‘High risk’: ABC rolls out new social media rules after Lattouf saga
By Calum Jaspan
Well-known ABC journalists are considered “high risk” in sweeping new rules introduced on Wednesday dictating what staff can and can’t say publicly, with even one-on-one conversations and WhatsApp groups considered “public” in some instances.
In comparison, the broadcaster places high-profile actors in its Screen division, or a former sports player who regularly appears on the ABC, in a lower risk category, and less likely to be viewed as a representative of the organisation.
The ABC introduced new public comment guidelines for staff on Wednesday.Credit: The Age
The ABC introduced the new “public comment guidelines” for its 4000-plus staff on Wednesday, two months after it lost a legal case against Antoinette Lattouf, who was sacked over a social media post while in casual employment at the public broadcaster.
The broadcaster’s editorial director, Gavin Fang, told staff its social media rules would be scrapped and replaced with the new guidelines, which place “long-running ABC presenters” at an even greater risk, a document shared with staff, seen by this masthead said.
The guideline documents circulated to staff outline a tightening of the rules around any comments that undermine the ability of employees to perform their role, the integrity or independence of the ABC, or that imply an endorsement of personal views.
They have been implemented with immediate effect and are endorsed by the broadcaster’s board. The ABC does not wish to unnecessarily “curtail engagement in civic life” or democracy for its employees, but what they say and do has the potential to damage the ABC’s reputation or undermine its independence or integrity, Fang said.
“The guidelines are not intended to tell ABC staff what they can do or can’t do in their personal lives. They set out the standards the ABC expects staff will meet when making public comments that intersect with their professional lives, and make clear how the ABC will manage situations where the standards may not have been met.”
ABC news boss Justin Stevens addressed staff about the new guidelines.Credit: Janie Barrett
The ABC was asked to clarify whether Lattouf’s December 2023 post, which cited a Human Rights Watch report that claimed Israel was using starvation as a weapon of war, would be in breach of the new guidelines. A spokesperson said they would not comment on particular instances.
Staff were told that signing a petition, writing a letter, messaging a WhatsApp group or even speaking in a group with as few as just one other person may be considered “public”, depending on the circumstances.
Some examples included an ABC journalist advising activists on an issue they are reporting on how to respond to the media or a corporate affairs worker publicly endorsing a political candidate.
In a separate email, the ABC’s News boss, Justin Stevens, urged staff to consider what they say publicly, with a compromised public perception of its impartiality hurting “all of us at the ABC – and the organisation itself”.
“There are plenty of media outlets where you can be as publicly partial, political and opinionated as you like – the ABC isn’t one of them,” Stevens said.
“We all have unconscious biases. The notion that only certain groups are at risk of this, such as people from culturally diverse backgrounds, is blinkered and offensive. We all have to challenge our own automatic assumptions, reactions and beliefs.”
Under the new guidelines, senior leaders, journalists and editorial decision makers are considered high risk, while actors, artists, performers and others not seen as representing the ABC’s brand are lower risk. The guidelines apply to all workers at the ABC while they are engaged by the organisation.
Fang and Stevens acknowledged that ABC staff, particularly culturally diverse, Indigenous staff and women were targeted over comments they made in public.
“The fact is, most ABC staff are incredibly disciplined. There isn’t a major problem to solve. It’s mainly clarifying what you already know and do instinctively day to day,” Stevens said.
“I want to assure you we’re well aware that ABC staff can be the victims of online trolling or bullying and that some groups, particularly CALD [culturally and linguistically diverse] staff, Indigenous staff and women, are often targeted for complaints about their public comments – including by external media and via social media pile-ons.
“While we expect legitimate scrutiny, at times there has appeared to be organised monitoring of the personal social media accounts of some ABC employees for potential ‘gotcha’ moments.”
The ABC lost the case against Lattouf in June after spending more than $1 million on legal fees. Justice Darryl Rangiah found the ABC had unlawfully sacked Lattouf from her position as radio host in a “state of panic”, following complaints from pro-Israel lobbyists over her views on the conflict in Gaza. The ABC was ordered to pay Lattouf $70,000.
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