A high-profile political journalist in ABC’s Parliament House bureau has revealed her new job after she quit over the public broadcaster’s Israel-Hamas conflict coverage.
Nour Haydar, who joined the ABC as a cadet in 2017 before rising to the ranks as a political reporter in Canberra in 2019, has featured prominently across the broadcaster’s online, radio and TV channels – even hosting Afternoon Briefing and appearing on its flagship breakfast TV program.
She told Nine Entertainment on Friday the decision followed scrutiny from staff at the ABC over the coverage of the conflict in the Gaza Strip, along with its treatment of culturally-diverse staff.
Just hours after her resignation was made public, The Guardian Australia announced she would be joining the left-wing media group as part of its Full Story podcast team.
‘I’m excited to be joining the Guardian Australia team and embracing a different type of storytelling,’ Haydar said.
‘I’m looking forward to crafting high quality and engaging interviews, stories and investigations for Full Story listeners that reflect the diversity of Australia.
‘Now more than ever there is a need for rigorous, nuanced and courageous journalism – and Full Story offers a unique platform to do this.’
Former star ABC journalist Nour Haydar has revealed she will be working for the left-leaning newspaper The Guardian on a new podcast series
Ms Haydar (pictured) said the decision to resign was prompted partly by the national broadcaster’s treatment of ‘culturally diverse staff’
She will be the co-host of the daily podcast alongside Jane Lee and is replacing Laura Murphy-Oates, who was chosen for an Atlantic Fellowship for Indigenous Social Equity.
Ms Haydar, 35, who is of Lebanese heritage, resigned from her position in the Parliament House bureau on Thursday
‘I have resigned from the ABC. This was not a decision that I made lightly, but one I made with total clarity,’ she said.
‘Commitment to diversity in the media cannot be skin deep. Culturally diverse staff should be respected and supported even when they challenge the status quo.
‘Death and destruction on the scale we have seen over recent months has made me reassess my priorities.’
In a statement on Friday, an ABC spokesperson described the Israel-Gaza conflict as ‘a difficult story to cover’.
Ms Haydar joined the ABC as a cadet in 2017 before rising through the ranks as a political reporter in Canberra in 2019
‘The ABC News workforce and journalism is the most representative it has ever been, and we’re continuing to progress. Including a range of voices and perspectives makes our journalism better and more accurate,’ the spokesperson said.
‘The Israel-Gaza conflict is a complex and difficulty story to cover and we understand and care about the particular personal and professional challenges it involves for journalists.
‘The ABC is committed to accuracy, impartiality and fairness in our Israel-Gaza coverage, as in all our reporting.
‘The ABC constantly strives to support and defend ABC employees and their work, internally and externally.’
The move follows a difficult week for the national broadcaster after sacked radio presenter Antoinette Lattouf on Thursday accused the ABC of racism and discriminating against people of colour.
Ms Lattouf (pictured) alleges that she was sacked by the ABC because she expressed a political opinion and also because of her race
Ms Lattouf, who was dropped from her role in December, has since lodged an unfair dismissal claim with the Fair Work Commission (FWC).
The broadcaster has faced internal criticism after staff raised concerns about the state of the ABC’s ‘pro-Israel’ coverage of the conflict between Israel and Hamas since October 7 last year.
During a meeting in November, initiated by editorial policy manager Mark Maley, staff raised issues around the broadcaster’s refusal to use phrases like ‘invasion’ and ‘occupation’ during their coverage.
Others said the coverage had impacted their relationships with communities and their abilities to do their jobs.
Ms Lattouf, an award-winning journalist who worked as a fill-in host for Sydney’s Mornings radio slot and ABC Sydney in December, is being represented by decorated workplace lawyer Josh Bornstein in her claim against the broadcaster.
Ms Haydar’s move comes after ABC fill-in presenter Antoinette Lattouf (pictured) was dropped from her fill-in role last year, allegedly over a series of social media posts she made
Her claim has been amended to allege she was sacked on December 20 ‘because she expressed a political opinion and also because of her race’.
‘Ms Lattouf was summoned to a meeting with senior management and told she was terminated immediately, because she had reposted a Human Rights Watch (HRW) social media post alleging the Israeli government is using starvation as a weapon of war in Gaza,’ a statement from Maurice Blackburn lawyers alleges.
‘ABC news also reported these same claims by the reputable human rights organisation.
‘Since October 7 and the ensuing conflict in the Middle East, it has become notorious in the media industry that Arab and Muslim journalists are being intimidated, censored and sacked.’
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