Jill Keogh, Convenor, ABC Friends Byron Bay
Under the new MD Michelle Guthrie, structural changes are planned to the National Broadcaster. These changes will be effected by her appointment of Jim Rudder as a consultant. Both are ex-employees of the Murdoch conglomerate. It is no news that the Murdoch media is philosophically and culturally opposed to all aspects of public broadcasting.
ABC is losing dozens of staff and journalists, specialist programs and the cultural gem Radio National will be neutralised. There is no assurance that Lateline, the widely-respected TV news show will continue next year.
MalcolmTurnbull, cultural traitor, now refers to Our ABC as the ‘ elite’ media!
Both Mr Turnbull and Ms Guthrie are well advised to check out social media where four separate petitions are running objecting to ABC changes – Catalyst, the TV science show axed, all but one Radio National music show gone, and off course staff cuts,17 from the science unit alone. Online we have lost Fact Check, a handy check on politician’s veracity.
In a so-called post-truth world, we need media we can rely on, programs like Four Corners and Background Briefing and especially a balanced news service. Without accurate information we are malleable flotsam, with no more substance than jelly!
Aunty ABC warts and all, is the gal we are accustomed to rely on. Staunch the wounds! Speak out! Keep it that way!
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
