On Aunty

On Series (Little Books, Big Ideas)

by Jonathan Holmes

Australia's public broadcaster, 'Aunty', is about to turn 90, yet your ABC has seldom been in this much trouble: budget cuts, ferocious political pressure, sagging staff morale, leadership chaos and hostile commercial rivals.

Meanwhile audiences are deserting broadcast TV and radio. What is the ABC's place in this era of media disruption? Can it reach a younger audience on new platforms while still satisfying its loyal fans?

Genres: Nonfiction

200 pages, Paperback

Published March 5, 2019

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a world where people will watch Married At First Sight in preference to Four Corners, it's more important than ever that the ABC remain a 'public' asset. Some might claim it's not independent but I shudder at the commercial options. Jonathan Holmes is clearly a fan of his 'old home' but doesn't sugarcoat the many problems the ABC faces and it really does need to get its act together administratively - good luck Ita! Holmes probably best sums it all up in a few lines: "like democracy itself, the ABC may not be perfect, but in an age of disintegrating consensus, it is far better than the alternative."

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slightly dated though this essay is (it was written directly following the resignations of both the Chair of the ABC, Justin Milne, and Managing Director, Michelle Guthrie in 2019), Holmes’ engaging essay looks at the difficulties the ABC (Australia’s public broadcaster) faces heading into its 90th year of existence. Holmes charts the way the ABC faces increasing pressure from political interference, budget cuts, staffing issues, leadership instability and its role in a rapidly changing media landscape. He pulls no punches in dissecting the pros and cons of the ABC – it’s incredible and unrivalled journalistic strengths, as well as it’s missteps and mistakes over the past few years. What I found most interesting about this essay was the considered way Holmes outlines the reasons why the future of the ABC is uncertain. This isn’t due to the unending political interference it seems increasingly subject to, but the fact that traditional media like the ABC is dying due to free high quality streaming and online production. Holmes asks how the ABC can hold onto older viewers while attracting new and younger ones through its digital platforms, effectively asking what the role of the organisation is in the twenty first century. Thought provoking and never more important.

[cassielaura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Change management how tos