Murdoch Mastheads Clash Over Podcast Criticism and ABC Strike Fallout
A rare and public feud has erupted between Rupert Murdoch's Australian media outlets, with news.com.au and The Australian at odds over coverage of a sensitive podcast. The conflict began when news.com.au published an exclusive interview with a sexual assault survivor who was critical of The Australian's podcast, Shadow of Doubt. This interview, accompanied by a TikTok video that garnered 9.5 million views, has sparked significant backlash from The Australian.
Investigative Reporting Drives Traffic and Tension
Walkley award-winning investigative reporter Nina Funnell has authored a series of stories for news.com.au that have generated substantial online engagement, with 860,000 unique page views in just over a week. This success has reportedly increased The Australian's ire, as the popular news site's criticism targets both the podcast and its host, Richard Guilliatt. In response, The Australian published a lengthy rebuttal from Guilliatt and an editorial claiming the articles were riddled with errors, omissions, and misrepresentations, leading to revisions by news.com.au.
Further escalating the tension, one of Funnell's articles was amended after publication to include additional comment from The Australian, despite already featuring a detailed response from Guilliatt. A subsequent article on news.com.au removed all direct mentions of Guilliatt, the podcast, and The Australian, referring instead to a public podcast and the journalist responsible. When approached for comment, editors from both mastheads, Michelle Gunn of The Australian and Kerry Warren of news.com.au, declined to explain the behind-the-scenes dynamics.
Sky News Amplifies ABC Strike Coverage
Meanwhile, the ABC's 24-hour strike has provided Sky News Australia with ample material for coverage, fueling the right-wing news channel's critiques. Sky News reporters were dispatched to document ABC employees during the strike, noting their activities at a Sydney pub and the cost of drinks. Chris Kenny, a prominent Sky News host known for attacking the ABC, expressed outrage over the disruption to regular programming, calling for presenters to be sacked despite regularly advocating for the ABC's defunding.
Sky News highlighted viewer complaints about missing news broadcasts, with reports stating that audiences had to settle for comedy reruns or international coverage from the BBC. Shadow communications minister Sarah Henderson was given significant airtime to condemn the strike as a disgrace, while also acknowledging the importance of the ABC's work in informing Australians.
Union Access Restricted at ABC
Tensions at the ABC escalated further this week, with the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) passing a motion criticizing managing director Hugh Marks for comments suggesting staff treated industrial action as a bit of a game. In a significant policy change, the ABC informed unions that union officials can no longer use members or delegates as escorts on work sites. Instead, an ABC representative must escort them, restricting access to designated areas only.
An ABC spokesperson stated that this change was necessary due to union officials disrupting staff and accessing unauthorized areas. This move has heightened tensions following the strike, as unions and management continue to negotiate over pay and conditions.
Journalist Ginny Stein Returns to Academia
In a related development, multi-award-winning journalist Ginny Stein, who was made redundant by the ABC in 2018 after the axing of Lateline, has been appointed as a professor of journalism at the University of Technology Sydney. Stein previously served as managing editor for Radio Free Asia's South Asia division until its closure under Donald Trump. Her new role marks a return to the academic sphere, highlighting career transitions within the media industry amidst ongoing changes and challenges.
