Australian Broadcasting Corporation Amendment (Rural and Regional Advocacy) Bill 2015
Submission 27 - Supplementary Submission
The ABC Regional Division has in recent months been running job advertisements for
rural reporters in a number of regional locations. It would appear these are newly
created positions at locations not previously staffed with rural reporters.
Therefore it would appear the following statement in my submission about no extra
staff being employed at regional stations has been overtaken by these events.
“NOT ONE ADDITIONAL STAFF MEMBER APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN
EMPLOYED IN A REGIONAL STATION AND THERE IS NOT ONE EXTRA
MINUTE OF LOCAL BROADCAST OUTPUT AT ANY REGIONAL STATION AS A
RESULT OF THE CREATION OF THE NEW REGIONAL DIVISION. IN FACT
LOCAL BROADCAST TIME HAS BEEN REDUCED!”
While the move to employ more rural reporters is positive, it does not address the
underlying problem faced by all regional stations; chronic understaffing, cuts to local
broadcast hours and local budgets… and an ever increasing reliance on networked
programs. Employing a small number of additional rural reporters may appease some
groups lobbying for more rural information but the move falls well short of tackling the
gaping divide between metro and regional station resourcing. The move may also be
seen by some as a cynical attempt to blunt the Senator’s Private Bill seeking to amend
the ABC’s Charter and Board composition.
The delivery of high quality content to regional and rural Australians must be seen as
core business for the ABC which has been reinforced by recent comments by the
Federal Communications Minister Mitch Fifield speaking to Steve Austin on 612 ABC
Brisbane March 23rd 2016. “Regional and Rural Radio is part of the core business of the
ABC…always has been, is now and always will be…this is the heart of what the ABC
does”. By definition, core business means main or essential activity! As mentioned
previously in my submission, I/View and News 24 are very laudable and very popular
services but neither falls into the category of being an essential activity or service. Most
homes these days have access to a multitude of sophisticated recording devices and ABC
News 21 is available for rolling news coverage when required. With a cloud hanging
over the future of regional newspapers, ABC Regional Radio may be the only niche
focused local news and information source for many regional and rural Australians.
Responsibility for coverings courts, local government, police rounds and local crime,
rural news, general reporting, local sport and community events may rest entirely on
the local ABC station making it truly an essential service and a service which I/View
and News 24 can never provide.
The ABC has made the following statement in its submission to this inquiry.
“The bulletin changes made by ABC Regional before Christmas, and now being
implemented across the country, are designed to free-up reporters to deliver more local
news and information during breakfast programming and throughout the day. This
ensures that news and current affairs is delivered in real-time, as events unfold, rather
than through static news bulletins.”
Australian Broadcasting Corporation Amendment (Rural and Regional Advocacy) Bill 2015
Submission 27 - Supplementary Submission
This is simply not true. With respect to regional and rural listeners, the ABC is not
delivering news and current affairs in real time, as events unfold, rather than static
news bulletins as the following breaking news event highlights.
On Monday March 21st at 10.40am, 612 ABC Brisbane crossed LIVE to an
announcement by the Prime Minister that the date of the budget had been brought
forward to May 3rd clearing the decks for a possible double dissolution federal election.
I checked the radio output of three regional ABC stations in my area and not one
carried this news conference live and I suspect few other regional stations throughout
the country if any, would have crossed live to this important news breaking event.
The ABC also makes the following statement in its submission.
“Finally, the ABC notes that the proposed requirement that it broadcast numerous radio
bulletins “that consist solely or primarily of regional or local news” is inconsistent with
available evidence about the needs and wants of regional audiences. The ABC’s
collaborative research project ABC Spoke http://rd.abc.net.au/assets/downloads/ABCDNNewsPlaceRel.pdf which investigated personalisation and localisation of news and
information, found that people do not want local news and information in isolation,
instead preferring it to be included in a “feed” with national and international stories, and
that people’s definition of “local” content varies widely.9
This finding essentially confirmed the Corporation’s long-established approach to news,
which incorporates local stories into news bulletins that also contain state, national and
international stories. By comparison, the proposed subsection 27(2)(b) would require the
ABC to broadcast five bulletins each day that consist “solely or primarily” of local news. In
essence, it would require the Corporation to provide a service that may be in the best
interest of some politicians, but would likely not accord with audience needs. As other
submissions to this inquiry have noted, this sets a very bad precedent.”
What concerns me most about this statement is that it appears to ignore the way local
news is delivered to the regional audience and has been for decades. The ABC is correct
in stating that it has maintained a long-established approach to news, which
incorporates local stories into news bulletins that also contain state, national and
international stories. However this ONLY applies to state and national news bulletins. It
does NOT apply to regional news bulletins which by enlarge only contain parochial
news pertinent to a regional station’s broadcast area. It is totally unrealistic to try to
incorporate most of this niche focused content into state or national news bulletins.
Regional stations have been producing 5 minute local bulletins consisting entirely of
regional and local news Monday to Friday for many years so it’s bewildering why the
ABC would question the practise when they are already doing it. Unless of course the
ABC is planning further cuts to local bulletins or those writing the ABC’s submission
were unaware of how local news is delivered in the regions.
The ABC needs to clarify whether regional stations will continue to broadcast local
bulletins consisting solely or primarily of local news or move away from this model as
stated in its submission ie the long established approach to news which incorporates
local news with state, national and international stories. Obviously most of the parochial
news broadcast by regional stations would have no place in state or national bulletins or
even regional hub bulletins.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation Amendment (Rural and Regional Advocacy) Bill 2015
Submission 27 - Supplementary Submission
Some years ago in Queensland, the Local Radio division successfully negotiated with the
News Division to have state, national and international news headlines appear at the
end of all regional news bulletins which gives some weight to the Spoke Project’s
findings that the listener doesn’t want to hear local news in isolation from state, national
and international news. This comes from the listener wanting to know how their world
fits into the rest of the world. Unfortunately the practise of including the ‘bigger
picture’ headlines in regional bulletins appears to have lapsed, at least in Queensland.
The Spoke Project’s finding also have relevance not just to the way listeners want to
hear their news but also to general programs. Metro programs, particularly Morning
Shows have a very broad focus and canvass a range of issues based on what’s making
news ranging from parish pump local to state and federal politics and major world
events. Regional listeners by enlarge only get the parish pump local issues and rarely
hear from the major state and national newsmakers. The ABC must find a way to
deliver this material in context so that rural and urban listeners are just as informed as
their urban counterparts. If one of the major stories of the day for example happens to
be a move to topple the Premier then regional listeners are entitled to know what’s
going on and coverage may include interviews with the Premier, Opposition Leader and
state political reporters etc. Regional programs have avoided this type of coverage
because it’s impossible for the Premier and the State Opposition leader to talk to 10
different ABC stations in the course of a morning. Hence regional listeners miss out on
hearing critical political debate. Of course the narrow focus by regional programs just
doesn’t apply to political coverage. I am in no way intending to downplay the
importance of covering local issues but they need to be in context with what else is
happening not just at a state and federal level but also internationally.
As mentioned earlier in my submission, the global media environment has undergone
unprecedented change over the last 10 years and the ABC has quite correctly expanded
its investment in digital media services including online, app developments for smart
phones and tablets etc. However that expansion has come at the expense of regional
services principally radio and raises the question as to whether the ABC is placing too
much emphasis on digital media investment particularly while regional stations remain
grossly under resourced. Unlike I/View and News 24, radio is still the core essential
service for regional and rural Australians and will be for many years to come. The ABC
must stop diverting funds from core services so that regional and urban communities
are provided only the highest quality content. The following provides some perspective
on the importance of digital content compared with traditional linear radio services.
James Cridland, who is also internationally acclaimed as one of the world's foremost
radio futurologist, feels that FM, AM and DAB+ have a long and healthy future.
“The multiplatform market of the UK has around 7% of all radio listening happening via
online in total, with AM/FM/DAB accounting for the rest. While this online figure isn't
published in Australia, I gather it's around 10% and DAB+, alone, is delivering around
twice that share of listening. Mobile is a significant minority, still, of all radio streaming.
It's an important platform, but let's put it in perspective.
I also passionately believe that radio’s content can be exploited cross-platform, in a way
that benefits and reinforces the linear broadcast, but reaches new audiences and earns
more revenue.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation Amendment (Rural and Regional Advocacy) Bill 2015
Submission 27 - Supplementary Submission
But an “endangered species”? 93% of people in Brisbane listen to AM/FM/DAB+ every
week. If that's an industry imminently about to be made extinct, I'm a Tasmanian tiger.
The ABC’s Head of Content and Digital Strategy Linda Bracken is also sceptical about
radio’s projected demise. “The tyranny of distance in Australia means that an AM
transmitter has the capability to stretch thousands of kilometres across remote terrain, so
we still see conventional broadcasting as a very important part of our strategy,” she said.
“A real strength of the ABC local radio network is in providing emergency broadcasting.
In times of bushfire or floods, traditional broadcasting is still very important.”
Dr Harry Criticos, a sessional academic at the University of Newcastle would appear to
agree that perhaps too much emphasis is being placed on alternative digital platforms
and draws attention to a digital divide. “It is too easy to assume we are all connected - we
aren’t. There are many households in Australia who cannot afford to connect to the
Internet or buy a smartphone or a computer. The divide is not getting wider (accessibility),
but deeper (affordability). Those who are considered part of the digital divide can only
access the global village when they go to school, their local library or university.
“Some would argue that the Internet offers more. This may be true in terms of the amount
of information that is available, but what the Internet cannot offer is a consistent service,
nor can it offer immediate and timely information in an emergency. The Hunter region in
New South Wales experienced this with two major storm events. The Pasha storm of 2007
and the April storms in 2015. Many households were without electricity and therefore
Internet for many days. The only way they could obtain up-to-date information was
through the radio. It was a reliable and immediate source for thousands in the Hunter. I’m
sure the NRMA was also quite busy replacing car batteries that were being used to charge
mobile devices. Something unnecessary for battery operated radios.” said Critcos.
Joan Warner, the CEO of Commercial Radio Australia says traditional broadcast radio
is still thriving and is still the main platform for people to consume radio. “People are
now listening to radio via multiple platforms but traditional broadcast radio is still the
preeminent means of consuming radio around the world and is deeply embedded in
people’s lives throughout their day. Currently in Australia listeners are spoilt for choice –
able to choose from AM/FM or all those stations plus up to 30 more digital only stations on
DAB+.
Radio remains the holder of the keys to their broadcast business and their audiences –
everyone gets the same information at the same time and they don’t have to pay.
Particularly useful in disasters. A report written by Professor Reg Coutts in 2014, finds
that mobile broadband communications networks, particularly in regional areas, are not a
replacement for broadcast free to air radio. The Coutts Report highlights that even with
upgraded 4G networks using the most advanced LTE broadcast mode, there are technical
and economic reasons for radio to be delivered using free to air broadcast
technology. Streaming costs both broadcasters and listeners money, threatens distribution
in emergency situations and crowded areas (as 4G networks go down if too many people
use them or become congested and can be disabled during emergency situations) and if
everyone listened to the radio via 4G it would lower speeds for others using the internet.”
And finally, the ABC’s Director Radio Michael Mason appears to echo a point made
earlier in my submission that the main challenge for radio is getting it onto as many
Australian Broadcasting Corporation Amendment (Rural and Regional Advocacy) Bill 2015
Submission 27 - Supplementary Submission
platforms as possible. “From an ABC perspective, I think it’s becoming apparent that
Radio doesn’t have a content challenge as much as it has a distribution challenge.” said
Mason. I would also argue that the ABC is equally challenged by its failure to provide
high quality content to regional and rural Australians due to chronic under-resourcing
along with its failure to prioritise its services. I hear the consequences of this every
week- day I turn my radio on at 5am. A networked programme emanating some 250
kilometres from where I live featuring almost wall to wall music interspersed with
traffic and weather reports which have absolutely no connection to my listening area.
Could that happen on an ABC Metro station??