Thanks in this time of news speak and partisan reporting we dearly need some anchor of truth. Your books should go someway towards demonstrating the impartiality of the ABC as well as threats.
Such threats are real as exemplified by the BBC/Government wrangle over Iraq and our former Communications minister's attack on theABC for its report in the lead up to Iraq. Each political party does its best to have its spin on the air waves, Mrs Thatcher perhaps achieving this as well as any. As somebody said be alert and aware but check before claiming conspiracy.

Great advertisement for The Melbourne Herald-Sun.
What has the ABC got to do with The Melbourne Herald-Sun?
I don't want to know.

If a solid burst of media activity can reverse a government decision taken to deny a leukemia sufferer a disability pension, as happened yesterday, a similar degree of embarrassment to the government over its intention to commercialise the ABC can effect a change. The problem is that the problem only gets air time when it's too late. The chicken's head cut off cannot be replaced and Ken Inglis's warning therefore has to be heeded now, not later.
If the government can get away with consistent lies while the ABC is independent, what will it do when the ABC is muzzled?

Lyall Chittleborough

I cannot understand the opposition to advertising on the ABC. After all, the programs are already full of ads, it's just that currently they are all for the ABC. The main objection that is put about is that it would affect the ABC's independence. SBS has carried advertising for years; does anyone consider that they are not still independent?

The real problem for people such as myself is that the whole ABC position is so one-sided. For an organisation that regards Hezbollah as the moral equivalent of Israel, to the great concern of many people, it simply does not present the other side of many issues. The best examples are:

The death penalty, which many people consider carries majority support, but to my knowledge no supporter has ever been given time to state their views;

Those opposed to illegal immigration (and those opposed to all immigration) again never have their side presented.

To the ABC these issues have the quality of religious dogma and cannot be discussed except in accordance with the ABC view.

In fairness to the ABC its attitudes to issues like these are usually shared by the rest of the media, which other commentators have described as the main bastion of support for the Labor party in the community. Virtually all right-wing groups, particularly religious groups and those supporting policies advocated by Pauline Hanson, are ceaselessly denigrated.

Personally, I think that describing the ABC as having a marxist culture is very fair comment. If the ABC were truly unbiassed, no-one would be able to determine what their position was.

THe ABC will never be taken seriously by many until it becomes balanced in its reporting.Its left wing responses and slant to everything in Politics and Religion is predictable and boring. Whenever issues are discussed the same old faces who often hold minority views are portrayed as the experts.

The liberal churches are the ones in the greatest decline while the bible believing church in this country is flourishing. Whenever a view of the church is presented you can almost be sure it will be from a liberal churchman or woman. Whenever a scientific view is put it is only ever from one point of view.

John Howard has a very long way to go in order to make the ABC unbiased or at least balanced.

Oh! puleeze, pull the other one! What are the top ten TV shows of the week in Australia. Yes! clever you!They are on the commercial TV stations. So feel safe, that the TV viewing people of Australia are safe, from any indoctrination by the ABC.
American television programmes and idiotic game shows, will keep the Aussie populace safe from bias.
BTW. Don't forget to watch "Bleak House" next Sunday, a totally mesmerising production. Its on the ABC, so if you can tear yourself away from "Big Brother" or TV game of the day. You will experience quality and talent.
There again, if you sit watching "Lateline" with notepad and pen. You have a problem!