ABC claims ‘advert’ featuring an all-white line-up of news presenters is a Twitter hoax – after receiving backlash from viewers over ‘lack of diversity’
The ABC has responded to backlash from viewers over the supposed lack of diversity among its on-air talent, after an ‘advert’ for the public broadcaster’s 2021 line-up featuring only white presenters went viral on Wednesday.
A network spokesperson explained the advert in question wasn’t actually created by the ABC, and shared an alternative photo highlighting the ethnic diversity of the anchors appearing across its stations in 2021.
‘The “initial ad” was not produced by the ABC. It was an image created by someone on Twitter,’ the ABC tweeted on Thursday.
Hoax: ABC claimed the all-white lineup advert of news presenters for next season is a Twitter hoax on Wednesday. Pictured Julia Baird & Ellen Fanning
The broadcaster added: ‘We’re proud of the great, diverse talent on the ABC.’
It comes after a photo promoting an all-white lineup of presenters for ABC’s flagship programs went viral on social media.
Many viewers criticised the broadcaster for failing to cast someone racially diverse, claiming it’s ‘disappointing’ and doesn’t reflect Australian communities.
‘A very long way to go before we see our diversity on screens. Let’s remember the ABC has it in its charter that it should reflect the cultural diversity of the Australian community. So where is it?’ one person tweeted.
Response: The broadcaster explained the advert wasn’t created by the ABC and shared a photo of all the diverse presenters appearing on TV in 2021
Former Four Corners reporter Sophie McNeill also wrote: ‘It’s disappointing that my beloved ABCnews and ABCTV has still such a long way to go to ensure the network accurately reflects the Australian population #diversity #whatdiversity.’
‘Do the people who run ABC News not understand how weird this looks?’ the former deputy editor of ABC Life Osman Faruqi asked.
‘The ABC’s charter mandates a plurality of opinion but nobody seems to care about that. The ABC is supposed to represent all Australians. Nobody really believes that it does,’ one person commented.
Controversial: It comes after a photo promoting an all-white lineup of presenters for ABC’s flagship programs in 2021 went viral
Another agreed: ‘They’ve got some work to do. The diversity that does exist in ABC journalism shouldn’t be stashed away on secondary channels or moving to other networks.’
‘Particularly disappointing as I don’t believe The Heights, by far the most ethnically diverse show they had, was renewed for 2021,’ one tweeted.
ABC stars Rachel Griffiths, Wil Anderson, Tom Gleeson, Erik Thomson, Kitty Flanagan and Leigh Sales will remain with the broadcaster in 2021.
‘It’s disappointing’: Many viewers have criticised the broadcaster for failing to cast someone racially diverse, claiming it’s ‘disappointing’ and doesn’t reflect Australian communities