ABC News has announced a series of sweeping changes to its news division, as it pivots towards digital platforms.
The changes were communicated to staff on Thursday afternoon by ABC News Director, Justin Stevens, who outlined the broadcaster’s strategy to bolster its online presence and reshape its operations.
The measures proposed are expected to enhance the sustainability of ABC’s ongoing operations while bringing in much-needed digital skills.
The alterations also involve a significant shakeup of content. ABC has announced the launch of a new national format for the Sunday 7pm News, plans for the revival of Stateline to scrutinise state and territory governments and issues more closely, and the creation of a dedicated Climate, Environment and Energy Team.
The ABC Five-Year Plan 2023-28 provides the backdrop for these changes. According to the plan, by 2028, the ABC will primarily be a digital operation with the majority of its audience engagement coming through digital products. The transition is necessitated by ABC’s digital audience reach, which is anticipated to outstrip both its broadcast TV reach and radio reach for the first time this year.
The proposed changes aim to streamline News Operations’ focus from solely linear television programming to also servicing digital, on-demand content. ABC News is also proposing to integrate the NSW operations teams with current affairs programs and national and state editorial teams for a more unified approach.
Furthermore, ABC News seeks to transform its political coverage to engage audiences who are increasingly seeking their political news from other platforms and outlets, not just via linear news broadcasts. The restructure will shift resources within Canberra Parliament House to strengthen digital and social production and broaden the reach of political coverage.
ABC News is also planning to consolidate its efforts in a national bulletin for the Sunday 7pm News.
While the Sunday bulletin remains the most watched news broadcast each week, TV audiences have declined significantly in recent years in line with the drop-off in free-to-air Television. Steven’s has today indicated the change will help free resources to better serve its rapidly expanding digital and social audiences. This new national news format will still retain significant local news with the strongest state stories elevated to a national audience.
The ABC is promising significant local news would be retained with the strongest state stories elevated to a national audience.
State and territory teams would retain all reporting staff at weekends. We would have the capacity to mount additional locally based coverage for 32 bulletins a year across the country for big breaking news events such as state elections and emergency coverage.
The bulletin would be up-to-date in each market to avoid issues with timezones. Details regarding who will present the new national bulletin and its location is yet to be confirmed.
We are currently scoping all options, although I can confirm it will not be broadcast out of Ultimo.
The return of Stateline will focus on state and territory-based news and current affairs, holding state and territory governments to account. The content will be available on-demand to digital and social audiences, and via ABC iview. It will form part of an extended Friday 7PM News bulletin for broadcast audiences.
Finally, ABC News is set to form a new Climate, Environment and Energy Team to provide authoritative reporting on climate change-related issues. The broadcaster also plans to add additional dedicated digital reporting roles for News Digital to quickly scale up online reporting capacity for breaking news and big daily events.
The intent is to ensure ABC’s video and audio journalism reaches as many Australians as possible. As a part of these changes, around 40 existing positions are expected to be made redundant, while 24 new roles will be created to foster digital expertise and skills.
The proposed changes are expected to come into effect on 1 July. ABC News Director, Justin Stevens, stressed the importance of these changes for the ABC’s long-term future while acknowledging the human cost involved. He said,
“Amid the practicalities of discussing change, I want to emphasise that the human cost of this isn’t lost on any of us. Your contribution to the ABC and to the public is greatly respected and appreciated.”
