often we fail to make the symbiotic link between the two.
Big Splash runs a community newspaper, proudly supported by a local council who sees the advantage of keeping its community informed through professional journalists and great content. And some very loyal and welcome small businesses.
Our area is slated for amalgamation (get rid of the local identity and voice – so much easier to put through unpopular policies) and has just just been told to find 16,200 new homes. You’d think a local voice would be pretty important, particularly since there are at least six “community consultation” exercises going on right now.
Local is good. And making communities feel valued is a strong advertising proposition.
YET advertising dollars from people like American Express professing to support local business – “shop small!” – are only spent on TV and in Metros. Community newspaper or website? Too difficult to evaluate. Sorry.
Banks profess to love small business. IAG says it’s the way the locals like it.
So do they really support small business? Sorry, no.
The Metro buy is so much easier that trying to value community websites and newspapers. And there is not a lot of commissions in a local buy!
Mark Scott was softened up with a Government-led campaign claiming the ABC was full of fat cats spending up big. Now he’s making the cuts, he’s murdering the ABC and local voices. He is actually uniquely qualified to steer the national broadcaster through the current environment, and we’re lucky he is in charge.
We’re all responsible for throttling community voices, including the ABC’s local services. Fairfax, News, advertisers (yes, they have a role!). Even, to some extent, the communities themselves.
When you deal at a micro level, as we do, and see local communities trying to find solutions to real local issues, you know what it means when they loose their voice.
Pretty soon, there won’t be a print version of the Sydney Morning Herald or the Age. Let’s hope media buyers can spend some time looking at how they can create a new network of real local voices, so their clients get the reach they deserve for their campaigns professing to care for communities.
Sadly, it won’t help the ABC. But it might help support communities who care for what is going on around them.
ABC management, deciding the budget allocation have chosen upsetting their audiences rather than sacking the layers of unnecessary management and admin that the corporation groans under.
Why’s that Huh? Did you land one of the 70 digital jobs there?
JG: Interesting assumption JG. Answer: nope.
As an old fart, I’ve lived through several iterations of Libs Vs ABC. It used to be that incumbent Lib Governments meant the Exec Producer of Four Corners or This Day Tonight would somehow get sacked just before elections.
But you know what? We all gave up piano lessons, thinking we were very smart.
Kids don’t do homework nor study, thinking they’re very smart.
Fat people don’t go to gyms, thinking they’re very smart.
The streets where I live are full of addicts and drunkards, all thinking they’re very smart.
The point is: things that are good for us, are of benefit to us, (such as study, temperance, exercise…) are not always the easy way, the lazy way or the slack way. It’s not always comfortable.
Sometimes GOOD THINGS require effort.
Perhaps Governments who feel aggrieved by ABC reports of their activities could consider behaving better. No?
(or is that an “on-water operation”?)
Certainly the ABC of the future won’t have to bother with stories on ethics, ecology, climate change, literature or feminism. There won’t BE any.
But at least *I’m* learning. Tomorrow I won’t have said this – or if I have it wasn’t what I meant – and if it was what I meant it was only because I’m battling the disastrous legacy of my predecesser – and if none of that works, it is the work of the Media.
Bloody word-twisting Media. (except News Corp and Adelaide Advertiser)!!!