Extract from The Guardian
Our story last week about the big changes to Radio National in 2017
has sparked a great deal of anger from fans of the ideas network who
fear management is dismantling the public broadcaster’s intellectual
heart with cuts to specialist programming. This week there were
emotional scenes at a meeting between staff and management as the
changes – including giving a second program to conservative Tom Switzer
and cutting most of the music programming – were discussed. Management
team members were jeered when they claimed there was still music on RN
because Fran Kelly played music on Breakfast. On Thursday staff passed a
no-confidence motion against management – namely the architect of the
changes, director of radio Michael Mason.
“The continuing erosion of specialist programming in music, features and religion is a serious breach of the ABC charter and a disservice to the Australian audiences that the ABC is funded to serve,” the motion said. “A systemic failure on the part of the senior radio management to genuinely engage or listen to the professional advice of Radio National staff about major change including the recently announced cuts to ABC jobs and programs.” The staff also slammed Mason’s recent introduction of a new layer of management with its “preposterously named executives” while reducing the number of actual program makers. A spokesman for the ABC said the changes to the line-up were made “to reinvest in new content rather than to cut costs” and staff consultation was continuing.
“The continuing erosion of specialist programming in music, features and religion is a serious breach of the ABC charter and a disservice to the Australian audiences that the ABC is funded to serve,” the motion said. “A systemic failure on the part of the senior radio management to genuinely engage or listen to the professional advice of Radio National staff about major change including the recently announced cuts to ABC jobs and programs.” The staff also slammed Mason’s recent introduction of a new layer of management with its “preposterously named executives” while reducing the number of actual program makers. A spokesman for the ABC said the changes to the line-up were made “to reinvest in new content rather than to cut costs” and staff consultation was continuing.
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