ABC News Director Justin Stevens has issued a statement of support for News Breakfast pressenter Tony Armstrong following commentary made on social media and press after Media Watch criticised undertaking commercial voice-over for insurer NRMA.
“Yesterday the ABC released an independent report that included calling out the racism ABC employees are subjected to and looking at how we defend them in the face of external attacks on them and their work. This is an industry-wide issue, and all media should take responsibility and ownership for what they choose to platform, elevate and legitimise when focusing on the work of individuals,” said Stevens.
“I am dismayed that within 24 hours of that important report I’m issuing a statement to publicly call out more racist abuse by members of the public directed at one of the ABC’s highly valued staff members, who also happens to be Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.
“Tony Armstrong is one of the ABC’s best and most talented presenters. This week he has again been targeted on social media and in public comments on news websites in a despicable way.
“The ABC stands by Tony and will not tolerate any racist abuse. The ABC has logged the details of the abusive social media posts and made a complaint regarding the moderation of the comments. A previous incident involving a message sent to Tony was referred to police and resulted in an individual pleading guilty to using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence.
“This sort of behaviour in the community is often fed by the inflammatory nature of mainstream media coverage. The prominence of stories, tone of headlines and copy, photos run and selection of story angles can foster division and outright hate.
“The ABC belongs to the public and is rightly subject to appropriate scrutiny and feedback. However, at times the nature of the scrutiny on particular ABC employees is unsettling, and the incessant coverage targeting them has real impacts.
“As the ABC strives to ensure our workplaces are safe and inclusive we also call on all media organisations to reflect on whether their own behaviour is meeting the highest standards.”
Stevens did not comment on Armstrong undertaking the NRMA gig which Media Watch noted was at odds with ABC Editorial Policy.
ABC management told Media Watch, “The voiceover was done without the ABC’s knowledge, this was due to a misunderstanding with Tony’s external representation,” ABC told Media Watch.
“They have been provided a copy of the external work guidelines and reminded all ABC employees are required to meet them. Tony is a high valued employee and has the ABC’s full support.
Armstrong’s final day on News Breakfast is tomorrow.
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