The classic movie NETWORK, based on life in a TV newsroom, included the quote “I’m as mad as hell and I’m not going to take it any more”. It would seem the ABC’s MICHAEL ROWLAND feels the same way.
Rowland is known as one of the nicest guys on TV, but just like everyone he has a breaking point. While it’s not unusual for opinion columnists in The Australian to attack the ABC they are probably not used to someone of Rowland’s calibre fighting back.
The trouble began in an article published Monday where Chris Mitchell was complaining there were not enough voices of the political right on the ABC. This is not an uncommon complaint against the ABC from The Australian.
Mitchell then made a personal attack against Rowland by saying;
Trying to improve understanding of its market, I like managing director David Anderson’s plan to get more journalists and programs to travel to the regions. Yet Rowland on News Breakfast on Thursday underscored the critics’ point about its inner-city latte culture. Telling viewers he would broadcast from Wollongong next morning he said he’d see “how good the coffee in Wollongong is” on Friday at 5.45am. Man of the people.
Rowland pasted a screen grab of the paragraph to his twitter account with the comment;
It’s a shame Chris Mitchell didn’t watch us on Friday to hear the views of the people of Wollongong, but that of course would destroy the narrative. I’m sure more people in the Gong watch and listen to the ABC than read the shitty rag he writes for. (The coffee’s great, BTW)
The use of the phrase “shitty rag” is an unusual step for an ABC presenter and really does draw a line in the sand between the two warring outlets (although to be fair the animosity stems from a string of attacks from The Australian).
Recently retired Insiders host Barry Cassidy also entered the fray;
That’s so typical of the puerile analysis Mitchell is known for. Criticism. You drink coffee. They don’t drink coffee at the Oz?
While many will applaud Rowland’s stand it will be interesting to see what ABC management think of his comments and whether it inspires more attacks from The Australian (although that would have happened anyway).
One thing’s for sure; Michael Rowland is as mad as hell and he’s not going to take it any more.
Good for him!
Co-Creator and Editor of the TV Blackbox website, Robert McKnight is highly regarded Australian Television Producer, he has worked at SEVEN, NINE and TEN, and is most well-known for creating and producing STUDIO 10. Currently Rob is the host and producer of the TV Blackbox, McKnight Tonight and Monsters Who Murder podcasts.
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