Micallef clip in ABC News an “editorial error”
Micallef in Mad as Hell = funny. Micallef in ABC News = stupid.
- Published by David Knox
- on
In what could possibly be viewed as life imitating art, ABC has admitted that screening a Mad as Hell sketch in its ABC midday news was an “Editorial error.”
Last Wednesday ABC News aired a sketch in which Shaun Micallef made mirth of Federal Health Minister, Sussan Ley’s plans to replace the Government’s GP co-payment proposal.
Screening in a 12pm news bulletin stretched credulity and was deemed by Media Watch to be a shameless cross-promotion, especially given the show was airing later that night.
An ABC spokesperson agreed, telling Media Watch:
The Midday news program has a different format and a broader editorial brief than other news
programs.
It occasionally includes some discussion or review, for example a regular discussion with the Editor of The Drum website about the latest articles and commentary.
However, the inclusion of the Micallef satirical clip in the Midday news bulletin was not appropriate and was an editorial error.
It is appropriate to cross-promote another ABC program if content from that program has been used in a news program but the Micallef clip was not appropriate.
You can say that again…
It also screened on ABC News 24’s Morning News and ABC News Breakfast.
“I’m a great fan of Micallef. I also like ABC News. But putting satirical attacks on the Government in a news bulletin is really not funny,” said host Paul Barry.
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- Tagged with ABC News, ABC News Breakfast, Media Watch, Shaun Micallef's Mad as Hell
6 Responses
I was pretty disappointed when I found out about this. It’s exactly the sort of thing that we give the commercials stick for. However, it’s pleasing to see that they’ve owned up to this error of judgement quickly instead of trying to justify it or simply blustering as everyone else who ends up on Media Watch does.
I’d rather watch Micallef than the news.
I’ll take Micallef’s interpretation of news over that of Seven and Nine’s any day.
Absolutely…..spot on!
ABC News is not the place for satire or cross promotion. Leave this for the commercial networks.
It was both biting and funny but the sketch wasn’t news-more like the nonsense that passes for it on the commercial channels-whilst ABC does the cross promotion thing on the morning breakfast show, it has no place in serious news.