The ABC chair, Kim Williams, has said an email he sent to radio management which was critical of regional radio staff for declining to interview the comedian Austen Tayshus was “inappropriate” but he denies directing coverage.
ABC’s Media Watch revealed on Monday night that Williams had intervened on behalf of the comedian, whose real name is Sandy Gutman, on no fewer than five occasions.
On one occasion when Gutman forwarded the chair an email chain between himself and ABC producers, Williams complained to their managers that ABC staff were “often arrogant with talent”.
“Sandy (again) I am, of course, essentially on his side,” Williams wrote to the director of audio, Ben Latimer, and the head of regional, rural and metro news, Donna Field. “Our people are often arrogant with talent. How often would someone like Austen Tayshus be in New England? Strange attitude. I know he can be demanding, but he is talented.”
Gutman, who had a hit record, Australiana, in 1983, wanted publicity for his act which was touring regional pubs in New South Wales, but was knocked back by the station on the grounds its entertainment spots were full.
He claimed he had been rejected because he didn’t “fit into their particular parameters”. The 70-year-old has said in recent years that modern comedians are being strangled to death by political correctness.
Williams told Media Watch, hosted by Linton Besser, that he was “referring to what I saw as an offhand manner in dealing with talent”. “On reflection that was inappropriate,” he said.
The chair said he did call or email Latimer on several occasions but he did “not attempt to impose actions or outcomes on any editorial managers”.
“If there have been misunderstandings in the process, or erroneous assumptions, I genuinely regret that they may have arisen,” he said.
Williams said he respects ABC editorial personnel and ABC editorial policies.
“I understand my own role and the difference it has from that of the managing director and his senior leadership team and the obligations which repose on us separately,” he said.
The managing director of the ABC, Hugh Marks, who joined the corporation in March, said the matters raised by Media Watch were important.
“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.
Besser said since July last year, Gutman received more than 90 minutes of free publicity over no fewer than 11 segments.
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Apart from the email, Williams called Latimer after Gutman made unfounded allegations he was being denied interviews because he was Jewish. Williams said he treats antisemitism very seriously and he was aware of the sensitivities around it.
Latimer reportedly passed the message on but eventually told Gutman any future requests for airtime must go through local radio managers.
Gutman told Media Watch: “All I expected was some help with some interviews and that’s what I got from him and Ben Latimer.”
The ABC house committee of the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance asked ABC staff to tell them in a confidential survey if they know of any instances of editorial interference by the chair.
“Today your MEAA delegates have been hearing further concerning reports regarding the Chair’s overreach into editorial processes, and the House Committee needs to hear from you to understand the extent of the problem,” staff were told in an email on Tuesday.
A professor of communication at Deakin University and author of a book about the ABC, Matthew Ricketson, said boards do not generally get involved in operational matters.
“Those are the matters for management; management runs the operation; the board oversees the operation,” Ricketson told Guardian Australia. “That’s the kind of general line of demarcation.”
Appointed by the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, in January 2024, Williams took over from Ita Buttrose in March last year.
