Recommendations
Subtitled Translations
Recommendation R1/2/99 - Hd National Networks & Hd News and Current Affairs
The ABC Advisory Council is concerned that on occasions where foreign language speakers are interviewed during programs (eg Inside Story and Foreign Correspondent) a subtitled translation is provided rather than an English voice-over. People who are blind or vision-impaired lose a considerable proportion of the information presented in the program because of this practice. The ABCAC recommends that voice-overs always be used in these circumstances.
Ryan Honschooten
Charlotte Samiec
24 Hours
Recommendation R2/2/99 - GM Enterprises
The ABC Advisory Council recommends that the magazine "24 Hours" be developed into a more general publication covering a wider scope of the ABC's activities. This could be done initially by replacing the reviews of recordings and similar material with the television program notes already available. The inclusion of articles about prominent ABC personalities would be another possible way of giving the magazine a wider appeal.
Douglas Stott
Charlotte Samiec
6.00 - 6.30 Timeslot
Recommendation R3/2/99 - Hd National Networks
The ABC Advisory Council believes that Heartbreak High has long been a popular and important show for teenage audiences. The ABC Advisory Council is concerned that when the current series of Heartbreak High finishes the teenage audience presently viewing in that time slot may be disregarded and shows for older audiences (eg Dad's Army timeslot. The ABC Advisory Council recommends that the 6.00-6.30 pm timeslot be reserved for shows of interest to teenage audiences. If quality dramas are not available, perhaps music shows featuring clips of Australian artists (both established and emerging) could be presented or a new show could be commissioned along the lines of Triple J's Unearthed or The J-Files programs.
Charlotte Samiec
Katie Biggs
Late News Bulletin
Recommendation R4/2/99 - Hd News & Current Affairs
While the community of ABC television viewers understands that the late-night news bulletin comes out of Sydney, the ABC Advisory Council recommends that newsreaders and production staff keep in mind that non-NSW viewers may have little interest in Sydney-specific news items, and may be confused or offended by the practice of not identifying the specific location of a particular news event. The current approach may be seen as dismissive of non-NSW viewers interests, particularly in the light of the ongoing debate about centralisation of ABC resources.
Jillian Crowe
Robin Stuart-Harris
Classic FM - Review
Recommendation R5/2/99 - Hd National Networks
The ABC Advisory Council recommends that ABC management conduct a review into the program arrangements for ABC Classic FM. This should be done to determine whether the present format is the most appropriate. In particular the inclusion of radio plays and other non musical productions (eg The Listening Room) may have little public support, and the timing of programs containing less popular modern music seems questionable. The ABCAC notes that the Classic FM station in the UK is the most popular radio station in the country.
Douglas Stott
Charlotte Samiec
Inside Story
Recommendation R6/2/99 - Hd National Networks
In the Lightning Ridge programme a very small section of the community was portrayed in a negative manner, while the town is one of the most vibrant and culturally diverse communities in the country. The ABC Advisory Council recommends that when a town is profiled a wider representation of the population is featured.
Jim Salmon
Audrey Tremain
Community Consultation - AFL
Recommendation R7/2/99 - Hd Local & Regional Services and Hd National Networks
The ABC Advisory Council urges ABC Local & Regional Services and NewsRadio to better manage its community consultation processes following complaints received from Tasmanian listeners over the initial policy shift on the loss of AFL match broadcasts from ABC NewsRadio on weekends - which was subsequently overturned.
Steven Mavrigiannakis
Jillian Crowe
Welfare Issues - Regional Program
Recommendation R8/2/99 - Hd National Networks
The ABC Advisory Council notes the response from Hd National Networks on Recommendation R1/1/99 of the ABC Advisory Council. However, the Council still believes a documentary series on welfare-related issues in regional Australia should focus on regional Australia - its towns and remote communities and their problems - rather than incorporating programs on these themes as part of the overall documentary schedule.
Steven Mavrigiannakis
Audrey Tremain
Cross-Promotion
Recommendation R9/2/99 - Hd National Networks, Hd Local & Regional Services and GM Marketing
The ABC Advisory Council notes that many opportunities for promoting forthcoming television and radio broadcasts are lost because there is insufficient cross-promotion. The Council believes it would increase the listening/viewing audience if such cross-promotion were a matter of course, not by chance.
Ryan Honschooten
Jillian Crowe
The Big Picture - Australian History
Recommendation R10/2/99 - Hd National Networks
The ABC Advisory Council acknowledges the continuing high quality of The Big Picture documentary series but would like to encourage the producers to seek out or commission documentaries that focus on aspects of Australia's history.
Ryan Honschooten
Charlotte Samiec
NewsRadio - Football and Parliamentary Coverage
Recommendation R11/2/99 - Hd National Networks
The ABC Advisory Council recommends that in view of the quality and popularity of NewsRadio programming its regular schedule should not be interrupted. In particular other arrangements should be made within the ABC to cover football and Parliament.
Douglas Stott
Jillian Crowe
Equipment Failure
Recommendation R12/2/99 - Hd National Networks, Hd Local & Regional Services and Hd Technology Strategy & Development
The ABC Advisory Council would like to recommend that attention be directed towards studio equipment failure. These occurrences, notably with regard to phone systems and headphones, appear to be reaching chronic regularity. These observations are highlighted as both distracting to the listening audience and discouraging to the presenters. Of note these problems are highlighted with specific regard to Triple J's Morning Show and Tony Delroy's Nightlife.
Katie Biggs
Ed Sweeney
Commendations
International Chamber Music Competition
The ABC Advisory Council commends the producers of the television program (25/7/99) covering the International Chamber Music Competition. In a relatively short time the viewers were given an excellent overall coverage of the whole competition in an informative and entertaining way.
Play School
The ABC Advisory Council commends all involved in the production of Play School. This excellent program is enjoyed by many young children and appreciated by parents for its entertainment and educational values.
Louis Johnson Awards - Awaye & Background Briefing
The ABC Advisory Council commends Kelrick Martin and Nancia Guivarra and Anna Baras-Miller and Andrea Baker for winning the Louis Johnson Awards for excellence in the reporting of Aboriginal affairs.
Tracy Parish
The ABC Advisory Council commends and congratulates Tracy Parish for her enthusiastic and knowledgable sports coverage on television and radio; not only is she a good journalist, she also is shining light in a field more usually associated with male role models.
Inside Story - Sisters In Arms
The ABC Advisory Council commends the Inside Storyprogram, Sisters in Arms. The personal stories of these women were very moving and documented an aspect of our history which is often overlooked.
Silent Sentinels
The ABC Advisory Council commends this excellent program. It was an informative program about a very important global environmental problem.
NewsRadio - Star Stuff & Other Science News
The ABC Advisory Council commends NewsRadio and particularly Stuart Gary for the well- researched, interesting, informative and entertaining Star Stuff and other science news coverage.
Classic FM - Breakfast
The ABC Advisory Council commends Guy Noble and Felix Hayman on the ongoing high standard of the Breakfast program.
Australian Story
The ABC Advisory Council commends Australian Story for its program on Rural Doctors dedicated to Dr Heather Dalgety, commends also former journalist Susannah Lobez with her frank story on the birth of her baby and her return to the Northern Territory, and the story on Tim Fischer and his family - a great show.
2CR Radio
The ABC Advisory Council commends Lisa Hampshire of 2CR on her radio interviews, particularly those on Parkes Annual Conservation Field Day. Also Andrew Dunkley, Western Plains for his interview with a woman from the BBC and a Distance Education teacher at Dubbo and Zoe Daniel for her interviews in The Country Hour.
Kosovo Coverage
The ABC Advisory Council would like to commend Greg Wilesmith , Katie Cronin and Chris Clarke for their contribution to the coverage of the war in Kosovo . The professionalism shown, knowledge imparted and the sense of realism demonstrated their commitment to a high degree of journalistic endeavour in trying circumstances.
Friday Night
The ABC Advisory Council commends the ABC on its new initiative Mystery Night. The programs (Supernaturals, Dalziel and Pascoe and Silent Witness) are excellent programs individually, but fit together well, forming compulsory Friday evening viewing.
7ZR
The ABC Advisory Council commends the researchers, producers and presenters of 7ZR Radio in Hobart for consistently providing high quality broadcasting to the Tasmanian community.
The World Today
The ABC Advisory Council commends the team from The World Today, particularly John Highfield and Monica Attard, for presenting a well-balanced, up-to-date and well-researched news and current affairs service.
Anzac Day
The ABC Advisory Council commends Edwin Maher and the production team for the Melbourne coverage of Anzac Day ceremonies and memorial services; as the observance of the community of this day has increased there is a growing need for the type of coverage achieved.
Triple J Morning Show
The ABC Advisory Council commends the Triple J Morning Show, a program that incorporates the exploration of diverse ideas, issues and themes, alongside very popular weekly segments. The comprehensive and well regarded work of Sarah MacDonald alongside her team and the extended network of regional journalists ensures the program's excellence. The Morning Show is an appreciated source of entertainment and education by the community. The program's attention towards regional issues and community interaction are also commended.
Triple J Afternoon Show
The Triple J Afternoon Show is commended for its humour, creativity and liveliness. Merrick and Rosso are terrific hosts guiding the audience through an excellent arrangement of segments and guests. The involvement of The Sandman is an appreciated inclusion.
- Ryan Honschooten - Gosnells, WA
- Steven Mavrigiannakis - Sandy Bay, Tasmania
- Edmund Sweeney - Hunters Hill, NSW
- Associate Professor Robin Stuart-Harris - ACT (Convenor)
- Jillian Crowe - VIC
- Matthew Draper - NSW
- Lesley Bangama Fogarty - WA
- Audrey Tremain - NSW
- Douglas Stott - SA
- Katie Biggs - VIC
- Charlotte Samiec - QLD
- James Salmon - QLD
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