Michael Cavanagh: beginning the next chapter after ABC redundancy
26 August 2020 · News
Journalist Michael Cavanagh is one of many staff leaving the ABC during the latest round of redundancies.
As he walks out the door for the last time, he looks back at his achievements and shares the ...
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Tags: ABC Radio | Michael Cavanagh | redundancies
Well done Michael. Had great times working next door to you in the Press Gallery. BTW, don't underestimate the thrill of doing bugger-all, It works for me!
This opinion could have been written about any of those made redundant at the ABC whether it's Ms Ho, Mr Cavanagh, Mr Geoghagen, Ms Alberici or many other people from the newsrooms of the ABC. I can also say the same about the letting go of news people from Network 10.
I will say this, post news of redundancies as at 31-08-2020. Watching the Network 10's "News" and ABC24's broadcasts, why were there new faces as reporters on the air a week after the redundancies? Sure the reporters that I have seen on air were not the same roles as those made redundant. It is also true that some did not want to accept deployment to other areas of the business as Ms Alberici said that she always wanted to be a reporter rather than a presenter behind the desk. We could also say that Ms Eleanor Hall always wanted to pursue art classes.
Yet you wonder whether other staff that were let go were given the chance to deploy to other areas of the news business. Why were new faces appearing on air?
It reminds me when Network 10 reduced its newsroom staff a few years ago. Yet we saw new faces.
In addition I still see advertisements recruiting for roles in the ABC post news of 250+ staff being made redundant.
Something does not "add up" when staff are being made redundant, yet new faces appear on the air. Yes the roles may be different yet we don't know whether the redundant staff were willing to and/or given the opportunity to redeploy.
It's not new in the media. I recall towards the end of my degree being invited to apply for a graduate position at a "big 4" accounting firm. YET I read that at the same time, that the particular "big 4" accounting firm was letting go of staff. With my contact, the 'let go' staff were escorted by security guards.
In sum, I don't believe the propaganda of staff being let go as if the roles are not replaced or the remaining staff being asked to do more with less. It may be true for the latter, BUT I don't believe it when an organisation announces redundancies then recruits for staff at the same time. That includes the ABC.
Thank you,
Anthony of upset Belfield