ABC is Political

ABC staff told to reign in their social media posts.
From the article:
In an email to staff on Monday, Mr Anderson, the managing director, said staff were legally accountable for their personal social media accounts, but could still face disciplinary conduct under the ABC Code of Conduct for their posts.
“The primary concern is when personal social media activity reflects badly on the ABC’s independence and integrity, or when a poorly judged post or series of posts or ‘likes’ compromises perceptions of the impartiality of someone in an ABC role where maintaining impartiality in the public eye is crucial,” Mr Anderson said in the email.

“So, to protect yourself and the ABC, I offer this simple piece of advice: If you are posting, liking, or sharing something on personal social media that is work-related or about a matter of public controversy – ask yourself if it’s something you would also say, write or share on an ABC platform.”
Milligan, the ABC’s star investigative reporter at Four Corners, is being sued by Queensland federal Liberal MP Andrew Laming over a tweet alleging he had taken an “upskirting” photo of a woman bending over. Queensland police in April cleared him of any criminal offence in connection with the photo.

The ABC is covering Milligan’s legal costs. But Mr Anderson, in his email, indicated staff would be personally liable for their social media content, saying if they followed his advice “you are far less likely to find yourself in breach of the ABC Code of Conduct or defending a legal claim from a third party at your own personal cost”.

sptrawler said:

“So, to protect yourself and the ABC, I offer this simple piece of advice: If you are posting, liking, or sharing something on personal social media that is work-related or about a matter of public controversy – ask yourself if it’s something you would also say, write or share on an ABC platform.”

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This doesn't seem to me like a unbiased MO to work under.

I think many of those who express disdain (say) for politicians of a particular party would also express the same feelings on an ABC platform if they could get away with it. I think it would be more appropriate to say that they shouldn't express any opinion on social media under their personal accounts that violate the ABC rule of ethics (not that they are that stringent) regarding what can be said on official ABC platforms. ABC staff should have to comply with more stringent standards regarding expressing personal opinions than commercial media staff.

Andrew Lamming wins defamation case against ABC reporter.

SirRumpole said:

Andrew Lamming wins defamation case against ABC reporter.

ABC journalist agrees to pay MP $79,000 in defamation settlement over tweets

ABC journalist Louise Milligan agrees to pay Federal Liberal MP Andrew Laming $79,000 in a defamation case over a series of tweets she sent earlier this year.

www.abc.net.au

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It sounds as though the media can't even agree on a court outcome. ?

Taxpayer pays $120k bill for ABC journo’s tweets​

ABC journalist Louise Milligan will pay Liberal MP Andrew Laming over tweets suggesting he “upskirted” a woman – and the public will foot the massive bill.

sptrawler said:

It sounds as though the media can't even agree on a court outcome. ?

No Cookies | The Courier Mail

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www.couriermail.com.au

Taxpayer pays $120k bill for ABC journo’s tweets​

ABC journalist Louise Milligan will pay Liberal MP Andrew Laming over tweets suggesting he “upskirted” a woman – and the public will foot the massive bill.

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To me, it's just another step in the sad decline of the ABC, from unbiased reporters who analyse evidence to social crusaders who shoot from the hip and let the taxpayers pay for their mistakes.

If their reporters are suscessfully sued, then they should be sacked, it might teach them a few lessons.

SirRumpole said:

To me, it's just another step in the sad decline of the ABC, from unbiased reporters who analyse evidence to social crusaders who shoot from the hip and let the taxpayers pay for their mistakes.

If their reporters are suscessfully sued, then they should be sacked, it might teach them a few lessons.

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At the minimum they should have to pay their own fines, if the ABC chooses to pay the fine, IMO they are accepting responsibility for the posts.
Punishment is served to chastise bad behaviour, someone else paying the punishment, encourages a continuation of that bad behaviour IMO.
It is like if I bashed someone unconscious and was given 6 months jail, but my wife who likes her own company says, don't worry I'll do it for you. Would that be allowed?
In the ABC's case, it is the taxpayer, who is taking the punishment. For a reporter, who is paid by the taxpayer, doing something wrong.
Just my opinion.

It looks like the ABC is in deep dodo this time.
Whatever your thoughts on Cory Bernardi being among other things, a right wind rgotitical ar$ehole, he has been well and truly done over by the ABC. From Todays OZ

Former Senator and Sky News host Cory Bernardi has launched legal action against the ABC after they aired allegations by Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young – which he vehemently denied – on their popular TV series Ms Represented.
It comes just several days after the ABC issued an apology to Mr Bernardi for failing to give him a “fair opportunity” to respond to the claims made during the program and they conceded they had breached their own editorial standards.

The ABC has been issued with legal documents by Mr Bernardi – a senator from 2006 to 2020 – and he is suing the public broadcaster for $400,000 in damages and ordered they remove the episode from its streaming platform iview as well as all promotional material and pay Mr Bernardi’s legal costs.
The four-episode series focused on the experiences of female parliamentarians and was hosted by the ABC’s political writer Annabel Crabb.

During the second episode, which aired on July 20, Senator Hanson-Young told Crabb, about her alleged interactions she claimed she had with Bernardi during a parliamentary sitting on December 4, 2014.

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The critical part here is that a specific date is mentioned in the article.
I did not see the show in question, I was washing my hair at the time.
However, if indeed that sitting date was stated as the date these harassment events were said to have occurred, then both the ABC and SHY are dead in the water.
Somebody called "theseekeroftruth" has trawled through the parliamentary footage for that sitting day, and the evidence contradicts a large chunk of what SHY said.
At the time Bernardi was still a member of the Liberal party, and thus went and sat with the other liberals, nowhere near the cross benches where SHY sat.
From what I have heard, this seekeroftruth person contacted Bernardi with their findings, which may or may not have prompted the court case.
The ABC have already issued an apology to Berrnardi for not giving him the right of reply, and for not following their own procedural guidelines.
Given the massive resources that the ABC have, including resources, producers, editors, legal people, it is stunning that none of them thought to have a look at the freely available footage is stunning.
The fact that Crabb's husband, Jeremy Storer , is the ABC in house boss lawyer is in more stunning.
Should be a fascinating little event to just grab some popcorn and sit back and let it all unfold.
Mick

mullokintyre said:

It looks like the ABC is in deep dodo this time.
Whatever your thoughts on Cory Bernardi being among other things, a right wind rgotitical ar$ehole, he has been well and truly done over by the ABC. From Todays OZ

The critical part here is that a specific date is mentioned in the article.
I did not see the show in question, I was washing my hair at the time.
However, if indeed that sitting date was stated as the date these harassment events were said to have occurred, then both the ABC and SHY are dead in the water.
Somebody called "theseekeroftruth" has trawled through the parliamentary footage for that sitting day, and the evidence contradicts a large chunk of what SHY said.
At the time Bernardi was still a member of the Liberal party, and thus went and sat with the other liberals, nowhere near the cross benches where SHY sat.
From what I have heard, this seekeroftruth person contacted Bernardi with their findings, which may or may not have prompted the court case.
The ABC have already issued an apology to Berrnardi for not giving him the right of reply, and for not following their own procedural guidelines.
Given the massive resources that the ABC have, including resources, producers, editors, legal people, it is stunning that none of them thought to have a look at the freely available footage is stunning.
The fact that Crabb's husband, Jeremy Storer , is the ABC in house boss lawyer is in more stunning.
Should be a fascinating little event to just grab some popcorn and sit back and let it all unfold.
Mick

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Very disappointed with the ABC these days.

They seem to have been taken over by the far Left. Everyone with some sort of social axe to grind in the area of racism, sexism, discrimination etc gets a voice , but the ABC appears to do little to verify their stories or determine whether there is evidence to support them. That's why the ABC ends up in the defamation trials a lot more often.

People like Chris Masters did too, but he could back up what he said. The cub reporters the ABC have these days are too lazy to do any real work.

"Whatever your thoughts on Cory Bernardi being among other things, a right wind rgotitical ar$ehole, he has been well and truly done over by the ABC. From Todays OZ"

Good...

So you think its ok for theA BC in concert with SHY to peddle lies about someone, as long as that someone is a person you disagree with?
I wonder what your reaction would be if Rupert Murdoch did the same thing to someone from the left?

Mick

ABC couldn't even do the basics.

Shout out to 'Seekers of truth' for putting the evidence together:

mullokintyre said:

So you think its ok for theA BC in concert with SHY to peddle lies about someone, as long as that someone is a person you disagree with?
I wonder what your reaction would be if Rupert Murdoch did the same thing to someone from the left?

Mick

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Mick, Murdoch does that every day its expected and no one expects anything else, as for Bernardi he was just a shocking politician.

The ABC makes mistakes same as any media but they are still far and away the most trusted news source in Australia.

IFocus said:

Mick, Murdoch does that every day its expected and no one expects anything else, as for Bernardi he was just a shocking politician.

The ABC makes mistakes same as any media but they are still far and away the most trusted news source in Australia.

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When you say Murdoch, I presume you are referring to Rupert Murdoch.
I am always surprised that so many people think that Murdoch has any great interest in what transpires in the pettiness of politics and its place in the media. Australian media, much less have any interest in personally directing what gets reported in any of the Newsgroup outlets.
As for Bernardi being a shocking politician, that is always a subjective analysis, but equally it should have no bearing on whether he should be libelled by the ABC and SHY. Bernardi should be punished at the ballot box if he has transgressed, as should all politicians. The court of public opinion will eventually be worked out in the ballot box.

If as you suggest this was a mistake, rather than a deliberate setup, it makes a mockery of the "Most trusted news source in Australia".
The ABC web site has those very words on its web site.
Its a moniker they have assumed themselves rather than been given.
Just look at the reporting on the dork who put up cheesy chalkboards signs in Tasmania. The ABC reported it as a Hotel where Scott Morrison had had a few beers.
I am sure there are lots of people who have had a lot more beers than the PM, but they don't rate a mention.
Why was this piece of information added to the story other than to try to taint the PM with the news. It added no context to the story anbd was just so blatantly transparent.
Look at the reporting of the rape allegations by Brittany Higgins against a male Liberal Staffer. The ABC morphed it into a case of her not being supported enough by the liberals, with absolutely no mention of the bastrd who is supposed to have commited the rape.
It was blatantly obvious that the rape allegations against Christian Porter would never standup during any scrutiny, but the ABC and others piled into him. And yet, not one of them have ever bought up the fact that Bill Shorten was accused of rape by a young woman, and has made complaints that the police decided could not produce a conviction. She is happy to be interviewed by any of the ABC fems who supported the idea that victims of sexual violence should be heard and believed. Well , when it suits their political leanings that is. None of them seem interested in her story as it does not suit "the narrative".
Mick

I don't want to create a separate thread on SBS as in many ways it shows the same bias as the ABC.

This is just a tiny example taken from an e-mail I received from them yesterday.

Cast you mind back to when Tony Abbott joined a group of protesters outside parliament house that were demonstrating over something or other (can't recall at this stage). Someone in the crowd behind Abbott had a sign that said "Ditch The Witch". Abbott denied he had anything to do with it and arguments went back and forth as to whether he was even aware that the sign was there. Your view on it was largely determined by your politics.

I haven't seen the show yet, but in an email advertising the forthcoming show on Julia Gillard, they had the drawing below. No buts and doubts for the SBS. Not only was Abbott aware of the sign, but he was actually holding it.

I always recall there seemed no such outrage from either the ABC or SBS when crowds of left wing demonstrators had signs saying "Ho Ho The Witch is Dead" on the news of Margaret Thatchers death.

ABC bias apparently the rabid left thinks so

Bullying on Twitter has become unhinged. It's time to call out the personal, sexist attacks​

Even the respected Fran Kelly, host of Radio National Breakfast, is attacked as a mouthpiece for the Liberal Party,

Let's not duck the common thread here — it is overwhelmingly left-leaning Twitter users who are targeting ABC journalists for abuse. Of course, there are right-wing attacks too but the most ferocious campaigns are reserved for any journalist who questions, in even the most anodyne manner, the policies or public statements of Labor politicians, particularly the Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese, the Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, the Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and the West Australian Premier Mark McGowan.

The Left is known for eating their own.

The left know that the left centre will shut up and fall in line.

Unlike us right leaners who would die of oxygen deprivation if lefties tried to legislate and enforce "mandatory breathing".

bellenuit said:

I don't want to create a separate thread on SBS as in many ways it shows the same bias as the ABC.

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Perhaps complaining does work. I replied to the email (see a few posts up) I received from SBS promoting the Gillard documentary, mentioning that the drawing of Abbott holding the sign "Ditch The Witch" was an absolute disgrace and distortion of the facts, for which SBS should be ashamed. I have just received this reply:

IFocus said:

ABC bias apparently the rabid left thinks so

Bullying on Twitter has become unhinged. It's time to call out the personal, sexist attacks​

Even the respected Fran Kelly, host of Radio National Breakfast, is attacked as a mouthpiece for the Liberal Party,

Let's not duck the common thread here — it is overwhelmingly left-leaning Twitter users who are targeting ABC journalists for abuse. Of course, there are right-wing attacks too but the most ferocious campaigns are reserved for any journalist who questions, in even the most anodyne manner, the policies or public statements of Labor politicians, particularly the Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese, the Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, the Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and the West Australian Premier Mark McGowan.

I'm used to angry calls and political bullies, but what's happening on Twitter is far more insidious

Putting up with bullying has always been a feature of political journalism, but something has changed recently which is making political bullying far more insidious and increasingly challenging to bear, writes Leigh Sales.

www.abc.net.au

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That was an outstanding personal story from Leigh Sales on the poison that on line media and Twitter unleashes on journalists doing their job.

Their job is to question without fear or favour people in power about what they are doing when running the country. So clearly they have to take a rigorous questioning approach to all politicians - otherwise they are not doing their job.

I read that story carefully. It was interesting that for much of the story it focused on the hate campaign waged against the ABC in general and then individual presenters including the vile rubbish she was continually served up. She noted the use by political parties of proxies to attack her and others.

The comments towards the end that IFocus quoted were a reminder that haters and trollers are not just from one side of the political spectrum. Well worth putting in. IF the rest of the article is also acknowledged as very troubling.

Social media is very anti-social.
Mick