Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Jonathan Marks, who has posted a letter by Michael Mason (Acting Director of ABC Radio) to the staff of ABC. Mason’s letter outlines changes to Radio Australia’s external service. His key points:
- Radio Australia will continue to broadcast a 24/7 schedule built on a deeper collaboration with ABC News and ABC Radio and through collaboration with SBS.
- Pacific Beat continues, as do RA’s hourly news bulletins.
- Radio Australia will work with colleagues in ABC Radio and ABC News to identify and deliver a sustainable and engaging English program service that will appeal to our International audiences.
- Language services in Tok Pisin, Khmer and Burmese will be delivered through a mix of reduced original content coupled with translated ABC content and content from SBS. The model for the French language service remains under consideration.
- Asia Pacific and Asia Review will cease production as will the Mornings program.
- Shortwave transmission of RA remains unchanged for the time being.
Read the full letter on Jonathan’s website, Critical Distance.
Follow news about the cuts to Radio Australia by bookmarking the tag: RA Cuts
You’re too polite Jonathan. It’s all about Murdoch.
Cui bono ?
I agree .
In effect, Australia’s influence in Asia is being wound down. The big plus about Radio Australia was it’s ability to mix the “outside looking in” with the “inside looking out”. That type of approach also benefits a domestic audience. Remember the BBC World Service slogan – bringing Britain to the world – and the world to Britain. I would argue that Radio Australia did the same for Australia. Alas, not for much longer. Most of the English language production will now be compilations from the domestic services.
I wonder if there are any links between what’s happened and a speech that ABC Managing Director Mark Scott gave in 2009. Called the Fall of Rome, it predicted the end of the Murdoch empire. At that time, ABC and Murdoch were battling over the licence to run Australia’s overseas TV service. It was a messy fight. Perhaps the Murdoch empire found ways to strike back? It certainly looks that way.
http://blogs.crikey.com.au/contentmakers/files/2009/10/AN-Smith-The-Fall-of-Rome-Final-14-10-09-doc-21.pdf