The ABC Sucks

What's the answer? If we say, "hey, stop watching the ABC, the Labor types will slowly see less value and be likely to kick it around as the Liberals are. Bill Shorten wanted to restore it's funding. If Shorten was Prime Minister, what would the ABC look like without needing to worry about having funding cut after funding cut dressed up as 'efficiency measures".

Dean Lewis

Don't the abc have to follow the abc act of 1983 enacted by Bob hawk personally I enjoy my local abc radio it's great to hear about local stores that wouldn't get coverage on commercial stations including industrial disputes. The abc does have a place in Australia imo

It's not just Labor vs Liberal issues that the ABC stinks for. They get a quite a bit of non-partisan stuff wrong too, and of course waste money on things like sports reporting, like there isn't enough of that already, and they seem to hire in a weird nepotistic way. There are plenty of comedians better than the ones they actually have given talk shows too. You're right to criticise them, but I can think of some reasons that's it's probably worth the money anyway: 1) All the things they cover that much of the corporate press won't touch, or that they report on better, including basic health and safety advice. (By the way, Google is not a primary source. They use sources like the ABC.) 2) The simple lack of ads and support for Australian-produced content. (This also is part of why they produce content on the harm caused by alcohol, air pollution, junk food etc that much of the corporate media who are funded by these companies won't touch) 3) The fact Labor also have influence over them when they're in power, and the fact that even the Liberals are more accountable to the public than Murdoch.

The sad thing is, smug boomer though Paul Barry is, I'd still watch that before any of the other shows mentioned.

The ABC are obliged to stand up for public service broadcasting. They must have the strength of character to stand up for what is right, even if that means risking the sack, as Jordan says. Being a journalist on a public service broadcaster comes with it an enormous responsibility.

Excellent coverage, going and smashing subscribe on all the journalist sites you mentioned.

Dave

So damn good Jordies- my parents listen to 774 Melbourne radio. The only 'economists' they ever have on there? Writers for The Australian. That's there only source of economic info who, so shockingly, have said over and over that 'this debt is caused by COVID! The economy was doing so well before now, poor Frydenberg!"

Daniel

Abc is shit except for Shaun Micallef’s Mad as Hell

Liam Carter

I haven’t watched it yet, but I totally agree with (insert dominant sentiment here)! Jordan, you are (spot on/a disgrace) in your depiction of the ABC as (total fucking shit/worse than A Current Affair fucking shit). I wouldn’t usually comment but it’s impossible not to note the (terminal decline/unwatchable/marginally better than 7Mate) the ABC has become. It’s important i add my voice to this discussion, because I will change your mind with my (pathetic/spellbinding/convoluted/plain odd) argument is.

Make a Friendly Jordies version of The Checkout and you'll have almost completely made the ABfrigginC redundant. Do a cheap looking quiz show or overpay for a mediocre BBC drama miniseries to deliver the final blow.

Guy Incognito

The two options I always see are privatisation and increasing funding In my opinion a lot of this argument is conflated around the idea of supporting the broader Australian media industry which can be good*** but also if we’re real generally sucks Good Journalism on the other hand is (mostly) different to supporting media, good journalism is rare and undervalued which sucks, maybe the ABC could empower this but right now it isn’t (which goes against its purpose in the ABC’s charter) maybe that something independents will continue to struggle with.

What about media watch? Ouch, that one drew blood. Nice work...

it's all true. fuck.

Alright here's one I don't think came up: ABC's is in a cycle of capitulation because their leash is held by the Liberals so they avoid biting 'the hand that feeds' to avoid getting their funding cut, (despite getting their funding cut anyway). Therefore the Libs get elected again, so their choices are to 'go down swinging' or continue playing softball while their protections as a national broadcaster continue to be eroded and funding cut. Isn't the solution to have a better protected and funded ABC so they're freely able to do their job? According to a smart guy I know, countries without a national broadcaster don't fare well as a result. Admittedly either outcome's better than the current status quo.

A. Gorilla

Thank you FJ’s, for the brilliant reminder that the abc is as complicit as mainstream media of being the mouthpiece for the liberal government and it’s puppet masters.

EK

Always a good way to end the day: Fresh Jordies.