“Nothing has been left untouched.”

The ABC’s Director of News Gaven Morris explains the strategy behind the recent cut to the 0745 radio news.

In a detailed interview with Steve Ahern, Morris says there is a bigger picture than just cutting a bulletin, the change is part of the rebalancing of priorities to better serve digital audio services, as well as broadcast radio.

The Acting Managing Director of the ABC, David Anderson,  has written to staff telling them that despite extensive requests from the ABC, the Budget papers have locked in the $83.7 million pause in indexation funding flagged in last year’s budget.

He has told staff that on top of the $254 million the ABC has had to absorb in efficiency cuts over the past five years, the first year impact of a $14.6 million cut will mean that to meet costs there will have to be some tough decisions on staffing and services.

In the wake of Justin Milne's resignation from the position of ABC Chairman, Acting Managing Director David Anderson has put out a message to ABC staff:

Dear Colleagues,

As everyone is now aware, Justin Milne has resigned as ABC Chairman after several very difficult days for the ABC.

The ABC is merging its news and radio divisions in the ACT.

RMIT University and ABC News have partnered to relaunch award-winning news service Fact Check, to be based in Melbourne at the University’s new state-of-the-art Media Precinct.

From March, RMIT ABC Fact Check will once again test and adjudicate on the accuracy of claims made by politicians, public figures, advocacy groups and institutions engaged in public debate.

Sabra Lane, one of Australia’s most experienced and respected political journalists, has been named as the new presenter of flagship ABC Radio Current Affairs program AM.

She takes over the high-profile role from Michael Brissenden, who is moving to Four Corners after two years in the AM hot seat.

Following the resignation of Kate Torney as the ABC’s director of news, Gaven Morris has been announced as her replacement.
 
Torney resigned last month to become chief executive of the State Library of Victoria while Morris steps into the role after three years as head of content with ABC News .
 
Craig McMurtrie, takes up the newly created position of deputy director.