Comments on: Is ABC’s Sue Howard on the way out? http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/12/16/is-abcs-sue-howard-on-the-way-out/ now with extra source Sat, 11 Feb 2012 22:03:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: jennifer dillon http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/12/16/is-abcs-sue-howard-on-the-way-out/#comment-15048 jennifer dillon Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-15048 So Mark Scott has found a scapegoat. Someone has yet to justify why loyal 621 listeners have not only lost the Religion Report into the future, but have also missed out on at least 6 weeks of Stephen Crittenden, who has apparently been suspended without redemption for daring to tell the truth to his listeners. I'm waiting, Mark, Sue, anybody... So Mark Scott has found a scapegoat. Someone has yet to justify why loyal 621 listeners have not only lost the Religion Report into the future, but have also missed out on at least 6 weeks of Stephen Crittenden, who has apparently been suspended without redemption for daring to tell the truth to his listeners. I’m waiting, Mark, Sue, anybody…

]]> By: George http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/12/16/is-abcs-sue-howard-on-the-way-out/#comment-15049 George Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-15049 The ABC needs to admit it made a mistake. The religion report is better with Crittendon. Both the religion report and the media report analyses and reporting are critical at this great time of change to the role of religion in our societies and to news delivery and the financial destruction of newspapers . The ABC needs to realize the narrow interest highly researched programs are a terrific assett and a good buttress to A span which will replace much of the work of news radio. I am also astounded at the hypocrisy of the ABC to what could be described as a whistleblower in the public interest. Crittendon should receive a bravery award not be sent to Coventry. The ABC needs to admit it made a mistake. The religion report is better with Crittendon. Both the religion report and the media report analyses and reporting are critical at this great time of change to the role of religion in our societies and to news delivery and the financial destruction of newspapers . The ABC needs to realize the narrow interest highly researched programs are a terrific assett and a good buttress to A span which will replace much of the work of news radio. I am also astounded at the hypocrisy of the ABC to what could be described as a whistleblower in the public interest. Crittendon should receive a bravery award not be sent to Coventry.

]]> By: Judith James http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/12/16/is-abcs-sue-howard-on-the-way-out/#comment-15050 Judith James Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-15050 If Sue Howard's going restores specialist programs to Radio National -- good. If not, why bother.<br /><br />In case you missed it Crikey readers, Sue Howard evidently mentioned in an Australian media report her intention to move Classic FM's Jazz Track to dig radio (no matter that the regions will not get digital radio for several years -- no matter that jazz has multi-generational appeal). Not clear on the timing for this -- certainly hope not next year. Even more of a holy cow I reckon than the banishment of religious coverage to the website. <br /><br />Response from ABC to my letter of concern re: the religious report:<br />"radio line-up is focused not just on traditional content genres but on contemporary intellectual discourse in Australia and worldwide. The changes to Radio National’s schedule in 2009 aim to refresh and revitalise its programming by offering new and more relevant programs to its audience. Specifically, this will include a new Future Report (working title) on Thursdays which will analyse trends and predictions arising from changes across science, religion, art, economics and technology...."[So far sounds good...] THEN...<br />"this new audience’s interaction with media is almost purely via the internet [just don't believe this] and to reach them Radio National must improve its online presence, ensuring that this audience’s bandwidth is as richly populated as Radio National’s airwaves..." [not bad off itself BUT NOT at the expense of the airwaves please -- this is where we bump into things that we find matter -- often by accident. Online reading is much more deliberate --you seek out what you need/want to know.]<br /><br />Change isn't necessarily a bad thing. But it would be good if ABC took its listeners into their confidence a bit more. At this time of the year one gets jumpy waiting to hear if your favourite radio programs have been moved or axed. <br /><br /> If Sue Howard’s going restores specialist programs to Radio National — good. If not, why bother.

In case you missed it Crikey readers, Sue Howard evidently mentioned in an Australian media report her intention to move Classic FM’s Jazz Track to dig radio (no matter that the regions will not get digital radio for several years — no matter that jazz has multi-generational appeal). Not clear on the timing for this — certainly hope not next year. Even more of a holy cow I reckon than the banishment of religious coverage to the website.

Response from ABC to my letter of concern re: the religious report:
“radio line-up is focused not just on traditional content genres but on contemporary intellectual discourse in Australia and worldwide. The changes to Radio National’s schedule in 2009 aim to refresh and revitalise its programming by offering new and more relevant programs to its audience. Specifically, this will include a new Future Report (working title) on Thursdays which will analyse trends and predictions arising from changes across science, religion, art, economics and technology….”[So far sounds good…] THEN…
“this new audience’s interaction with media is almost purely via the internet [just don’t believe this] and to reach them Radio National must improve its online presence, ensuring that this audience’s bandwidth is as richly populated as Radio National’s airwaves…” [not bad off itself BUT NOT at the expense of the airwaves please — this is where we bump into things that we find matter — often by accident. Online reading is much more deliberate — you seek out what you need/want to know.]

Change isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But it would be good if ABC took its listeners into their confidence a bit more. At this time of the year one gets jumpy waiting to hear if your favourite radio programs have been moved or axed.

]]> By: John Crawford http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/12/16/is-abcs-sue-howard-on-the-way-out/#comment-15051 John Crawford Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-15051 Regarding Judith James’ comments, ABC Classic FM still continues to carry Jazztrack. The facts are that ABC Classic FM will be simultaneously broadcast on ABC digital radio. That stream, however, will not carry Jazztrack. On the digital radio services, Jazztrack will be heard on a planned new service, ABC Jazz. The existing FM service will continue to carry Jazztrack.<br /><br />John Crawford <br />Manager, ABC Classic FM<br /> Regarding Judith James’ comments, ABC Classic FM still continues to carry Jazztrack. The facts are that ABC Classic FM will be simultaneously broadcast on ABC digital radio. That stream, however, will not carry Jazztrack. On the digital radio services, Jazztrack will be heard on a planned new service, ABC Jazz. The existing FM service will continue to carry Jazztrack.

John Crawford
Manager, ABC Classic FM

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