The ABC has hired a former Greens candidate to serve as deputy editor of a new lifestyle section of the public broadcaster’s website.
Osman Faruqi, who ran in the 2015 NSW election, is believed to have left his position at pop culture and news website Junkee for ABC, which announced this week it is restructuring its eight newsrooms to fit the ‘the modern media environment’.
An ABC spokesman told The Australian Mr Faruqi, the son of Greens MP Mehreen Faruqi, will be included in ‘a new digital storytelling project created to reach new audiences in an innovative and engaging way’.
Osman Faruqi (pictured), who ran as Greens candidate in the 2015 NSW election, has been hired as the deputy editor of a new lifestyle section of ABC’s website
The spokesman declined to comment on Mr Faruqi’s left-leaning political preferences, the publication said.
Mr Faruqi is in a legal battle with Mark Latham regarding comments the former Labor leader made on his ‘Outsiders’ YouTube program.
Mr Faruqi launched defamation proceedings seeking damages and legal costs after Mr Latham reportedly accused Mr Faruqi of ‘anti-white racism’.
Up to 20 employees will be made redundant during the restructuring of ABC’s newsrooms.
Mr Faruqi (pictured) is believed to have left his position at pop culture and news website Junkee for the public broadcaster
Mr Faruqi (pictured) is in a legal battle with Mark Latham regarding comments the former Labor leader made on his ‘Outsiders’ YouTube program
‘While our newsrooms do great work, the current structures do not fully support our people to meet modern audience need,’ Director, News, Analysis & Investigations Gaven Morris said in a press release on Monday.
‘Reshaping our newsrooms involves challenges. Overall, it is anticipated around 20 positions would become redundant, and we know this would be painful.
‘Against this, new senior editorial roles would be introduced to add to the expertise and skills in the newsroom. At the end of this process we anticipate having the same number of editorial employees.’
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the ABC for comment.