From the desk of Roland Rocchiccioli – 28 February

When the announcers from the ABC in Perth wanted to march in the Vietnam Moratorium, they were warned, if they did so, they would have to resign as a consequence.

 

THE studio supervisor, Ian Wynne – who was a man of ferocious intelligence, said, “No announcer on my staff has an opinion on anything. This the Australian Broadcasting Commission. We are the voice of impartiality.” They did not march.

Viewed through the scornful prism of 2021, and with the advent of social media, such a stance might be deemed archaic, and would, indubitably, be classified as a breach of everyone’s right to express their opinion. Conversely, given the ABC’s pre-eminence, is it justifiable?

The unedifying spectacle of the collective media pack slathering with delight, and joyfully dipping their quills into the wells of vitriol, to condemn Ed McGuire, and attempting to paint him as the face of racism in this country, was tantamount to watching a pack of hyenas circling a wounded beast, waiting for the crucial moment to finish-off the hapless victim of their vicious focus.

Sally Neighbour, executive producer of the ABC television program 4Corners, posted one of the most egregious comments, and which was as offensive as it was inaccurate. Ludicrously, she spuriously paralleled an ‘uncanny likeness’ between Ed McGuire and James Packer. She reasoned: ‘A lifetime (later corrected to ‘a life’) of wealth and privilege’; and described their reactions to their current dilemmas as ‘hubris personified’.

Ed McGuire grew-up in a commission home in Broadmeadows; James Packer in Bellevue Hill, Sydney. It is impossible to imagine two more divergent locations.

While the posting was roundly condemned it did not elicit an apology; however, such was public reaction it caused the ABC managing director, David Anderson, to issue a serious staff warning, reminding ABC employees they are required to be, “conscious of your responsibility to protect the ABC’s reputation, independence and integrity where your personal use of social media intersects with your professional life”.

“Working at the ABC offers tremendous opportunities. It also comes with responsibilities – more than at any other media organisation in Australia.”

“For employees, any breach of ABC policies, guidelines and procedures, including the ABC Code of Conduct, and the Guidelines for Personal Use of Social Media, will be dealt with in accordance with the relevant ABC employment agreement, and may lead to disciplinary action, including possible termination of employment.”

Subsequently, Ms Neighbour’s offending post was deleted; however, when it comes to seemingly delighting in the demise of a colleague’s career, she has prior form.

Rationales notwithstanding, when the former MD of the ABC, Michelle Guthrie, was unceremoniously sacked, Ms Neighbour posted, “Excellent decision” on Twitter.

Furthermore, Ms Neighbour’s Twitter account, which brags her position with 4Corners, insinuates, by extrapolation and perception, the expressed views are those of the program, and therefore, and it would not be a quantum leap to erroneously assume, those of the ABC, and therefore,  by osmosis, bear the imprimatur of the management.

Emphatically, this is not so! It is her jaded opinion.

We are her collective employer. It is not unreasonable she be ordered, on our behalf, to remove the 4Corners reference, or add a mandatory disclaimer: These are not the views of the ABC; nor are they endorsed by the management.

Sadly, civility and kindness have disappeared from our lives. There is nothing clever, or noble, about basking in the unravelling of someone else’s life. While truth is an imperative, it must, always, be tempered with kindness.

Ms Neighbour is in breach, and were I her boss, she would find herself joining the queue at the local dole office.

Shamefacedly, I concede, if that were to come to pass, I might be tempted to allow myself a very private moment to enjoy the schadenfreude.

I have great faith in Nemesis, the Goddess of Retribution.

Roland can be heard with Brett Macdonald each Monday at 10.45am on 3BA and contacted via [email protected].