Talk:Australian Broadcasting Corporation/Archive 1

News and Current Affairs

Some of the ABC programs share names with other things (foreign correspondent, landline etc) I dont know how to change the links and fix it up. disambiguation? Can someone give me a pointer?

Misc

Does anyone know what the ABC symbol is called or how it is spelt?

Tannin, I notice your edit to remove the claim of left-wing bias. I would think it pretty hard to dispute that overall, the network's tone is to the left of just about every other mainstream media outlet in Australia (with the possible exception of The Age) - not so much in its treatment of the major parties (it used to excoriate Labor when in power too), nor in the accuracy of its reporting, but in the issues it chooses to cover and the attitudes it assumes (for instance asylum seekers, where it assumes that human rights treaties are important and many Australians clearly don't).--Robert Merkel

Robert, that's an oxymoron. Just about everything is to the left of the Packer and Murdoch press. Right-wing people complain about the bias of the ABC, left-wing people complain about the bias of the ABC, just about everybody complains about the bias of the ABC. I take issue with the claim that right wingers are more vociferous: that is only true insofar as right-wing ABC bias claims tend to get reported more in the tabloid press and perhaps TV (i.e., by Packer, Murdoch, and their clones.) Slip along to a union meeting and you'll get a whole different point of view.

On the particular issue you mention, I agree, the ABC has, generally speaking, taken a more pro-immigrant line than middle Australia - though whether this counts as "left wing" bias is debatable. (I'd suggest that the support of the parties of the right and of the left for various positions on this issue is more a matter of historical accident and wanting to take a contrary stance vis-a-vis their opponents than base ideology. And, come to think of it, that the ABC's bias here is largely a bias towards the trendy inteligentsia - who are, after all, their primary market.)

On the other hand, there are plenty of examples where the opposite applies, in particular, almost anything to do with management, labor and economics. Tannin

Of course the commercial networks tend to be more right wing in my opinion so it tends to even out somewhat

PMelvilleAustin 04:13 Jan 29, 2003 (UTC)

I'm new around here, but this is the first time I've seen links in section headings. Is that a standard practice? Barkeep49 23:34, 19 July 2005 (UTC)

The MOS says Avoid links within headings and I agree that they look awful. I've changed a few. -- Ian ≡ talk 02:26, 5 August 2005 (UTC)

As a Conservative and lover of the ABC (I tend not to touch commercial radio or TV networks), I find that Kerry O'Brien (particularly during the ABC's election coverage), at the very least, is far from being a Labour supporter. I don't see much left-wing bias, and I listen to and watch almost every ABC News and Current Affairs programme they have! Cyvros

You are going to find a lot of bias in many TV networks. Public broadcasters, in my honest "Yankee" opinion, are the hardest networks in terms of bias because they are supposed to be objective, and yet public broadcasters tend to be accused to support the current Government in power(doesn't matter which country) or towards a left-wing bias (because, to quote John Reith, the founder of the BBC, public broadcasting is meant to "elevate the human condition") or a right-wing bias (on some issues brought up in the news or just in the programming itself). Take PBS/NPR in the United States, for instance. In the US, ABC, CBS, and NBC are usually biased to the left, while FOX (thanks to Rupert Murdoch controlling the show) is usually biased to the right. PBS/NPR usually tries to avoid bias, but I've heard complaints from both sides regarding either left-wing bias or right-wing bias. Getting back to the topic here, I listen to Radio Australia on shortwave radio occasionally (when ionospheric conditions are right) and I don't hear any bias. -Daniel Blanchette 18:53, 19 March 2006 (UTC)

This article needs serious work

I've been bold in tampering with the opening, and I hope that contributors think the changes are reasonable. The article needs to be longer; for example, some tables, pie graphs of ABC income and expenditure would be useful; perhaps some images; a section in which the ABC is compared with the BBC, CBC, and other public broadcasters. Tony 08:37, 1 August 2005 (UTC)

I'd like to tone down some of the hyperbole that comes through in a few places, e.g., 'legendary'. The article will gain more authority by taking a more neutral line; describing the Corporation's services, functions and history in greater detail will create a better impression, in my view. Tony 08:49, 1 August 2005 (UTC)

I'm working through the history section. Where can non-copyright photos be found? Perhaps three or four? Tony 13:51, 4 August 2005 (UTC)

Rewrite

A user is presently conducting a rewrite of this article. To prevent the actual article becoming a mess in the process, this rewrite is taking place on a temporary sub-page to be found here (also linked at top of page). Please feel free to contribute to this rewrite on the sub-page, or to edit the actual article regardless. Thanks, --Cyberjunkie | Talk 09:25, 9 August 2005 (UTC)

POV

[[ABC New Media publishes thousands of websites. Among the most notable are:

ABC News Online ABC News Online has the most comprehensive local news coverage of Australia, publishing stories from the ABC's 36 regional bureaux. It also provides extensive national news and international news from an Australian perspective.

ABC Kids One of the best children's sites on the Internet, you can safely sit your kids down in front of The Playground and keep them entertained for hours.

ABC Science Online A rambling site, The Lab provides a fantastic gateway into the world of science, including the unique self-service science forum and the best science news from Down Under.]]

I think this should be rewritten for POV reasons, anyone agree? Jesus On Wheels 08:17, 9 October 2005 (UTC)

I agree, although the News Online looks OK. Tony 16:13, 9 October 2005 (UTC)

Definitely not neutral. Some parts are true but there is an overuse of superlatives:- "the best children's site on the internet" or "a fantastic gateway". Tim 11:13, 22 October 2005 (UTC)

ABC Radio News Song

Does anyone know what the name of the themesong for the hourly radio news is?— mæstro ^t/c 11:07, 9 October 2005 (UTC)

'Majestic Overture'—Don't know who the composer was; probably a minor British composer, 1930s. Tony 16:16, 9 October 2005 (UTC)

.It's called Majestic Fanfare (or sometimes The Majestic Fanfare), and it was written in the 1940s by a British composer known as Charles Williams. It was originally recorded under his direction by the Queen's Light Hall Orchestra in 1940s, and this recording was used as the ABC News theme until the 1980s, when ABC Radio adopted a synthesised news theme, and the TV news morphed into the disastrous The National (which featured, at great expense to the ABC, the theme from UK's Channel 4 News - an arrangement of Best Endeavours by Alan Hawkshaw).

.In 1987, ABC-TV returned to the half-hour news (and also introducing The 7.30 Report), and used the TV News theme used until Australia Day '05 (written by the late Tony Ansell and Peter Wall).

.A year later, in 1988, to celebrate Australia's bicentenary, ABC Radio decided that Majestic Fanfare should make a comeback, and Australian composer Richard Mills reorchestrated (and, to a certain extent, arranged) the music for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. This recording has been used since then.

.Last year, ABC News and Current Affairs began work on updating ABC-TV News (which was relaunched in digital and widescreen on Australia Day '05). They hired a respected Australian composer, Martin Armiger, to compose a new ABC Radio and TV News theme (with references to Williams' work). Armiger, with fellow composer John Gray, produced the work which has now been on for 10 and a bit months. It was performed by members of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and percussion groups TaikOz and Synergy.

.Due to a backlash from ABC viewers over the replacement of Ansell and Wall's theme (used for 18 years), it is unclear as to whether or not Majestic Fanfare will be replaced by Armiger's News theme as a branded theme for the broadcaster.

.If you'd like to listen to Majestic Fanfare over and over again, the ABC has released two different CDs: "Bakelite Express", which features the original '40s recording; and "ABC Radio Themes", which features two recordings of the '88 version (an extended version, and a reprise). Ansell and Wall's ABC TV News theme has been released on the 2-CD set "ABC TV Themes". Majestic Fanfare is also played on ABC's Classic FM so often, and the original recording will be played on December 17th, 2005 between 10am and midday during Marion Arnold's "Listener Requests" segment.

.Cyvros.

Does anyone have a copy that can be uploaded to WP as an ogg file, and used as a 'fair use' sound clip here? Tony 07:55, 12 January 2006 (UTC)

I have the original 1940s recording, and I'm just cleaning it up a bit. How do I upload it? I also neglected to mention earlier that in 1983, to celebrate the ABC's 50th anniversary, the original Majestic Fanfare was updated (rather subtly). Cyvros

More images?

I wrote the history a few months ago, which I can see has been nicely improved since. We need more images: surely it's possible to obtain lots, even without the ABC's permission. Anyone got ideas? Tony 04:10, 16 December 2005 (UTC)

Minister's power to direct programming content

The text says 'It was used only once, in 1963.' Can we get a citation and perhaps discuss this occurence? Shermozle 17:19, 22 December 2005 (UTC)

This sounds quite interesting. I never knew that there was this power. I do recall the Postmaster General making a threat in the 1950s or 1960s (could be the same event) regarding News and Current Affairs content. He threatened to withdraw funding, from memory, but the threat was never carried out. --Cyvros 12:24, 1 March 2006 (UTC)

Copy-edit

This needs a lot of work. I have attempted to correct the errors that I noticed, but was unable to correct certain errors as it would have impacted content to which I am not knowledgeable about (mainly the history of the ABC) so I would not have been able to re-work those areas. Orbitalwow 04:18, 28 December 2005 (UTC)

orchestras

I notice that there's a statement that the ABC continues to 'own' the six state orchestras. I'm pretty sure that this is incorrect, and that they were divested during the 1990s. Unless I'm wrong on that count, the orchestras probably don't deserve their own subsection, but should be covered in the history. Tony 07:52, 12 January 2006 (UTC)

I'm under the impression, from the ABC's site, that they do still own the state orchestras. The MSO, for instance, is housed at ABC Southbank. Cyvros

If you have a look at the MSO website, it says in the "About MSO" section:

"The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Pty Ltd is a wholly-owned subsidiary company of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and a member of the Symphony Australia network. The Orchestra is funded principally by the Australia Council, the Commonwealth Government's arts funding and advisory body and is generously supported by the Victorian Government through Arts Victoria, Department of Premier and Cabinet. The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is also funded by the City of Melbourne, its Principal Partner, Emirates, and individual and corporate sponsors and donors."

I don't know enough about the other state orchestras to comment. Perhaps checking their websites would clarify the situation.

Cheers,

Blarneytherinosaur 23:42, 28 February 2006 (UTC)

ABC Radio, News and Current Affairs

I'd be happy to contribute to anything regarding ABC Radio or its News and Current Affairs department (my speciality is the theme music). I've ready access to all but the first four ABC Annual Reports, and, being one of Aunty's most devoted audience members, I have read up about my ABC. Cyvros

ogg file for Majestic Fanfare, plus repeated list problem

Cyvros, how is it going with the audio file?

The list of the 12 original radio stations appears twice: which list should be removed?

Tony 02:57, 10 May 2006 (UTC)

Aunty

I notice that the ABC has not been referred to as Aunty in the article. Where does Aunty come from, who uses it and is it still a current term? Should it be mentioned in the article? Ozdaren 04:02, 26 June 2006 (UTC)

If someone insists, a single reference might be OK. The word panders to the anti-arts, anti-intellectual streak that runs deeply in Australian society. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Tony1 (talk • contribs) 12:48, 26 June 2006 (UTC)

No, the word is nothing more than an Australian continuation of a tradition imported from Britain. The British BBC is also nicknamed Auntie, and we copied the term. The nickname has no anti-intellectual or anti-arts connotations - unless, of course, someone can produce verifiable evidence that it does. Zerrakhi 00:52, 5 July 2006 (UTC)

True. And I have no knowledge of it being used as a derogatory term for the ABC. Fans always use it as a nickname. DarkSideOfTheSpoon 01:32, 2 September 2006 (UTC)

Infobox

I've just added more information (about 'key people') to the infobox, and moved it from the 'TV' section, as with the article on the BBC. Tim 04:04, 12 August 2006 (UTC)