October 2008 edition of Update
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Grapevine
Grapevine was an irregularly published newsletter circulated to ABC staff in Melbourne. This issue was published during the short reign (4 July -13 December, 1976) of Sir Henry Bland as Chairman
GRAPEVINE
Quotations from a Chairman
Writing in the Forty Third Annual Report of the Australian Broadcasting Commission, the late Chairman, Professor Downing, had this to say under the heading "Bias and the ABC":
Writing in the Forty Third Annual Report of the Australian Broadcasting Commission, the late Chairman, Professor Downing, had this to say under the heading "Bias and the ABC":
The ABC does not seek to shock or offend the community, but neither does it seek to avoid presenting to its audiences a picture of the world as it is. It is important to avoid blandness (our emphasis) ........ People wanting and claiming to live in a democracy have both a right and a need to know what is going on - and this applies to events, issues and ideas"
ABC Forty Third Annual Report, p.12
Ethnic Radio and the ABC, or They didn't spend the whole commission meeting talking about Alvin Purple
The Commission have gently batted the Ethnic Radio proposal back to the government for clarification. The original proposal from the government had a lot of inconsistencies and the Commission want to clarify them before deciding if they'll take up the government's invitation to operate ethnic radio. The Commission will be asking if they will get a free hand in deciding how to set up the network, whether they can expand it to other cities, and they'll also be pushing hard, Grapevine understands, to considerably more money for the service than the present government offer. Until they get the answers, and consider them at the next meeting, it doesn't look like anything will happen.
Cheetham Report
A report on the possible reorganisation of ABc Radio, prepared by David Cheetham of the Public Service Board, has been presented to Management. According to the 'vine, Cheetham has outline a number of alternatives. One alternative is to do absolutely nothing, a proposal which is expected to find a good deal of support at Commisison level. Another proposal involves giving substantial autonomy to the states. The report is expected to be considered by the Commission at its November meeting.
Typing Pools - the ABC splashes its way back to the ninteen fifties
Grapevine has hear that Typists and Clerks may soon be herded back into typing pools. This has been suggested as a 'new' economy measure, as a way of sharing the common worklaod, i.e. typing, more equitably.
It has been proved at 2JJ in Sydney that there are better, more realistic ways of reorganising office staff. There are no more typists or clerks at JJ. Office staff have now become "program clerks" with a salary range of $6828-$8347. This has saved the ABC a great deal of money, because upgrading the office staff and given them more responsibility has reduced the need for more program officers.
Meanwhile, back on the third floor of the St James Building, things are moving in the opposite direction - steps are being taken to establish fifties style typing pools. A meticulously prepared report, recommending this, was issued a few weeks ago by one of the O&M officers in Victoria. Although the officer concerned maintains that he is on the side of the clerical staff, who have bitterly opposed a typing pool, it's rumoured that he is still pushing the report. Grapevine has heard that this may only be the first stage of an overall plan to re-establish typing pools throughout the ABC.
The Commission have gently batted the Ethnic Radio proposal back to the government for clarification. The original proposal from the government had a lot of inconsistencies and the Commission want to clarify them before deciding if they'll take up the government's invitation to operate ethnic radio. The Commission will be asking if they will get a free hand in deciding how to set up the network, whether they can expand it to other cities, and they'll also be pushing hard, Grapevine understands, to considerably more money for the service than the present government offer. Until they get the answers, and consider them at the next meeting, it doesn't look like anything will happen.
Cheetham Report
A report on the possible reorganisation of ABc Radio, prepared by David Cheetham of the Public Service Board, has been presented to Management. According to the 'vine, Cheetham has outline a number of alternatives. One alternative is to do absolutely nothing, a proposal which is expected to find a good deal of support at Commisison level. Another proposal involves giving substantial autonomy to the states. The report is expected to be considered by the Commission at its November meeting.
Typing Pools - the ABC splashes its way back to the ninteen fifties
Grapevine has hear that Typists and Clerks may soon be herded back into typing pools. This has been suggested as a 'new' economy measure, as a way of sharing the common worklaod, i.e. typing, more equitably.
It has been proved at 2JJ in Sydney that there are better, more realistic ways of reorganising office staff. There are no more typists or clerks at JJ. Office staff have now become "program clerks" with a salary range of $6828-$8347. This has saved the ABC a great deal of money, because upgrading the office staff and given them more responsibility has reduced the need for more program officers.
Meanwhile, back on the third floor of the St James Building, things are moving in the opposite direction - steps are being taken to establish fifties style typing pools. A meticulously prepared report, recommending this, was issued a few weeks ago by one of the O&M officers in Victoria. Although the officer concerned maintains that he is on the side of the clerical staff, who have bitterly opposed a typing pool, it's rumoured that he is still pushing the report. Grapevine has heard that this may only be the first stage of an overall plan to re-establish typing pools throughout the ABC.