Latest news with #KimWilliams
The Guardian
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
ABC expected to axe Q+A in fresh round of cuts
ABC managing director Hugh Marks is expected to unveil his first tranche of changes at the public broadcaster on Wednesday morning, including a fresh round of redundancies and the axing of Q+A after 18 years. The groundbreaking weekly flagship discussion program was launched in 2007 by executive producer Peter McEvoy and host Tony Jones and was highly influential in its early years. Q+A is expected to be cut, according to a source briefed on the changes who asked to remain anonymous because they were not authorised to speak publicly. The ABC did not confirm the changes when contacted for comment. ABC staff were warned of looming cuts on Tuesday by the journalists' union, the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA), which told ABC members of colleagues being called into meetings with managers 'regarding a restructure'. The raft of changes comes just three months after Marks took over in March from David Anderson who was the managing director for six years. Marks signalled earlier that he was reviewing whether the ABC needed to 'do everything' or could 'spend our resources more wisely on doing fewer things better'. While there will be cuts and redundancies there are expected to be new projects including a new unit dedicated to documentaries, something which has been strongly backed by ABC chair Kim Williams. In his first week Marks told staff he wanted ABC journalism, audio and video output to have 'a real and meaningful impact' and acknowledged earlier restructures when he said that 'change is exhausting'. 'We are and can continue to explore new content genres and formats,' Marks said. 'We are and will continue to find ways of connecting with audiences at times and in ways that Australians choose. We have the advantage that in exploring this changed world we can focus solely on serving the Australian audience unimpeded by commercial implications.' The last round of redundancies was announced in June 2023 by Anderson and involved 100 job losses. But the biggest round in recent history was in 2017 when then-managing director Michelle Guthrie reorganised the ABC along genre lines and made some 200 roles redundant. Q+A has been hosted by Patricia Karvelas since July 2023 when Stan Grant stood down. The ABC appointed Grant the full-time host of the weekly flagship discussion program in August 2022, a year after Hamish Macdonald quit and was replaced by rotating hosts. Williams and Marks have been busy making major changes behind the scenes, sources say. Some changes have already been made by Williams, including elevating ABC Radio to the executive team. Williams reversed Anderson's decision to put radio and TV in one content division and moved it into a stand alone division in October. The MEAA said members may be placed into 'redundancy pools or their roles may be made redundant'. 'The mismanagement of our ABC needs to end,' the MEAA said. 'ABC management are simultaneously wasting public money on limousines, and expensive lawyers while cutting staff jobs and pushing all budgetary risk onto low paid, insecure staff who work hard to hold the line on editorial standards.' Hamish Macdonald, who now hosts Mornings on ABC Radio, replaced Jones in 2020 after the original host stepped down after 12 years in the seat.
AU Financial Review
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- AU Financial Review
What Kim Williams learned from a ‘Media Watch' take-down
The chairman of the ABC, Kim Williams, says he has been through 'an enormously stern learning experience' after it was revealed by the Media Watch program that he had intervened five times to secure interviews for a comedian on the broadcaster's regional radio stations. The ABC's Media Watch reported on Monday that Williams had repeatedly contacted senior staff to encourage interviews with Sandy Gutman, a Jewish-Australian performer who goes by the stage name Austen Tayshus.
Sky News AU
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
Media union warns 'more stories coming' about 'arrogant' ABC Chair Kim Williams after damning Media Watch investigation revealed editorial meddling
ABC journalists have said they are "beyond disappointed" at chairman Kim Williams' "arrogant attitude" after revelations he intervened to assist a comedian gain interviews with the public broadcaster's Regional Radio division. Reports emerged on Monday night that Austen Tayshus, whose real name is Sandy Gutman, obtained air time on several of the ABC's regional radio stations after contacting Mr Williams. Many of the local stations had reportedly initially declined to host the comedian, who had sought interviews in order to publicise appearances in towns and cities around the country embarked on an anniversary tour of his cult pun-laden monologue "Australiana". A statement from the ABC MEAA House Committee to said that following the Media Watch report "more stories of a similar nature" have emerged. "Journalists at the ABC are beyond disappointed by revelations on Media Watch, showing that the ABC Chair, Kim Williams, has inappropriately intervened to gain promotion for an old acquaintance of his, overriding the editorial judgement of staff," the statement said. "We are also shocked by his arrogant attitude to the professional staff that work in our regional bureaus, who work every day to uphold the MEAA Journalist Code of Ethics, which demands independence. "The fact that this comes just months after staff expressed disgust at the previous Chair and MD breaching the ABC's independence around the sacking of Antoinette Lattouf, makes the revelations all the more galling. "Since the airing of Media Watch on Monday night, MEAA delegates have heard more stories of a similar nature and are now consulting members to confirm their experiences. These are not appropriate actions for the chair of the ABC - a position that is appointed directly by government." The are now calls for an independent inquiry into potential breaches of the ABC's independence by Mr Williams. The union pointed to a meeting of 200 staff in February who declared it was the board's "legal duty" to protect the public broadcaster's independence and integrity, and claimed ABC chairs and managing directors had consistently done the "opposite". 'MEAA members demanded an independent inquiry to examine the breaches of independence under the leadership of Justin Milne and Ita Buttrose. The ABC MEAA National House Committee reiterates that call, and demands any such inquiry be given broad-ranging powers to investigate potential breaches by Kim Williams too," the union said. "The House Committee will begin consulting widely to determine the appropriate form of such an inquiry. In the meantime, ABC staff need a commitment from Kim Williams that he will cease these inappropriate actions that undermine the ABC's independence. "Members are also deeply concerned about the attitude shown by senior managers, who appear to have aided Mr Williams' efforts on some occasions. "We were also disappointed to see that Mr Gutman sent an abusive text message to an ABC staff member and call upon managers and senior leadership to do better to support staff and allow them to do their jobs without harassment or interference." Media Watch host Linton Besser accused the chairman of experiencing a "grave lapse of judgement" during the program on Monday. Mr Gutman enjoyed a brief period of fame after "Australiana" topped the nation's charts for eight weeks in 1983. He had embarked on a 40th anniversary tour of the cult hit in 2023, with the comedian subsequently seeking interviews with various ABC Reginal Radio stations. According to Media Watch, the comedian has received more than 90 minutes of free publicity from the ABC since July last year - across no less than 11 segments. However, Besser explained Mr Gutman's appearances were the subject of intense controversy, with many local stations initially declining to host the comedian. In response to the rejections, Besser said Mr Gutman turned to a man he initially described as a "friend", the ABC's chairman. On August 5, 2024, the comedian reportedly phoned Mr Williams and claimed he was being denied interviews because he was Jewish. Mr Williams, in turn, reportedly called the ABC's head of audio content, Ben Latimer, saying Mr Gutman was having difficulty contacting local radio. Shortly afterward, the comedian appeared on ABC North and West South Australia to speak about his show, despite having initially been turned away. This was not the only time Mr Williams intervened to assist Mr Gutman, Media Watch explained, with the ABC chairman ultimately stepping in on at least five separate occasions. Despite this, Mr Williams told the show in a statement he and Mr Gutman were not friends. "I am not anything other than an acquaintance of Sandy Gutman, who I do not know well," the ABC chairman said. "We had a brief involvement some 27 years ago." Regardless of the pair's precise relationship, the interventions sparked fierce internal backlash from local radio staff. One, who spoke anonymously to Media Watch, complained: "Local teams know our audiences better than anyone and the Chairperson has no right to involve himself in that way". They added Mr Williams' involvement had "outraged" those forced to accommodate Mr Gutman. Those sentiments were backed up by former ABC editorial director Alan Sunderland, who told Media Watch the ABC chairman's conduct was "inappropriate". "It appears that the Chairman was clearly intervening on behalf of someone he knew, describing the decision by some parts of ABC Regional radio not to run an interview with that person as a 'strange attitude', stressing that the person seeking an interview was 'talent' and making it very clear he was on the talent's side," he said. "This sort of pressure on program teams from any board member, let alone the Chairman, is in my view inappropriate. "The fact that it was not only passed on but acted upon by program teams who felt pressured to change their editorial judgement, indicates a significant failure of process and judgement, both on the part of the Chairman and senior management." Besser, too, criticised the actions of Mr Williams, calling them a "grave lapse of judgement" and saying the ABC's chairman had put management in an "invidious position". The broadcaster's new managing director, Hugh Marks echoed those concerns, saying he would use the scandal as an opportunity to improve the way in which the ABC was run. "I have been at the ABC a short time but I am vigilant to ensure the proper delineation of responsibility between the Board and management, and will act appropriately to ensure the best interests of the ABC, its people and audiences as we move forward," he said in a statement. Those sentiments, though, have apparently done little to reassure local radio staff, with the anonymous ABC member telling Media Watch: "If the Chairperson has time to intervene and influence teams to conduct an interview about a comedian's regional tour, what else is he influencing?" A statement issued by the ABC following the Media Watch report said management in recent months have spoken to Mr Gutman "to express clear expectations of his behaviour to staff when pitching interviews and discuss how the ABC makes editorial decisions". 'The ABC regularly engages with members of the performance community for appearances across our networks and it's important for the arts and entertainment sectors that we continue to do so," the statement said. "The ABC Chair has always made clear he expects ABC management to follow its own independent decision-making on content. As the Editorial Policies state, the trust and respect of the community depend on the ABC's editorial independence and integrity."
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘All the things that obstruct learning': Inside schools Wichita bond issue would rebuild
Editor's note: Before voters decide on a $450 million school bond issue on Feb. 25, The Eagle is profiling many of the schools affected. Find continuing coverage of the bond issue election here. The biggest expense in the Wichita school district's $450 million bond issue is the plan to rebuild seven schools. Those buildings — Adams, Black, Caldwell, Irving and McLean elementaries and Coleman and Truesdell middle schools — range in age from 59 to 84 years. They have small classrooms, leaky roofs and foundations, safety and accessibility issues and other problems. Asked what she would want voters to know, Caldwell teacher Kim Williams said it's important that residents do their research before deciding. 'Just as a walk-through view, the building appears to be usable and fine,' she said. '... If you're in it every single day, then you see all the different things that obstruct learning.' The rebuilds are expected to cost $287.5 million, according to data provided by the school district. Some of the rebuilt schools would welcome students from four elementary schools that will be closed as part of the district's facility master plan. With the bond issue, the district also plans to convert two elementary schools to K-8, consolidate alternative learning programs and build a new early childhood center, a new Future Ready Center for Trades at East High School and new athletic fields at Northeast High School. Voters within the Wichita school district will decide the issue on Feb. 25. Here are profiles of each of the seven schools that would be rebuilt: Lack of classrooms, inaccessible building: Why Wichita seeks to rebuild Adams Elementary Flooded classrooms, combined gym-lunchroom: Why Black Elementary is on Wichita ballot Cold classrooms, leaky ceilings: Why rebuilding Wichita's Caldwell school is on the ballot Dated infrastructure, cramped classrooms: Why Wichita seeks to rebuild Irving Elementary Small building and little storage: Why rebuilding Wichita's McLean is on the ballot Flooded hallways, ADA accessibility: Why Wichita seeks to rebuild Truesdell Middle School Pie-shaped buildings, small classrooms: Why rebuilding Wichita's Coleman is on the ballot
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Reservoir could be built in quarry to supply South West
A quarry could be flooded to become a new reservoir to supply water to thousands of homes in the South West. Plans are in the "earliest stages", according to water companies, but they are looking at a site in the Mendip Hills in Somerset. It comes as the government has given its backing to nine new reservoirs in England, including two in Somerset. The other would be a second reservoir at Cheddar, where survey work has already started. The government said it had reached an agreement with water companies which "unlocked" £7.9bn of investment over the next five years including the nine new reservoirs. The Mendip Quarries plan is a joint venture between Wessex Water and the Pennon Group, which owns Bristol Water and South West Water. A report has been done looking at Torr Works quarry at East Cranmore near Shepton Mallet - where quarrying is due to end in 2040. A public consultation would take place, but not until 2028-29. Meanwhile plans for 'Cheddar 2', as it is being called, are at the early design and environmental studied phase, with a public consultation expected later this year. Kim Williams, Head of Water Resources & Water Efficiency at Pennon Group, which owns Bristol Water and South West Water, said the quarry site was an exciting proposition. "The scale is new for our region but a really good water resource opportunity of using something that's already there rather than a brand new construction," Ms Williams said. She added that 2040 is the end of planned quarrying and construction would start after that. Current early plans for the Mendip Quarries site would give an output annual average of 50 mega litres (50,000,000 litres) each day with a peak of 100 mega litres per day. A Wessex Water spokesperson said: "The Mendip Quarries plan is both Wessex Water's and Pennon's as part of our West Country Water and Environment collaboration. "This reservoir is in the earliest stages of development at the moment, so there isn't a lot we can say on it, but it will be used to supply both Wessex Water and Bournemouth Water (Pennon) customers, with the possibility of it extending to include other areas further east." A sector summary report from the regulator Ofwat, published in December 2024, said the other new reservoirs would be built in Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire, Suffolk, Kent, East Sussex and the West Midlands. It said these, plus the two planned for Somerset, have the potential to produce 670m litres of extra water per day, once completed. Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Surveys begin as new reservoir plans resurrected New reservoir planned for Somerset village
