[LINK] Latest New Matilda article on ABC and Nick Ross

[Andy Farkas]

< 
https://newmatilda.com/2016/02/17/false-balance-move-along-nothing-here-says-abc-boss/>

A highlight:

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The causal chain of political pressure

Examine, for a moment, the following facts. All are established and on 
the public record.

We know that Malcolm Turnbull was highly critical of the ABC’s coverage 
of the Coalition’s NBN policies.

We know that Turnbull said so publicly, on Twitter and at industry 
events, and privately, in conversations with Mark Scott.

We know that Nick Ross wrote regularly on the NBN – 21 articles – with 
no senior editorial sanction until after he wrote a long feature article 
critical of Coalition policy (a piece which followed a feature article 
critical of Labor).

We know that Ross was not sanctioned or disciplined by the ABC for his 
‘Vast differences’ article, and that he was not even aware it was under 
scrutiny until after The Australian falsely reported that he had been 
disciplined.

We know that when Ross wrote a second pro-fibre/anti-copper article, he 
was called in for a meeting with his superior Bruce Belsham, and told to 
write an anti-Labor article as “insurance”.

At that meeting Belsham said he was under pressure from the “fourteenth 
floor” and “the Turnbull camp” over NBN coverage.

We know that Ross’ pro-fibre piece was then withheld until after the 
federal election.

We know that Ross was sidelined from covering the NBN properly. His 
credibility was assailed by a negative story in Media Watch. His career 
at the public broadcaster was effectively ruined.

Paul Barry, host of Media Watch for 2016. The program has pointedly 
refused to cover the Nick Ross affair.
We know that the ABC’s coverage, post-election, of the NBN under Malcolm 
Turnbull was weak, lacked context, and was often absurdly favourable to 
Turnbull and Bill Morrow’s spin.

We know that the ABC’s managing director has refused to reveal details 
of an internal investigation into the matter to a Senate committee.

We know that when the ABC’s Paddy Manning uncovered a major and damaging 
admission of fudged costings from NBN boss Bill Morrow on Radio 
National’s premier investigative program Background Briefing, not a 
single ABC journalist followed up.

You don’t need to believe in any kind of conspiracy to find these events 
at the ABC concerning.

An ABC journalist was publicly criticised by Malcolm Turnbull. NBN 
coverage was discussed with the managing director of the network. That 
journalist was subsequently instructed to write anti-Labor articles for 
“insurance” and “realpolitik.” The journalist was then sidelined, and 
made redundant. ABC coverage of the NBN was subsequently weak.

On the face of things, this should be a very serious matter for those 
who value the ABC’s independence – far more serious than the decision by 
QandA to let Zaky Mallah appear in its audience.

Astonishingly, when asked by Greens Senator Scott Ludlam why Ross’s 
copper story was not run until after the election, Scott could not explain.

Scott: I would have to check. I do not have advice on that.

Senator LUDLAM: That is what this whole question hinges on. Scott agreed 
to get back to Ludlam on that question.
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-andyf