SBS downplays criticisms of Dateline changes from ‘disgruntled ex-employee’ but confirms new ‘lighter’ format
Multicultural broadcaster SBS has confirmed there will be a major refresh of current affairs investigative program Dateline to a new ‘lighter’ format, but has downplayed suggestions by an ex-supervising producer of the show that looming budget cuts were driving the changes.
News website Crikey this afternoon published a strongly worded critique of the changes at Dateline (paywall) by supervising producer of the show Alan Hogan, which accuses the public broadcaster of having a secret plan to gut much of the program’s investigative journalism and claiming there is only enough funding to cover 10 new stories in the remainder of the financial year.
News of the changes and Hodges’s opinion piece broke during the middle of SBS 2015 Upfronts. When approached after the event SBS managing director Michael Ebeid said: “We are returning Dateline with a new format, a new line up of talent and will have a completely different feel and energy in the sort of stories that it is doing.
“It is unfortunate that the individual has written what he has because it is a disgruntled employee, at the end of the day. Alan was a contributor to Dateline. The changes we are making at Dateline have nothing to do with budget cuts.
Hi Mumbrella,
It should probably be noted that Allan was not an “ex-employee” when he wrote the piece for us this morning. Of course, he may well be be an ex-employee soon, if he isn’t already.
Allan wrote the piece because because he is concerned about the younger staff and journos at the show, who have no job security and are being told they may not be in work next year and may not get a payout if they are made redundant. He is also worried about the future of what was once a source of quality investigative journalism. Allan deserves credit for his courage in speaking out.
Cheers,
Myriam Robin (Crikey media reporter)
Let’s get the facts right: I have not departed – at least not yet. I leave Dateline on December 31.
Peter Charley
Executive Producer
Dateline
Its the recurring modus operandi of Carroll at other news organisations in the past.
“I do think that Dateline brought some really important stories from around the world for us and there is a lot going on in the world. But we do need to make the program a little bit lighter and that’s part of the direction that it will be going…” (Michael Ebeid)
There’s a lot going on in the world? Gee, that’s making a profound observation.
Alan Hogan writes just like Mike Carlton. Are they mates?
Maybe it’s time that Charley and Hogan moved on. Maybe it’s time for a fresh approach. Management sometimes get it right. I wonder what Hogan’s contract says about making comments such as these? At his age perhaps he’s after a redundancy.
Having said that, I am not too impressed with what I read with Michael Ebied?