News Bias at the ABC
In late June, Phil Dye from the Declaration Committee undertook a bias analysis of ABC NEWS items related to gender diversity topics. The analysis did not include opinion articles, but those only in the Online NEWS section.
The study also excluded Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual topics as these relate to sexual preference. The study focussed on gender identity topics – the Transgender, Queer and Agender letters of the initialism (TQA).
As you may have read, the bias leaned strongly to the progressive left with a -1.72 rating. Opinion presented as fact, bias by omission and subjective qualifying adjectives were typical descriptions by the AllSides Media Bias Tool.
In other words, ABC Online NEWS skewed reporting on gender diversity issues in favour of TQA ideology. Balance seldom occurred.
On top of that, public interest news stories that questioned TQA ideology were usually ignored. The UK’s Cass Review into Gender Affirming Care received only one article, while the verdict in the Family Court of Australia by Justice Andrew Strum was completely ignored.
Remember that this is in NEWS, not opinion.
The study suggested three steps to rectify the bias:
- That the NEWS Division transfer all 70 of the biased articles in the study to an ‘opinion’ section where objective journalism is not expected.
- That ABC Management resign their membership of outside alliances like ACON’s Australian Workplace Equality Index that could potentially bias news reporting OR could be SEEN to potentially bias news reporting.
- That ABC NEWS Management and Staff undertake anti-bias NEWS training so that news reporting can reflect the objective and balanced approach sought in the ABC Charter.
What happened?
The study (see HERE), was emailed to the ABC Ombudsman whose initial response was that the report was noted and made available to the Editorial Policies team.
This was followed by an email and snail-mail package to the Ombudsman containing the full study including the AllSides data and descriptors. The study was also sent to Media Watch together with a meeting request with Ombudsman Fiona Cameron.
Their email response was simply to pass the buck. According to Fiona Cameron,
“Broader editorial decision making does not fall within our remit, however please be assured that I have passed the report and documents onto the Editorial Director for their information.”
But here’s the rub …
The Editorial Director is Mr Gavin Fang (pictured). Besides listing his credentials in news, the ABC website discloses some interesting information about Mr Fang.
“He has held a number of positions supporting diversity and inclusion including a short stint as the ABC’s Head of Diversity and Inclusion. He is the executive sponsor for ABC Inclusive”.
Really?
The Editorial Director’s job is ensuring objective journalism dominates ABC News reporting. This would include ensuring journalists do not let outside organisations influence reporting, and that news articles attempt to show both sides of an argument if two sides exist.
According to ABC Managing Director David Anderson:
“The Editorial Director position is crucial to maintaining the highest editorial standards expected of our journalists and content makers across all areas of the ABC and ensuring our independence and editorial integrity are always protected.” More HERE.
In news reporting, “highest editorial standards” means objective reporting. “Editorial integrity” means reporting free from influence or bias.
Mr Fang cannot serve two completely different masters. One master demanding objective journalism free from outside influence. The other supporting and promoting TQA ideology via ACON’s Pride in Diversity membership.
Nothing is suggesting that Gavin Fang is in any way promoting bias in ABC News reporting. But it may be possible that Mr Fang is so overworked with his other role in Inclusion that naughty TQA Ally inmate journalists, or their captains, may be running the ABC News asylum.
As a result …
As at the 9th July, Gavin Fang and his team have 50 days to respond to the study. If there’s no response, the study and it’s implications will be submitted as a complaint to The Australian Media and Communications Authority (ACMA).
On the 21st of July, Gavin Fang was asked for an interview for the Philtered podcast episode on ‘Trust and the Media’ to be released in August.
He declined.
Yet some ABC journalists do understand the meaning of objective journalism. As regional ABC Radio Morning presenter Nick Rheinberger recently said …
“It’s fair to say there’s opinions on both sides. It’s part of our role to give you opinions on both sides if we can.”