This Thursday evening, Australians will be able to turn on their televisions and enjoy a new source of news: ABC News 24, Aunty’s effort to launch a 24-hour news station.
This Thursday evening, Australians will be able to turn on their televisions and enjoy a new source of news: ABC News 24, Aunty’s effort to launch a 24-hour news station. And while this magazine was critical of the way the broadcaster handled the very sudden toppling of Kevin Rudd a few weeks ago, and there are concerns about a government entity going head-to-head with a private operation such as Sky News, ultimately we can only welcome another voice, and another source, on the media scene.
Indeed, we must remind ourselves that although the ABC has been responsible for some real howlers over the years, it is not a monolith. Chris Uhlmann, who contributes this week’s Diary, will be the station’s political editor. In recent years, he has proved to be a voice of reason, holding the feet of Labor politicians to the fire and questioning the received wisdom of climate change enthusiasts long before anyone had heard of the Climategate scandals or the Copenhagen talks fell apart.
We can only hope that his sort of informed questioning is infectious, and becomes a hallmark of this new organisation. So let us give, if not three cheers, then two cheers, for ABC News 24. Healthy competition is nothing to be feared, nor is the addition of another voice to the Australian conversation.
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