ABC boss Mark Scott: The Oz outed blogger Grog’s Gamut because he was on its territory
The Australian’s decision to unmask public servant Greg Jericho as blogger Grog’s Gamut was a reaction to a “civilian” having “sidestepped the gatekeeper” and built an audience of his own, ABC boss Mark Scott claimed today.
In a speech to the 2010 Journalism Education Association Conference in Sydney, Scott referred to the move by The Australian to reveal Jericho’s identity – and its justification that this was because his comments had influenced ABC deliberations.
Scott said:
“I read with interest the claims made by The Australian about why they outed Canberra blogger Grog’s Gamut. Their public interest defence was that they did this because I had mentioned Grog’s Gamut blog in a speech. I had said we’d discussed his commentary on campaign reporting, saw some merit in it and recalibrated what we were doing during the campaign to improve it.
November 24th, 2010 at 11:34 am
Agree with Mark Scott wholeheartedly and would add that I am at a loss to understand why the ABC is pandering to News Ltd and their agenda. Why allow The Australian/News Ltd to set the national debate validating their influence and power. I and many others, say that The Australian is politically biased and the propaganda machine of the Liberal Party, so why play their game? I want an independent ABC, not one cowered into submission by conservative elements and I want an ABC that will call everyone out on the bullcrap, not be a part of it themselves.
Where did Scott make his first speech in this role? (Was it for Gerard Henderson?) Why did he do that? Is he at all independent or is he more of a chameleon? And why, oh why, does he makes so many airy speeches????
Mark Scott previously ran the office of controversial NSW Liberal Minister, Terry Metherell. At one stage he considered standing for preselection as a Liberal Party candidate.
http://www.abc.net.au/sundaypr.....687585.htm
His appointment as Managing Director was made by the ABC’s Board of Directors, the group that John Howard stacked with right-wing cultural activists.