Those that hate evidence-based science, truth in broadcasting and validated fact-checking and unbiased reporting/holding our politicians to account for the decisions they make on or behalf, as our alleged representatives?

Will always hate the ABC and almost every other publically funded, pubic broadcaster! And without question the very reason resident troll, the runner hates it so much?
Alan B.

Alan B

The ABC is without a shadow of doubt, the media headquarters of gay rights. It is shameless and It is highly political. That fits the description of political bias.

Shut it down.

Dan

//While Roy Morgan research shows that only 34% of Australians watched current affairs shows (public and private broadcasters) in 2018, with a September 2019 Guardian Essential poll finding that only 15% followed events in Canberra closely, I am one of the minority of Australians who regularly watches ABC shows including the 7.30 Report, Foreign Correspondent, Four Corners and Insiders.//

I don't watch any of those shows. I don't watch much in the way of current affairs shows in general, because I prefer newspapers. It seems to me that most of the objections I see from people complaining about ABC bias always narrowly focus on their TV current affairs programming.

There's more to the ABC than just TV current affairs. When I'm pottering about at home, like I have been a lot given the whole pandemic situation, I'll often have ABC local radio (Newcastle, in my case) on in the background. I really like their local radio service; sometimes it's dull and sometimes it's really interesting, but it always does a good job of keeping me informed what's happening my backyard and it's tremendously useful - and I would go so far as to venture vital - in times of natural disaster. During the recent bushfire emergencies, many people depended on their ABC local radio as a vital source of information.

If those services were lost it would be a crying shame, and I'm not convinced that private radio networks would be able to adequately fill the void left by the ABC. If you think the ABC should't be in the business of TV current affairs, that's a worthwhile debate. But even if we agree for the sake of argument they do a shite job of TV current affairs and they should knock it off, cutting their funding wholesale is not the right solution to that problem as it will have the undesirable side effect of hindering the things they do extremely well.

You may find this perspective of interest in saving taxpayer funds on the ABC.

https://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=20768

After 20 years of having all my radio & TV tuners rusted onto the ABC, I finally got sick of many not very bright commentators trying to con me with half truths mixed with totally left propaganda. Today it is only my alarm clock radio that is EVER tuned to the ABC. Gets me out of bed quickly to shut it down. Hell even the documentaries that made the ABC occasionally worth watching have gone to SBS.

Don't watch much news on the commercials either. Since news rooms have been taken over by the ladies, the "news" is full of human interest stories about "brave" little Johnny/Mary who stubbed a toe, & only cried for an hour. No thanks.

Bought my last news paper about 20 years ago too. Nothing much worth bothering with in any of them.

Sights like this & some scientific blogs do a much better job of publishing real information, some propaganda but easily sorted.

I would cut all money supply to the ABC & SBS, & let those who want them pay for them. I would also stop all government advertising on commercial stations. Part of their licensing requirement of any station should be a requirement to publish any & all government decisions & announcements of public interest. The possible threat of cutting off government advertising gives government too much power to subvert commercial stations.

Thanks TFX, a very good article which I should have included in my piece.

I agree with your emphasis on local/community radio.

An aspect I like about US public broadcasting is that any federal money is distributed to local stations. I would assume this guarantees a much better local focus than here, although I do note that national shows from NPR are also utilised and paid for.

With the ABC here, dominated by national leadership, this may diminish the opportunity for local stations to report what is happening in their area. For example, fire coverage by the national broadcaster here goes around the grounds, whereas a local station could focus constantly on its own and nearby area.

Having said that, local ABC radio does a pretty good job.

A local station, with advertising, is also more likely to promote and support local businesses and reflect community concerns.
In terms of television, it is only two commercial networks that provide local news.

I believe that a greater emphasis on local is good for democracy, albeit it may cause further complications for national policy leaders given a much greater range of policy needs.

Hasbeen, I agree best sources comes from internet sites. Even the ABC often produces stories that I read 1-2 days earlier on less well known media sources.

I mostly only observe newspapers online when I research an issue.

Toni, yes, some govt funding may be needed to boost cultural programs, especially as new players like Netflix have little local content yet. This could be achieved by direct funding to such designated areas of need