Source : THE AGE NEWS
The biggest beneficiary of Media Watch’s take-down of Kim Williams on Monday was the ABC’s new managing director.
Hugh Marks was handed a serendipitous free-kick by the program’s new host Linton Besser and his team, winning points by backing his journalists publicly and ensuring everyone, including Williams, know that there’s a new sheriff in town.
Williams is alleged to have intervened on a number of occasions on behalf of comedian Austen Tayshus (real name Sandy Gutman), helping him secure a number of interviews on the ABC’s regional radio network, which in turn promoted his touring shows.
ABC chair Kim Williams (left) and ABC managing director Hugh Marks. Credit: Monique Westermann
Media Watch reported that in August, Gutman called Williams, an old acquaintance of his, claiming he had been turned down for interviews because he was Jewish. On two occasions, Williams helped overturn local editorial decisions not to host Gutman.
It was a gift for Marks, who has seized the moment and set a clear marker in the newly minted relationship between him and Williams. It’s a professional pairing that needs to endure for at least the next four years as Williams carries through with his planned makeover of the public broadcaster.
In Marks and Williams, the ABC has arguably got two of the biggest names in Australian media management running the show. Both have had stints at the top of the country’s two largest commercial media companies, and are experienced in navigating a tricky relationship with strong-headed chairs – Rupert Murdoch at News Corp for Williams, and Peter Costello for Marks at Nine.
Now, they take on a different beast at the ABC, and their biggest shareholder isn’t a financial institution or a media baron in New York – it’s the Australian public.
Williams has been in the thick of things since he landed the chair’s gig. While forceful in his defence of the broadcaster, he hasn’t been shy making his feelings known about what needs to improve.
Marks was appointed managing director in December, and he wouldn’t have got the job if Williams didn’t think there was a shared vision there. Everyone with a vested interest has waited with bated breath to see how these two strong and forceful executives would work together – and who would be first to cede ground to the other.
Marks has been media-shy since taking on the role in March, but he got his chance this week. Using his appearance on ABC Radio Melbourne on Wednesday to stake his claim, it could prove a turning point of his tenure.
He addressed Peter Dutton’s “hate media” comments as disappointing and no laughing matter, while also admitting the ABC doesn’t always get everything right.
But he doubled down on the comments he made to Media Watch, asserting himself, not Williams, as the executive with operational control, labelling Williams “advocate-in-chief”, alongside his job running the board.
“Kim and I are very clear. Kim’s responsibility is to run the board and to be the advocate-in-chief for the ABC … management needs to have the ability to run the organisation. The board exists, and proper governance to review what management does. Kim does not have any question with that. That’s very clear.”
Comedian Austen Tayshus says he’s sorry about the fallout for Kim Williams.
Williams had a period of grace to effectively run the ABC before Marks’ arrival. The previous managing director David Anderson’s final few months were affected by an unfortunate stint of medical leave.
ABC staff regularly share stories of Williams’ enthusiasm for the broadcaster, particularly Radio National, which they refer to as his “baby”. Williams himself admits to carrying a copy of the ABC charter at all times.
In essence, the saga with Gutman was entirely avoidable. Williams told Media Watch the pair are nothing more than acquaintances. Gutman is someone he met through his former wife, Kathy Lette, many years ago.
But within a few calls, it became evident Gutman had used the accusation of antisemitism before when he does not get his way, as he is alleged to have done to Williams in August last year. He accused a prominent ABC host of being an antisemite when they turned him down some months ago, the host tells this masthead, declining to be named.
Asked if he recalls this, Gutman tells this masthead he doesn’t know.
“I do hundreds of interviews across the country […] maybe I said something. I don’t know.”
But he reasserts he was right in passing on his views of the ABC’s bias against Israel to Williams. His public Facebook account shows he is an overt supporter of Israel, with dozens of daily posts amid promotional material for his comedy shows.
He admits it did occur to him, he was “pushing it, in terms of protocol” and says he is sorry for the fallout it has caused for Williams.
Williams was right to have been wary, given the harm that previous interventions by a chair have wreaked on the ABC’s reputation. The crisis prompted by Antoinette Lattouf’s sacking has tarnished the legacy of former chair Ita Buttrose and former managing director David Anderson.
But how he handled the Austen Tayshus saga has been a major misstep by Williams, and on Wednesday, Marks was expressing contrition on his behalf.
“The lesson, I think, it’s obviously had a real impact on Kim. He is very distressed by any notion that he’s in any way put the ABC’s reputation at jeopardy.”
Asked by Ali Moore if this would happen again, Marks was clear. “No, I don’t think it will.”
The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.
