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ABC to open News bureau in Kabul

ABC News will open at bureau in Kabul for at least 12 months as a base for coverage of news in the Afghanistan and Pakistan region.

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The ABC will open a News bureau in Afghanistan in 2011.

The decision to establish a presence in Kabul follows a comprehensive review of the ABC’s international bureaux, and a reorganisation of bureau resources. The bureau will operate for at least 12 months as a base for coverage of news in the Afghanistan and Pakistan region.

It also follows the Federal Government recently saying Australia would be involved in the war in Afghanistan for “at least” the next decade.

“Maintaining a strong network of ABC correspondents overseas is vital to our reputation and performance as a public broadcaster” says ABC Director of News, Kate Torney, “and we need to ensure our correspondents are where the big stories are.”

“The next twelve months of the war will be crucial and the ABC’s audience has a significant interest in the region.

“It is ten years next year since 9/11 and since coalition forces arrived in Afghanistan, but the conflict is escalating. A record number of coalition troops are being deployed, and Australia’s involvement remains a major issue. After covering the region extensively through regular on-the-ground reporting, it is sensible to increase the ABC’s focus and attention.”

ABC currently has existing international bureaux in London, Washington, Jerusalem, Moscow, New Delhi, Beijing, Tokyo, Bangkok, Jakarta, Johannesburg, Auckland and Port Moresby.

Its review of bureaux will not involve the closure of any existing bureau or a reduction in the number of correspondents, but promises more efficient and flexible resourcing arrangements.

8 Responses

  1. Typical ABC News24 complainer: ‘Why aren’t they breaking news more often? Why is One Plus One on now when stuff is happening?… Hang On! They’re just giving me endless updates on what’s happening now. Where’s the variety in programming? What kind of *news* channel is this anyway?’

    [Smirk]

  2. A Kabul bureau is a good idea. Afghanistan is going to continue to be an important unfolding tragedy for some time yet.
    I can understand why people are disappointed with ABC News 24 over all. I find its fine oin short doses, but the half hous news bulletins get very repetitive very quickly. Hopefully there will be budget found to expand in te field journalists, both overseas and within Australia. So much more variety cold be had just by including some of the state based news stories in the bulletins, different stories in each bulletin rather than the same ones every time. But, really, less bulletins and more other programming is required – that’s the problem of doing a whole new channel on 0 new dollars.

  6. I agree, I continually check news24 in case something interesting is on… still waiting for something. Ok a little harsh, The Drum is good as are the Quarters.

    I think ABC should replay more of their flagship shows late at night on 24 (when there is nothing else to watch anyway) – eg. four corners, compass, media watch, Q&A etc.

  7. I agree that it focuses far too much on domestic politics – endless appearances by politicians spewing out their propaganda and commentators debating about whether this or that will play well in the electorate, not whether in fact it is good policy. Unfortunately, it is little better than Sky News and substantially worse than it on weekends.

    It need more world news, both because much of it is much more important than Australian politics and because they need more stories – at the moment it is often the same parochial stories repeated hour after hour after hour.

  8. This channel is disappointing. Everytime I tune in, all they seem to show is Australian politicians (mostly Gillard & Abbott) and not enough world news.

    You suck ABC24.

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