ABC coverage of King Charles III’s coronation is slammed as ‘jarring and distracting’ but did NOT breach standards – after 1800 complaints were made to the broadcaster
The ABC ombudsman has found the national broadcaster’s coverage of King Charles III’s Coronation was ‘jarring and distracting’.
It was not, however, in breach of editorial standards around impartiality, the ombudsman said in a finding released on Thursday.
The ABC has received 1832 complaints about its coverage that featured a discussion around Indigenous issues well before the ceremony, to which more than a million people tuned into the network to watch.
The ABC received more than 1800 complaints about it’s coverage of the King’s Coronation but more than a million people tuned in
The complaints were in reference to a segment running from 5.15 to 6pm in which a panel discussed ‘critical perspectives on the role of the Monarchy in modern Australia’ as early guests were arriving at Westminster Abbey.
The ombudsman said: ‘While the ABC should on all occasions be fair, accurate and open minded, the impartiality standards do not require that every perspective receives equal time, nor that every facet of every argument is presented’.
The panel was hosted by Jeremy Fernandez and Julia Baird, republic movement co-chair Craig Foster, and MP Julian Leeser, one of the Liberal Party’s advocates of a Voice to Parliament.
The coverage also featured Stan Grant who very publicly stepped down as Q+A host last week after racism against him intensified following his appearance.
The ombudsman’s report noted multiple ‘conservative voices’ were invited to appear on the segment to present opposing views but declined.
More to come
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