Why has the nationwide broadcaster despatched a solid of hundreds (effectively, practically) to cowl the monarch’s loss of life and funeral?
So how many individuals has the ABC despatched to the UK to cowl the loss of life and funeral of Elizabeth II? It’s 27, in keeping with the ABC — plus two additional journalists or former journalists who had been coincidentally in Europe on the time, who’ve been roped in to assist, together with veteran correspondent Phil Williams, who although he retired from the ABC final 12 months can’t appear to avoid the joint.
ABC Information has a workforce of “round” 12 journalists and 9 manufacturing employees within the UK, it says.
However ABC Radio has additionally despatched six individuals — three presenters (we’re instructed Virginia Trioli and Raf Epstein from ABC Melbourne and Richard Glover, ABC Sydney Drive host) and three manufacturing individuals. Crikey has been instructed Trioli, Epstein and Glover travelled enterprise class, however the ABC declined to verify this.
Why ABC Native Radio has its personal particular illustration isn’t clear given the rating of journalists and producers who’ve been individually despatched. The ABC says the presenters are “submitting tales and offering stay updates for the complete community, together with the 44 native each day breakfast reveals”. Why it takes three to do that additionally isn’t clear — Trioli, who has enormous tv expertise as effectively, or Epstein, who’s a veteran journalist, may absolutely have managed it themselves.
The ABC was at all times going to cop criticism for its protection of the queen’s loss of life — do too little, and conservatives would have belted the nationwide broadcaster but once more, whereas progressives and individuals who couldn’t care much less in regards to the monarchy would at all times have been upset with something greater than minimal protection. The precise quantity of people that may ever probably be pleased with the extent of ABC protection is more likely to be fairly small. However 27 individuals, together with three radio presenters?
Possibly Trioli may host a Q+A in London whereas she’s there. It will be more likely to be significantly better than what we’re being served up again right here.
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Gina Rushton
Information editor