Hugh Marks Takes Helm at ABC Amid Turmoil, Ita Buttrose Briefs Top Silk After Legal Letter Exposed in Australian Media Landscape

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is entering a new era with Hugh Marks taking over as managing director, replacing the outgoing David Anderson. Marks, the former Nine Entertainment chief, faces a long list of challenges, including the ongoing turmoil surrounding the Antoinette Lattouf case. The case has led to significant scrutiny of the ABC's handling of the situation, with Ita Buttrose, the former ABC chair, facing criticism over her role in the incident.

Buttrose has been accused of forwarding complaint emails to the broadcaster's content chief, Chris Oliver-Taylor, and making comments about Lattouf, including suggesting that she "can't come down with flu or Covid or a stomach upset? We owe her nothing." The comments have been widely criticized, and Buttrose has since briefed top silk Sue Chrysanthou in anticipation of potential legal repercussions.

The Australian media landscape is undergoing significant changes, with the Daily Mail embracing supernatural topics, including coverage of angels and the devil. The news website has published a series of articles on the topic, including a report on how to know if you've been visited by an angel, which includes signs such as feathers, ladybugs, and coins containing subtle heaven-sent messages.

In other news, the AFL has announced that fans will no longer have access to live Saturday matches in Victoria, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory unless they subscribe to the streaming service Kayo or have a Foxtel subscription. The move is part of the AFL's 2022 $4.5bn broadcast deal with Seven and Foxtel.

The Walkley Foundation has quietly dropped the award for industrial relations reporting from its mid-year celebration of journalism, the Mid-Year Media Prizes. The move has been criticized by journalists, including Ben Schneiders, who has won the IR award four times and believes that good industrial relations journalism is vitally important in covering issues such as living standards, inequality, wages, and the gender pay gap. The Walkley Foundation has stated that it regularly reviews its awards and encourages journalists to enter relevant categories, including specialist and beat reporting, and business journalism.