Independent research commissioned by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has found that three out of five people in areas impacted by last summer’s bushfires chose to act on the ABC’s emergency broadcasts ensuring their personal safety and the safety of others.
Speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra, Managing Director of the ABC, David Anderson (pictured) said that while the nation was still nursing bushfire wounds, the COVID-19 global pandemic left Australia and the rest of the world reeling.
“Once again, the ABC is by Australia’s side, giving people information they can trust and helping our democracy work by asking questions of those in authority,” Mr Anderson said.
“As the ABC goes about the business of responding to these challenges and helping audiences to do the same, we must also look to the future. How can we ensure the ABC continues to deliver value to Australians?”
He said the ABC’s first ever Five-Year Plan, released a few weeks ago, presented a pathway through the biggest transition the Corporation had undertaken in years.
“The ABC will accelerate its transformation from a traditional broadcaster to a media organisation that is more local, more personalised, more diverse and more capable than ever before,” Mr Anderson said.
“Adopting this plan means the ABC will continue to connect and unite Australians in a new era.”
He noted the ABC was currently in 56 locations, with 48 of them in regional Australia.
“This plan will see us decentralise even more and increase our presence in outer metropolitan areas as well as regional centres,” Mr Anderson said.
“By 2025 we aim to have at least 75 per cent of our content-makers working in locations beyond our Ultimo (NSW) headquarters.
“We will be commissioning more stories that reflect the breadth of Australian experiences and perspectives, including socio-economic and geographic differences.”
He said the ABC passed its 88th birthday recently “and while the way we communicate has changed, the values and purpose by which the ABC serves all Australians has remained the same”.
“No matter who you are, where you live, or who you vote for, we are here to serve all Australians, now and for generations to come,” Mr Anderson said.
Mr Anderson’s full speech can be accessed on the ABC website at this PS News link.
