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Axed: Australia Wide

ABC denies axing of regional program is in response to criticism of host Yassmin Abdel-Magied.

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ABC has denied the axe falling on ABC News program Australia Wide is in response to criticism of host Yassmin Abdel-Magied.

The series has been in production since 2015 for News 24, but Yassmin Abdel-Magied has come under fire for ANZAC Day comments made on social media and a Q&A appearance.

Fairfax reports staff were recently told the show was ending as part of ABC restructure, but a spokesperson denied it was a way of shunting Abdel-Magied.

“This decision has been under consideration for some time and was not to do with any controversy over presenter Yassmin Abdel-Magied,” she said. “Yassmin was aware the program was under review, and we are discussing with her future opportunities at the ABC.”

However there are deeper concerns about coverage of long-form regional stories produced for the show, which will move to ABC News.

Australia Wide covered stories “From the city streets to the urban centres and beyond, our best reporters look behind the stories that make the news…..It’s about where we live, the lives we lead and the things that challenge and unite us.”

“The loss of Australia Wide sets the direction for cuts to other long-form programs like Lateline,” one staffer told Fairfax. “We’re seeing camera and sound positions disappear across the country, diminishing broadcast capability. What will be left in small cities like Hobart, Darwin and Adelaide?”

Australia Wide‘s last episode is set to air on July 1.

10 Responses

  1. Ok, ignore the fact she is the host- this is, as Tex said, changes which show the ABC skewing to the Sydney centric audience.
    Australia Wide was created in part to takeover some of Landline and some of 7:30/7:30 State Edition. This trend isn’t good, especially when the ABC seems to be one of the only networks supporting rural Australia at the moment!

  2. What?…No….I love this show…and the young women is engaging and cheerful…Just when I think the ABC is settling…they do something else to annoy me…So not happy…..

  4. That’s a pity – it was a pretty good round-up of the various state’s local news / current affairs / general interest, and Yassmin was a pretty engaging host.

    Of course, none of that was ever going to suit either the usual suspects or the increasingly Sydbourne-centric ABC, so it’s not surprising to see it get the chop…

      1. I did, she was the autocue reader between some human interest stories…. don’t worry rumour has it rhat the ABC is looking for other “opportunities” for her

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