The Editor
Age Green Guide
27 June 2000

In his comments last week, Ross Warneke sought to perpetuate two outdated myths about the ABC.

Commenting on ABC management changes, he suggest that ABC staff have been 'protected species'. Yet of the last four chief executives, three left before they completed their full terms. Keith Jennings, Geoffrey Whitehead and David Hill all left prematurely. Brian Johns lasted the full five years of his contract, and was reported to be interested in a second term. It was not offered.
As for the second rung of ABC executives, those reporting directly to the CEO, Whitehead, Hill and Johns each dispensed with the appointees of their predecessors. Jonathan Shier is now going down the same path, although there are one or two notable survivors from the Johns regime. As for ABC presenters, I don't think that Peter Couchman, Doug Aiken or any of the other recent casualties at 774 ABC Melbourne would regarded themselves as a 'protected species'. In recent years ABC staffing has been reduced by about 20%, many departing through forced redundancies.

The second myth is that the ABC does not rate. ABC radio has a 20% share of the Melbourne audience. It is higher in some other States. An ANOP survey has revealed that 86% of Australians use the ABC each week. If 86% 'doesn't rate', then what does.

Darce Cassidy
National Spokesperson
Friends of the ABC