The ABC’s news director, Justin Stevens, admits the broadcaster has “a way to go” in achieving diversity after the host of Q+A, Stan Grant, criticised the “entire white panel” on the ABC’s New South Wales election panel.
“ABC News takes on board any criticism and welcomes constructive discussion,” Stevens said of the high-profile host’s criticism, while defending the “editorially strong and well presented” panel.
The ABC’s state election TV coverage on Saturday night featured the host of Insiders, David Speers, the host of 7.30, Sarah Ferguson, the chief elections analyst, Antony Green, NSW state political reporter Ashleigh Raper and news presenter Jeremy Fernandez, who was covering his first election in a studio.
While Fernandez is a journalist of colour who played a significant part presenting graphics on the night, Grant claimed he was reduced to a “cameo” role.
In a letter to ABC managing director David Anderson, which was leaked in part to Crikey, Grant said: “In 2023, how is it at all acceptable that an election night coverage features an entire white panel. This is not a criticism of my colleagues who are all well qualified, but it is a criticism of the ABC that for decades has nurtured and promoted white staff at the exclusion of others.
“There is no excuse for what I saw on air last night. None. I have worked at organisations around the world and nowhere would what we presented last night be tolerated.”
Grant told Crikey the “ABC must do better” and that he saw it as his responsibility to “keep the organisation honest”. “I don’t do it for myself – I have had my career – but I don’t want to wait another decade for things to change,” he said.
Stevens said he agrees with Grant that “the ABC is not yet where we want to be” but highlighted recent appointments, including Suzanne Dredge in the new role of head of Indigenous newsm, and Dan Bourchier in the newly created role of voice correspondent.
“We will continue to do all we can to elevate the work of Indigenous employees and ensure our coverage and workforce are truly representative of Australia,” Stevens said.
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“We respect Stan enormously. For decades he has been one of the highest-profile First Nations journalists in this country and with that he has carried the burden of fighting for the advancement of his First Nations and culturally diverse colleagues. That responsibility is on all of us to carry at the ABC and not him alone.”
Stevens said on Friday night Dredge, Bridget Brennan and Brooke Fryer, with Stephanie Zillman, won the Gold Quill for their investigation into missing First Nations women for Four Corners – the first female Indigenous reporting team at Four Corners.
In 2020 Grant became the first Indigenous person ever to have reported for Four Corners in 59 years on air.
