ABC’s new director ‘imminent’ after surprise exit
A replacement ABC news director is “imminent”, the Senate heard today, as news emerges that a Walkley Award-winning journalist and former bikie has also left the public broadcaster.
The ABC has already interviewed for a replacement director of news and would “imminently” move forward with a fresh hire after the shock exit of a key executive this week.
After four years in the top job, news director Justin Stevens resigned on Wednesday, citing personal and professional reasons, saying it had been “incredibly tough but immensely rewarding”.
It comes as reports emerge that Four Corners report Mahmood Fazal – a Walkley-award-winning journalist and former member of the Mongols bikie group – also no longer works at the ABC.
Managing director Hugh Marks addressed Senate estimates on Thursday, saying he had already interviewed candidates for the position, and believed a “globally experienced executive is the right thing at this point in time for the ABC”.
Simon Robinson, the London-based executive editor at global newswire Reuters, would reportedly be imminently appointed to the chief editorial role.
Marks did not confirm the appointment, saying that an announcement would likely be made on Friday.
Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson, the coalition’s communications spokeswoman, said it “very much looks like he [Stevens] was pushed … and was on the chopping block” for recent controversies.
Marks denied threatening or pushing out Stevens.
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Henderson put it to the managing director that he threatened to terminate Stevens’ role.
“I don’t make threats, senator,” Marks said, declining to elaborate on discussions.
Stevens’ resignation follows industrial action at the ABC earlier in the year amid pay negotiations with staff. There were also several controversies within the ABC during Stevens’ time as news director, including the 2022 Line of Fire reports. He apologised on behalf of the broadcaster for the inaccurate use of gunshots and the potentially misleading use of a quote as part of the Four Corners program.
He was also in charge when high-profile presenter Stan Grant resigned after criticism for his comments on colonialism during King Charles’ coronation.
Marks did not comment on Stevens’ situation, but said it allowed the national broadcaster to renew.
“It’s an opportunity, obviously, for the ABC to enter into a new phase of operations, where we look to, you know, refresh and rejuvenate our output … to make sure that we’re future fit,” Marks told the Senate.
Reports have suggested the ABC will look to bring in an outsider, with Marks – a former head of media giant Nine – saying only that the ABC had landed “someone of the highest calibre”.
The impartiality of the national broadcaster, consistently seen as one of Australia’s most trusted and beloved organisations, but increasingly under fire from conservative politicians, was also questioned by senators.
Senator Henderson said the description by ABC chair Kim Williams – who was absent from proceedings despite a request for him to appear – of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as an “aberrant creature” was appalling.
“What sort of standard is that when you’ve got the chair of the ABC indulging in that sort of personal criticism?” Senator Henderson asked Mr Marks.
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Marks said the “less than desired” comments were regretted by Mr Williams, which were his personal view and not that of the ABC.
Williams said the comments were made about Netanyahu’s leadership of Israel compared with past leaders, and should not be considered criticism of Israel.
Marks rejected suggestions of systemic bias.
Stevens, who worked at the broadcaster for 19 years, said the ABC was the nation’s most complex and scrutinised news organisation.
“I have sought to strengthen and defend our journalism without being blind to our stumbles,” he said.
“It has been a huge four years, (and) our investigations have had major impacts for the public good.”
Four Corners reporter leaves ABC after internal investigation
The ABC on Thursday confirmed journalist Mahmood Fazal no longer works for the public broadcaster, but said it would not comment on individual staff matters.
Fazal was the subject of an internal investigation after appearing on a podcast with a former underworld figure last year, according to Media Watch.
Media Watch reported in October that Fazal had worked on Word on the Street podcast with an independent journalist Ryan Naumenko who later alleged Fazal had demanded payment in cryptocurrency without disclosing the paid job to his ABC supervisor.
Fazal told Media Watch at the time that he agreed to the podcast and believed he had his manager’s approval, denying any wrongdoing.
The ABC said at the time that Fazal’s manager did endorse him participating in the podcast but the interview “did not receive final approval by the ABC as part of the external work guidelines”. ABC Management said on the time it was “thoroughly investigating”.
Fazal is a Walkley-award-winning writer who won awards for his podcast No Gangsters in Paradise, and started working as an investigative reporter for Four Corners in 2023. He was a former member of the outlaw Mongol bikie gang.
Fazal was contacted for comment.
-with AAP
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