ABC stands by Andrew Probyn despite conceding election reports needed more context
The ABC is standing by its political editor, Andrew Probyn, for his reporting over the upcoming Federal by-elections which saw the broadcaster criticised by the Communications Minister for repeating “Labor lies”.
In its response to government complaints, the ABC conceded the lack of context around the claim the Prime Minister had chosen the elections’ date was a lapse in the organisation’s standards of accuracy but that did not detract from the body of Probyn’s work.
ABC political editor, Andrew Probyn.
The complaints about Probyn’s reporting were the latest in a series in grievances from the government about the broadcaster. Two weeks ago, the ABC’s managing director Michelle Guthrie warned Australians would not tolerate the ABC being a political punching bag.
What’s the point of having an independent umpire like the ACMA if the ABC news department is going to continue to thumb its collective noses at their judgements and tell the world that its so-called journalists are really the bees knees despite findings to the contrary? The word “arrogance” hardly comes close!
Andrew Probyn is one of the good journalists at the ABC. In fact beyond good – he’s great. Am sick of these guys being so hen-pecked they no longer have an opinion – and they should. Shit Government or Opposition is just that – and they should have the levity to call that out. Keep it up Andrew.
My money is spent on these two Government owned networks –ABC and SBS. . They are therefore not to be journalists but reporters otherwise they can, say under any Labor/Greens rule, be viewed as a Pravda or People’s Daily.
If I want an opinion I will have to make one myself. The ABC/SBS can report opinions – obviously balanced if there are two sides or more.
It’s a deserved punching bag because they, the ABC (and SBS) so often punch my opinions. I am relying on the majority Government, duly elected, unlike the ABC, to punch for me.
This organisation (and SBS) needs to be brought to heel. Governments in any case should not own media anywhere in the world in any Nation, and also Australia.