Australian Broadcasting Corporation

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The Australian Broadcasting Corporation is Australia's public broadcaster. It is funded entirely by taxpayers, but has editorial independence from the government.

[edit] Public perception

Australian people trust the ABC more than any other news source.[1] Despite allegations from News Corp Australia columnists that the ABC exhibits a systemic Left-wing bias, and repeated criticism from the Abbott Government, the vast majority of Australians regard the ABC as fair and balanced.[2] Random street interviews conducted by The Courier Mail, a News Corp Australia tabloid, found unanimous support for continuing ABC funding at current levels.[3]

[edit] Unfortunate incidents

While the ABC has a generally excellent standard of news and current affairs reporting, some editorial misjudgements have included:

  • A two-part special on its flagship science program Catalyst that questioned the link between cholesterol and heart disease, and featured promoters of various medical woo as an alternative to statins. The program drew record ratings, and resulted in one in 10 heart disease sufferers discontinuing their medication.[4]
  • Airing the film "Overdose" written by Cato Institute fellow Johan Norberg as an episode on its current affairs show Four Corners.[5] A subsequent internal investigation found that the program had breached the ABC's editorial policies.[6]
  • Repeatedly interviewing Gerald Celente as a "trend forecaster" on ABC radio in Adelaide[7][8][9][10] and Brisbane[11][12][13][14]

[edit] References

  1. http://www.crikey.com.au/2013/12/18/trust-in-media-abc-still-leads-telegraph-takes-a-hit/?wpmp_switcher=mobile)-
  2. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/a-third-of-coalition-voters-believe-abc-coverage-is-biased/story-fn59niix-1226823029363
  3. https://twitter.com/GetUp/status/430496764110848001/photo/1
  4. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-11/heart-foundation-warns-patients-changing-meds-over-catalyst/5148802
  5. http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s3004109.htm
  6. http://about.abc.net.au/complaints/four-corners-3/
  7. http://blogs.abc.net.au/sa/2012/02/gerald-celente.html
  8. http://blogs.abc.net.au/sa/2012/06/gerald-celente.html
  9. http://blogs.abc.net.au/sa/2012/10/gerald-celente-and-the-us-elections.html
  10. http://blogs.abc.net.au/sa/2014/02/gerald-.html
  11. http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/2011/04/gerald-celente-trend-forecaster-talks-2011.html
  12. http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/2012/01/trend-forecaster-gerald-celente-predicts-for-2012.html
  13. http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/2012/05/gerald-celente-direct-democracy.html
  14. http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/2013/10/us-shutdown-global-trends-with-forecaster-gerald-celente.html
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