Published • loading... • Updated
ABC Investigative Program Found in Breach of Standards
The report made seven recommendations and the ABC said it has begun implementing them after withdrawing the two episodes.
- On Tuesday, ABC Ombudsman Fiona Cameron released a report finding two Four Corners episodes, "Cocaine Nation" and "Meth Highway," fronted by sacked reporter Mahmood Fazal, breached editorial standards for accuracy and independence.
- The ombudsman identified a culture of "limiting knowledge" regarding anonymous sources and inadequate fact-checking, with management failing to properly interrogate contributors before broadcast.
- Media Watch reported Sydney-based rapper Charissa Habkouk played the masked cocaine dealer featured in both episodes, which Cameron deemed "materially misleading" to audiences about contributor reliability.
- The ABC accepted all seven ombudsman recommendations, including amending anonymity policies and providing editorial training; the broadcaster previously terminated Fazal in May and withdrawn five of his episodes.
- Senior managers including Jo Puccini and Justin Stevens have departed the ABC, while managing director Hugh Marks recently rejected separate ACMA findings regarding an unrelated Four Corners program.
Insights by Ground AI
13 Articles
13 Articles
Four Corners episodes breached ABC's editorial standards, ombudsman finds
The ABC's Four Corners program had insufficient verification and fact-checking and a culture of "limiting knowledge" about anonymous sources, its independent ombudsman has found, identifying breaches of editorial standards in two stories by sacked reporter Mahmood Fazal.
·Ultimo, Australia
Read Full Article
Australia news live: ABC watchdog criticises factchecking and ‘culture of secrecy’ at Four Corners
‘Culture of secrecy’ and ‘inadequate factchecking’ at Four Corners criticised by ABC watchdog A culture of secrecy and inadequate factchecking at the ABC’s leading investigative program has been criticised by an independent watchdog, Australian Associated Press reports. The ABC ombudsman yesterday found two episodes of the Four Corners program led by a bikie turned journalist […]
Coverage Details
Total News Sources13
Leaning Left7Leaning Right2Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution64% Left
Bias Distribution
- 64% of the sources lean Left
64% Left
L 64%
C 18%
R 18%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
