“A concerted campaign”: ABC News boss names News Corp., The Australian.

ABC News Director Justin Stevens says he regrets not issuing a statement of support for Q+A host Stan Grant earlier and named News Corporation amongst media outlets amplifying social media abuse.

Speaking to Rafael Epstein on ABC Radio Melbourne this afternoon, Stevens said, “Personally, I feel devastated that he feels let down by us because we care deeply about him. He’s an incredible journalist and broadcaster… we invited him on as a guest to take part in our rolling eight hour coverage of the Coronation of King Charles III. He was a reluctant participant. He wasn’t agitating to be a part of that. We invited him and he graciously accepted that invite.

“He took part in what was 40 – 45 minutes of eight hour coverage. It was the only point in the coverage where we reflected on First Nations perspectives of our history. And secondly, (having) a broader discussion about what the Crown means to people with different perspectives at this point in time.

“This was a different dynamic to the Queen dying last year. No-one was mourning, no-one had died. This was a moment for us to do what we do as the national broadcaster, which is to facilitate conversations which are at times uncomfortable for viewers and listeners. It’s not our role to shy away from them. And it’s ingrained in our Charter to hear a diversity of perspectives.”

Stevens acknowledged that ABC had previously issued statements of support for Tony Armstrong and Lisa Millar following recent abuse online and in media, but failed to do so for Stan Grant.

“I regret not putting out a statement directly about Stan in recent days. I’ve personally apologised to him for that. Because this racism that he’s been subjected to, is not just from the last week or two, it’s been going on relentlessly for months.”

ABC has also blamed media outlets for “sustained and vitriolic” criticism but Stevens singled out News Corporation for ‘chipping away’ at people’s trust in the ABC.

“I regret not doing this sort of interview 10 days ago Raf, and you know, it’s a completely different ballgame now, for us. What we’ve got now is sections of the media, particularly in News Limited who will do anything they can to campaign against the ABC. We can’t be beyond scrutiny. In fact, we welcome it,” he continued.

“But it is clearly a concerted campaign to chip away at the ABC and people’s sense of trust in it, by them.

“And secondly, social media has given a platform to people to air completely toxic, disgusting, often illegal comments about individuals that work for us. It’s a dilemma and this is a new thing.”

Stevens agreed ABC would need to adopt a more responsive approach to abuse whether from social media or news outlets.

“I think we’re gonna have to get into the habit, even though it is against our instinct to not be the story, to call this this out more often and more regularly. There’s the anonymous trolls, there’s the toxic abusers on social media that go after people because they hate the fact that they exist, let alone what they say. But then there’s also media outlets that play a part in amplifying and giving agency and gratifying these people’s concerns, and rallying them and revving them up,” he said.

“I think Australian media broadly need to have a good hard look at themselves at what’s in the public interest, and where their journalistic efforts fester for the public.

“On the weekend, for instance, we got four or five different dispatches of questions from media outlets about specific things related to the ABC. One of them from The Australian newspaper was because they -or someone for them- had pored over the personal social media of one of our indigenous journalists and asked questions about that. That’s the level of scrutiny that they are going for. We need to really question what’s in the public interest? And where should those efforts be directed? And there’s a fine difference between scrutiny and pile on.”

Stan Grant presents Q+A tonight but the show is set to take a mid-season break soon, and Stevens says Grant has an open invitation to return.

“He is keen for a break, he wants to rest. He wants to spend time with his family and have a breather from this and I totally respect and understand that. We want to give him time to do that…. Q+A has a few more episodes after this week and then it’s got a midseason break, and then it will return. We just want to give him space and time to try and have a breather from this. Hopefully he’ll return after the midseason break.”