ABC boss Ita Buttrose is blasted for calling Indigenous Australians ‘Aborigines’ in a speech – breaching the broadcaster’s own guidelines
- Former ABC journalist lashed out the the current ABC boss over use of language
- Jennetta Quinn-Bates upset Ita Buttrose used word ‘Aborigine’ in major speech
- ABC’s style guide recommends against using ‘Aborigine’ unless in a quote
ABC boss Ita Buttrose has been called out for breaching the broadcaster’s own guide lines and using the outdated word ‘Aborigine’ in a speech to thousands of colleagues.
Former ABC and NITV journalist Jennetta Quinn-Bates tagged the ABC chair on social media after she used the word during a high-profile media industry lecture.
Buttrose made the faux pas during her keynote speech at the Andrew Olle Media Lecture black tie dinner in the The Ivy Ballroom in Sydney on Friday evening.
She said Mr Olle’s work on TV and radio would ‘tell the stories of Aborigines, the mentally ill, the poor and the powerless.’
She immediately came under fire for using the term.
Former ABC and NITV journalist Jennetta Quinn-Bates tagged Ita Buttrose on social media after the ABC boss used the word ‘Aborigines’ to describe Indigenous people during a high-profile media lecture
Ita Buttrose has been called out for ignoring her own guidebook and using the outdated word ‘Aborigine’ in a key speech in front of thousands of colleagues
Ms Quinn-Bates, a Malyangapa Barkindji woman and former ABC journalist, posted a critical thread in response on twitter.
Ms Quinn-Bates also posted a link to official ABC editorial guidelines which state staff should ‘Avoid using Aborigine outside of quotes’.
‘I’m out here tweeting to ABC chair Ita Buttrose!’ Ms Quinn-Bates sniped. ‘I guess when you’re [the] big dog you probably edit your own work.
‘You would think [she] would be familiar with the policies and standards of the organisation they chair.’
She said ‘Aunty Ida’ would probably say the rulebook is just a guide, ‘but still, some respect please’.
‘First Nations people’ is the politically-correct term and is even replacing ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’.
Some have called on the media to abandon the use of the term ‘Aborigine’, which is a compound of two Latin words.
The ABC appeared to have consigned the word to history in its editorial style guide, which included guidelines on Indigenous content from 2015 and was updated last year.
It has been claimed the continued use of the outdated word has ‘negative effects on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ self-esteem and mental health’.
Ms Quinn-Bates sniped that Ita Buttrose should be familiar with her own policies and probably edited her own work because she is ‘the big dog’
One Aboriginal man on social media disagreed with Ms Quinn-Bates.
‘Fill me in why I’m suppose to be offended? As an ‘Aboriginal man’ myself, I never understood why we where referred to as indigenous vs my and my family’s preference as Aboriginal?’
The ABC chair’s mistake came the day after the national broadcaster’s newly-appointed director of news apologised over claims of racism by staff.
This week Justin Stevens’ the ABC’s new director of news issued an apology after some staff claimed to have been victims of racism.
‘To anyone in News who has ever experienced any racism or bigotry in our workplace, current and former News employees, as Director, News I would like to express my sorrow for that and make a heartfelt apology,’ he said in an email to staff.
An internal review of workplace culture at the ABC found First Nations employees felt undervalued, ignored and discriminated against.
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