The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has recently undergone a significant policy shift under the direction of its new chair, Kim Williams. In a move aimed at ensuring impartiality within the public broadcaster, Williams has explicitly warned ABC staff against engaging in activism. This directive was communicated to the employees, emphasizing the importance of objectivity in their roles. Staff members who find themselves unable to adhere to this guideline have been advised to reconsider their positions within the organization. The policy change has sparked a variety of responses, including a statement from Sky News host Rita Panahi, who described Williams's action as a crackdown on journalist activists within ABC. Additionally, concerns have been raised by ABC staff regarding perceived biases in coverage, notably concerning issues related to Gaza.
Australia’s ABC staff’s concerns over Gaza bias revealed https://t.co/1xoJynd664
Sky News host Rita Panahi says ABC’s new chair Kim Williams is “cracking down on ABC journalist activists”. https://t.co/Wo4EmfFfF4
ABC chair Kim Williams has warned journalists that activism is not welcome at the taxpayer-funded broadcaster 👉 https://t.co/vy07Hss11R https://t.co/xJaQcqGN9b
The new chair of the public broadcaster has put staff on notice that they are not to take part in activism, and to reconsider their roles if they cannot be objective. > https://t.co/qlgOoPCGNX https://t.co/xouFS4T2pS
The new chair of the public broadcaster has put staff on notice that they are not to take part in activism, and to reconsider their roles if they cannot be objective. What's your view: https://t.co/JxBYmWmJaz https://t.co/oqQJFkYT95
ABC tells staff: Be impartial, or leave https://t.co/lC6uF6L7Ok