Anderson, a popular figure at ABC, says it is vital for the managing
director to have good relations with government while remaining
‘fiercely independent’
The acting manager of the ABC David Anderson has made a pitch to be
Michelle Guthrie’s replacement in the top job, saying he has dedicated
his life to the ABC and public broadcasting.
Anderson was speaking publicly for the first time since he stepped in for Guthrie, who was sacked half way into her five year term by the ABC board on Monday morning.
“I’ve spent my life at the ABC, I love the ABC and public broadcasting and its purpose and what we deliver to the Australian people,” Anderson said in a round of interviews on the ABC.
Anderson, who is a popular figure at Ultimo, said it was important to have good relations with government while remaining “fiercely independent”.
“I do think it’s important to speak to staff, to speak to the media, to make sure that you do have a relationship with Canberra,” he said.
A 29-year veteran of the ABC who under Guthrie’s restructure was made the director of entertainment and specialist, Anderson said his leadership style was “inclusive”.
“I think it’s important that people know that the ABC is in good shape,” he said.
Like chairman Justin Milne, Anderson was not giving away any details about what went wrong with the first female managing director of the ABC.
He refused to criticise Guthrie, calling her “dynamic” and praising her for the content restructure and for challenging the executive to “be better”and to “free up more money for content”.
Anderson denied reports that he was one of the executives who threatened to quit over Guthrie’s performance.
“Look, I can’t speak on behalf of the rest of the leadership team,” he said.
Anderson defended Milne’s reluctance to detail the board’s decision to remove Guthrie and said he did not know what she was like in her deliberations with Canberra.
“I don’t think the board deliberations ever come out in public and I really think it’s a decision for the board,” he said.
“I wasn’t necessarily with her for a lot of that interaction,” he said. “Look, I think that it’s always important for the ABC to be engaged with the government.
“I think no matter who is governing at the time and no matter who is in opposition, I think all sides of politics need to be able to engage with the ABC, to be able to form valued feedback. It’s important to explain what we are doing and why for positive reasons,” he said.
Anderson said he was only acting in the role and Milne had made it clear applications would be thrown open but he was “certainly” interested in the job.
Two former members of the ABC board who appointed Guthrie, James Spigelman and former staff elected director Matt Peacock, defended her appointment.
Spigelman said she had highly relevant experience, but she faced a fierce political environment.
“I mean the Abbott government was obviously hostile, and after that last election the Turnbull government was really not able to show any sympathy to the ABC, even if it wanted to,” Spigelman told ABC radio.
Peacock said Guthrie was not vocal about it but she did defend ABC staff behind the scenes.
“Michelle Guthrie had incredible skills and knowledge in the area that’s impacting all media, the march of the Netflix and digital disruption that saw thousands of jobs disappear around the world,” Peacock said. “She was well qualified to take on the job.”
Anderson was speaking publicly for the first time since he stepped in for Guthrie, who was sacked half way into her five year term by the ABC board on Monday morning.
“I’ve spent my life at the ABC, I love the ABC and public broadcasting and its purpose and what we deliver to the Australian people,” Anderson said in a round of interviews on the ABC.
Anderson, who is a popular figure at Ultimo, said it was important to have good relations with government while remaining “fiercely independent”.
“I do think it’s important to speak to staff, to speak to the media, to make sure that you do have a relationship with Canberra,” he said.
A 29-year veteran of the ABC who under Guthrie’s restructure was made the director of entertainment and specialist, Anderson said his leadership style was “inclusive”.
“I think it’s important that people know that the ABC is in good shape,” he said.
Like chairman Justin Milne, Anderson was not giving away any details about what went wrong with the first female managing director of the ABC.
He refused to criticise Guthrie, calling her “dynamic” and praising her for the content restructure and for challenging the executive to “be better”and to “free up more money for content”.
Anderson denied reports that he was one of the executives who threatened to quit over Guthrie’s performance.
“Look, I can’t speak on behalf of the rest of the leadership team,” he said.
Anderson defended Milne’s reluctance to detail the board’s decision to remove Guthrie and said he did not know what she was like in her deliberations with Canberra.
“I don’t think the board deliberations ever come out in public and I really think it’s a decision for the board,” he said.
“I wasn’t necessarily with her for a lot of that interaction,” he said. “Look, I think that it’s always important for the ABC to be engaged with the government.
“I think no matter who is governing at the time and no matter who is in opposition, I think all sides of politics need to be able to engage with the ABC, to be able to form valued feedback. It’s important to explain what we are doing and why for positive reasons,” he said.
Anderson said he was only acting in the role and Milne had made it clear applications would be thrown open but he was “certainly” interested in the job.
Two former members of the ABC board who appointed Guthrie, James Spigelman and former staff elected director Matt Peacock, defended her appointment.
Spigelman said she had highly relevant experience, but she faced a fierce political environment.
“I mean the Abbott government was obviously hostile, and after that last election the Turnbull government was really not able to show any sympathy to the ABC, even if it wanted to,” Spigelman told ABC radio.
Peacock said Guthrie was not vocal about it but she did defend ABC staff behind the scenes.
“Michelle Guthrie had incredible skills and knowledge in the area that’s impacting all media, the march of the Netflix and digital disruption that saw thousands of jobs disappear around the world,” Peacock said. “She was well qualified to take on the job.”
No comments:
Post a Comment