Most people agree that the way the BBC Panorama program “Trump: A Second Chance?” edited excerpts from Donald Trump’s speech to MAGA supporters before the riot on Capitol Hill on 6 January 2021 was unethical.  Even deceptive.

No one seems to have noticed that the man who exposed the inappropriate edit did something very similar in his leaked memorandum to the BBC Board.

But the usual Australian critics have been happy to jump on the British bandwagon, accusing the ABC of deceptive conduct and calling for inquiries into its impartiality.

Last week Alumni director Jonathan Holmes wrote in the Nine newspapers that the BBC’s critics had a point. But he’s now wondering whether the scandal that led to the resignation of the BBC’s two most senior executives was, after all, a political hatchet job.

As the Australian Parliament tables legislation to require streaming services to expend a percentage of their revenue on original Australian content, ABC Alumni Chair, Dr Michael Ward, and Director, Sandra Levy, unpack the cost to Australians of accessing quality original Australian programs behind their paywalls. They present a compelling argument for increased funding for quality Australian content available on ABC and SBS free-to-air streaming platforms, and for increasing Screen Australia's capacity to invest.

This week ABC Radio National’s ‘The Science Show’ celebrates its 50^th anniversary. Above all, it’s a celebration of a remarkable broadcaster, Robyn Williams AO FAA, who has presented the program for the whole of those five decades. In that time, Williams has become revered by scientists, broadcasters and listeners around the world. Academy Award-winning actress Cate Blanchett calls him ‘an absolute bloody legend’. And much-loved satirist, the late John Clarke, always credited Williams with launching his Australian career and with introducing him to an educational ecosystem focussed on ideas, philosophy and experimental ‘tomfoolery’. Alumni co-founder Helen Grasswill, who has listened to ‘The Science Show’ since its inception, has written this tribute.

Much-loved Melbourne based ABC radio broadcaster Julie Copeland died early this year and will be farewelled at a celebration in St Kilda later in March.

More than 80 per cent of Australians are now getting their information and content from American social media and video streaming services. It’s impacting on the number of Australian stories we see and hear as well as damaging what has been a vibrant Australian film, radio and television industry.

The Albanese Government is stalling on its decision to regulate Australian content on streaming platforms and local producers and advocates are worried that the lobbying power of the streaming giants is holding sway.

Quentin Dempster argues it’s imperative to fight for Australian voices and stories on the new digital platforms and to resist the Americanization of Aussie culture.

This article was first published in Pearls and Irritations, John Menadue’s Public Policy Journal on 18 August 2024.

In his first major speech about the ABC since the May federal election, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has indicated a new era in government-ABC relations. Delivered at a gala dinner celebrating the national broadcaster’s 90th anniversary, the PM’s wide-ranging speech outlined the ABC’s crucial role in contributing to both social cohesion and a healthy democracy. He also reinforced his government’s commitment to a better-resourced, independent ABC and promised to review options for delivering greater financial sustainability to safeguard against political interference.

Dr Michael Ward of the University of Sydney, a former senior ABC executive, has been poring over the figures.

In this disturbing article for ABC Alumni, he confirms what we’ve all suspected.  First release, non-news and current affairs screen content on the ABC’s main TV channel has dropped by 40% in ten years, and on all ABC platforms by around 20%.

If you’re looking for evidence that the ABC desperately needs its funding restored, THIS IS IT!

One of the ABC's primary responsibilities has long been telling Australian stories to Australian audiences.  

But rising costs and increasing competition from the giant streaming companies are making it harder and harder for the ABC to air home-grown, high-quality drama.

ABC Alumni Board Member, former ABC Director of Television and award-winning independent drama producer SANDRA LEVY outlines the size of the challenge:

On Tuesday September 26^th Chris Oliver-Taylor - since July 1^st the ABC’s Chief Content Officer - was our guest at an exclusive webinar hosted by Gael Jennings. 

Chris has a huge job.  He’s responsible for all ABC content that is not produced by the News Division. As Gael put it: “that’s all commissioning, in-house production, drama, entertainment, arts, science, children’s, factual, the national radio networks, Radio National, all the metro radio stations, ABC Listen, ABC iview, and all of this is in the context of moving towards an ABC digital future.” 

Chris is a lively and engaging speaker, and he didn’t duck the questions. To get the flavour of these webinars, you need to be there (and be an Alumni subscriber). But here’s a summary of the ground he and Gael covered in a fascinating hour.

By Peter Lewis, 9 February 2023

Rural and regional broadcasting has been a mainstay of ABC programming for nearly eight decades. It’s provided a unique on-the-ground insight into the lives and businesses of Australians outside of the capital cities, and both Landlineand The Country Hour remain favourite programs in the rural regions and among many in the cities too. Pete Lewis came to rural reporting late, after many years in news and current affairs but, as he writes here, it was his time on Landline – which returns to ABC TV this Sunday – that brought to him ‘the beating heart’ of the ABC.