ABC viewers up in arms over national broadcaster’s decision to axe political editor Andrew Probyn among its widespread redundancies: ‘It’s like saying a kitchen doesn’t need a cook’
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Supporters of ABC news star Andrew Probyn have raised an outcry after the respected journalist learned that his role as the network’s political editor has been scrapped.
Probyn was made redundant on Thursday as the national broadcaster announced major changes to its news division from July 1.
Fans took to social media to mock the new policy, after the ABC said resources would be shifted to digital platforms in an in effort to serve a growing online audience.
‘I am still recovering from the shock announcement that the position of political editor in Canberra for ABC TV has been made redundant,’ tweeted former ABC journalist Paul Bongiorno.
‘It’s like saying a kitchen doesn’t need a cook.’
The ABC news division faces a major shake-up as the national broadcaster rolls out a plan to increase its presence online from July 1 reports The Sydney Morning Herald
Redundancies under the new plan include axing a political editor, a role currently held by veteran journalist Andrew Probyn, who has been with the ABC since 2016 (pictured)
Among the changes announced on Thursday include the launch of a new format for the 7pm Sunday national news, and the introduction of a Climate, Environment and Energy news team Pictured: ABC news reader Jeremy Fernandez
Former ABC journalists respond to Andrew Probyn’s redundancy
Barrie Cassidy, the popular former host of the ABC’s political panel show Insiders, also weighed on the network’s new direction.
‘No,’ he tweeted.
‘It’s like saying a restaurant doesn’t need a head chef. The cooks stay. The ABC now needs to explain how the kitchen works without a head chef./
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‘A most shocking decision,’ tweeted another viewer, adding: ‘There’s a lot of crap going on there … I’m not a huge Probyn fan, but the role [of political editor] is SO critical.’
Among the changes announced in the ABC news division, include the launch of a new format for the 7pm Sunday national news, and the introduction of a Climate, Environment and Energy news team.
Meanwhile, 120 other jobs will be impacted by the proposed changes reports The Sydney Morning Herald.
The ABC’s highly respected arts team has also been axed, though the jobs will be absorbed elsewhere through the news team.
Viewers can expect to see the launch of ABC News Sunday, a national news show in the 7pm time slot.
Covering local and global stories, the new format will mean the axing of local and state bulletins
Other plans announced by ABC News Director, Justin Stevens include the return of Stateline, which which will be available to viewers through ABC iview, and also feature during extended broadcast’s of Friday’s 7pm News.
Fans took to social media to mock the new policy, after the ABC said resources would be shifted to digital platforms in an in effort to serve a growing online audience (pictured)
Viewers can expect to see the launch of ABC News Sunday, a national news show in the 7pm time slot – the new format will mean the axing of local and state bulletins
The news comes after the ABC announced a Five Year Plan for their operations, which aims to make the national broadcaster a digital operation by 2028. This will mean that the majority of the ABC audience will be experiencing the network’s content via digital platforms and products Pictured: Veteran ABC news reader Juanita Phillips
Stevens said that new positions created in the shake-up will include digital only roles to feed moment to moment updates on breaking stories.
The news comes after the ABC announced a Five Year Plan for their operations, which aims to make the national broadcaster a digital operation by 2028.
This will mean that the majority of the ABC audience will be experiencing the network’s content via digital platforms and products.
Meanwhile, TV Blackbox reports that the announced changes will mean 40 redundancies at the ABC, while 24 new jobs will be created under the new plan for an increased digital presence.
