WHY BUSINESS NEWS AT TIMES SUCKS
November 6th 2007 01:49
ABC CAUGHT OUT IN CONFLICT OF INTEREST OVER FINANCE NEWS TV PRESENTER
From MediaBlab by Peter Olszewski
The Australian Broadcasting Commission’s television media watchdog, Media Watch, has been accused of late of being a toothless pussycat obsessed with trivia
But last night it proved it had teeth by biting the hand that feeds it and attacking the ABC itself for its conflict of interest regarding its high profile ABC Finance News and Inside Business presenter Alan Kohler.
Kohler’s activity has raised eyebrows in media circles as he makes the transition from journalist to business news entrepreneur and publisher, obviously riding high from his continuous presence on the ABC which also gives him the imprimatur of expertise, authority and respectably, not to mention absolute integrity.
Conflict of interest is written all over his deal with the ABC but Alan Sunderlan, head of national programs, ABC News, duckshoved the issue by claiming Kohler is not an employee of the ABC, but is an outside part-time contractor.
But it doesn’t look that way when Kohler appears on ABC TV as its voice of authority on business matters.
Kohler owns an online investment service called The Eureka Report and he has also become part of a group of media high fliers who have launched a new online business news service Business Spectator, which seems to have a cast of thousands and is obviously cashed up.
Like Kohler’s investment service, this business is heavily bankrolled by Mark Carnegie and John Wylie, and of course those two backers could feature in news reports on the ABC, which in turn could compromise Kohler.
Issues about potential conflicts of interest are not so wild and woolly in the commercial media sector, as evidenced by the fact that two of Alan Kohler's new Business Spectator colleagues had to leave their previous jobs to join him in the new business.
Robert Gottliebsen ended his role as national business commentator at The Australian.
And Stephen Bartholomeusz left his position at The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald to work for the new web business.
Media Watch asked would Fairfax have had a problem allowing Bartholomeusz to stay on at The Age while he worked for Business Spectator?
Michael Short, executive editor of business, The Age, didn’t mince words or prevaricate.
“My word it would’ve been a problem,” he told Media Watch, “Had Bartho worked for both of them he would have been terribly conflicted.”
That’s the way the commercial publishing world views the matter, and quite rightly so. It’s fascinating to ponder why the ABC, which presumes an air of even greater editorial integrity, can’t seem to agree.
Indeed the ABC, which isn’t supposed to act as a commercial entity is happily making bucks from Kohler’s high profile. It has published his book The Eureka Way, and solidly promotes it on the ABC's networks. Perhaps the ABC sees Kohler as an important commercial asset as it moves toward posting revenue of a billion dollars?
But it’s a situation that’s clearly untenable and could blow up in the ABC’s face. Watch this space.
On a final note, as Media Watch pints out, Kohler claims that his own business news services have more to offer – but “if he has more to offer why isn't he doing it on the ABC website?”
Indeed.
From MediaBlab by Peter Olszewski
The Australian Broadcasting Commission’s television media watchdog, Media Watch, has been accused of late of being a toothless pussycat obsessed with trivia
But last night it proved it had teeth by biting the hand that feeds it and attacking the ABC itself for its conflict of interest regarding its high profile ABC Finance News and Inside Business presenter Alan Kohler.
Kohler’s activity has raised eyebrows in media circles as he makes the transition from journalist to business news entrepreneur and publisher, obviously riding high from his continuous presence on the ABC which also gives him the imprimatur of expertise, authority and respectably, not to mention absolute integrity.
But it doesn’t look that way when Kohler appears on ABC TV as its voice of authority on business matters.
Kohler owns an online investment service called The Eureka Report and he has also become part of a group of media high fliers who have launched a new online business news service Business Spectator, which seems to have a cast of thousands and is obviously cashed up.
Like Kohler’s investment service, this business is heavily bankrolled by Mark Carnegie and John Wylie, and of course those two backers could feature in news reports on the ABC, which in turn could compromise Kohler.
Issues about potential conflicts of interest are not so wild and woolly in the commercial media sector, as evidenced by the fact that two of Alan Kohler's new Business Spectator colleagues had to leave their previous jobs to join him in the new business.
And Stephen Bartholomeusz left his position at The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald to work for the new web business.
Media Watch asked would Fairfax have had a problem allowing Bartholomeusz to stay on at The Age while he worked for Business Spectator?
Michael Short, executive editor of business, The Age, didn’t mince words or prevaricate.
“My word it would’ve been a problem,” he told Media Watch, “Had Bartho worked for both of them he would have been terribly conflicted.”
That’s the way the commercial publishing world views the matter, and quite rightly so. It’s fascinating to ponder why the ABC, which presumes an air of even greater editorial integrity, can’t seem to agree.
Indeed the ABC, which isn’t supposed to act as a commercial entity is happily making bucks from Kohler’s high profile. It has published his book The Eureka Way, and solidly promotes it on the ABC's networks. Perhaps the ABC sees Kohler as an important commercial asset as it moves toward posting revenue of a billion dollars?
But it’s a situation that’s clearly untenable and could blow up in the ABC’s face. Watch this space.
On a final note, as Media Watch pints out, Kohler claims that his own business news services have more to offer – but “if he has more to offer why isn't he doing it on the ABC website?”
Indeed.
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