ABC NEWS steps up
But there's more to do
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As you may know, in June I submitted a complaint of bias to the ABC Ombudsman relating to online NEWS articles on gender diversity.
Long story short…
I’d used a bias detection tool called ‘Allsides’ and found heavy bias existed in ABC’s Online NEWS coverage of articles containing gender diversity content.
To put it bluntly, these NEWS articles:
Contained very little objective journalism
Were biased by omission of certain facts
Used opinion statements as fact
Used subjective qualifying adjectives (like ‘wonderful’ or ‘horrid’)
Engaged in sensationalism and emotionalism
In other words, the ABC’s coverage of the gender topic was mainly ‘Opinion’ labelled as NEWS. The articles did NOT belong in the NEWS section, but in an ‘Opinion’ section. At the time of research, an ‘Opinion’ section did not exist.
As a result, I asked for three changes
That the biased gender related articles be moved to an ‘Opinion’ section.
That The ABC relinquish all connection with groups that could influence NEWS or be seen to influence NEWS. Special reference was made to the ACON (Aids Council of NSW) LGBTQA Pride in Diversity programs. The ABC pays to belong to these and gets rewarded for stories/actions that favor LGBTQA ideology.
That ABC NEWS staff and management undertake anti-bias news training.
My complaint went to the ABC Ombudsman Fiona Cameron who promised she’d passed it on to Editorial Director Gavin Fang. The ABC then had 60 days to respond to my complaint before I took it further.
It’s been over 60 days and I still have not heard from Gavin Fang. However, their Online News categorisation has certainly shifted.
What changed?
Most of the biased articles, while still appearing on the NEWS site, are now labelled as ‘Opinion’, ‘Perspective’ or ‘LGBTQA’. Some are ‘Lifestyle’ or ‘Fashion’. Examples can be found HERE or HERE. It’s a win - of sorts.
Some, like THIS, are in the ‘NEWS - LGBTQA’ category. However, there are no words from those who might add an alternative perspective to the research held in the article. Perhaps a doctor or psychologist questioning the role of groups like Minus18 in actually promoting queer ideology. If not inserted into this piece, the perspective warrants an entire separate article questioning transgender education in schools.
The LGBTQA category seems only for rainbow positive articles. THIS article, while about gender diversity, only got a jersey in the sport section.
There has still been no coverage of the Justice Andrew Strum verdict condemning Melbourne’s RCH Gender Clinic. The internationally influential Cass Review on gender affirming treatment of children has still only received one article.
The Australian Declaration of Biological Truth, a register with nearly 6,000 signatures raising concerns about transgender ideology, is still not deemed newsworthy enough to cover. However, THIS is.
Category bias even stronger
If ABC Online is to avoid accusations of bias by omission, all categories should hold views from both sides if these exist.
To not do so would be the same as the ‘Food and Recipes’ section only having recipes for meat-based food, but never for vegetarian food. Articles questioning trans-activism for children should also be published in the LGBTQA category.
Similarly, the article found HERE in the ‘Perspective’, ABC Lifestyle’ and ‘Relationships’ sections (!), should be balanced by an article on the increasing number of women leaving their marriages due to their husband identifying as a woman. To only celebrate the meat, without giving the vegetables a voice, is bias by omission. Very naughty.
Actually, there’s now such a confusing array of subsections and categories that ABC Online NEWS resembles a shopping site. You can get the NEWS you want, with the slant you want. The ABC echo chamber survives.
But what of new NEWS?
Many gender-related articles appearing after the research was completed are still showing extreme bias. An example is HERE. This article has a -2 left-leaning bias. The Allsides report is below.
Has anti-bias training been introduced to the ABC Newsroom? It seems not. Perhaps Gavin Fang meant to give me a call but forgot.
And what about ABC’s ACON Alliance?
I’m pleased that the ABC Editorial Division took some notice of my complaint. Adding categories and subsections was helpful. Thank you.
However, the most important request of all in my submission asks the ABC to withdraw from groups that do or may be seen to influence their news. ACON is the big problem here.
As 60 days have passed and I’ve received zilch from Editorial Director Gavin Fang, there’s more work to do.
Now, the complaint and proposed changes go to the Press Council, the ABC Board and the Finance Minister Senator Katy Gallagher. The Finance Minister is responsible for rectifying any breach of The Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.
This WILL be interesting.
Great piece of work, Phil. I am appalled at the ABC’s ongoing response of, ‘nothing to see here’. I have made numerous complaints and every time they find a reason why it falls outside their remit. Government departments, on all levels, are suffering a crisis of credibility. I worked with Fiona Cameron for a number of years, and am so disappointed with her performance in the role of ABC Ombudsman.
Well done and thankyou so much for all your work in your “spare time” (as if any of us has any, dealing with all the nonsense in the antipodes today!). My husband and I have submitted many complaints over the years about ABC’s relentless determination to call any women’s rights activism “anti trans” activism. The last response from Fiona Cameron was an insult to the public’s intelligence. What on earth is the point of her as an ombudsman, if she just passed the buck to Gavin Fang, an absolute twit who has written the ultimate Dunning Kruger book on how to build trust. You couldn’t make this stuff up. I hope Graham Linehan writes a comedy series about it all, if he is ever given any peace by transactivists. It would run longer than Home and Away and would be insanely funny: https://www.manlywritersfestival.org.au/authors/gavin-fang