Ita Buttrose to appoint Lee Lin Chin as ABC boss
Exclusive: Secret meetings reveal Ita's choice for managing director.
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under News, Top Stories
EXCLUSIVE: Ita Buttrose is set to appoint Lee Lin Chin as ABC Managing Director in her first move since becoming Chair of the ABC Board.
TV Tonight understands secret meetings have taken place with the former SBS news presenter, as Buttrose seeks to lead ABC into a progressive and inclusive era.
Chin left SBS in July, capping off 30 years experience in public broadcasting. Known for her knowledge, directness, sense of humour and striking fashion sense, Chin’s appointment is believed to have enthused beleaguered ABC staff looking to shrug off the fallout of Michelle Guthrie’s sacking.
Industry has been awaiting a permanent managing director after David Anderson assumed the role in an acting capacity.
“Ita wants to make a statement with her first move as ABC Chair,” an insider revealed.
“Lee Lin Chin ticks plenty of boxes and can do no wrong. She’s wildly-popular across all demographics, but don’t dismiss the fact she has 3 decades behind the scenes at a public broadcaster. She’s like a font of knowledge, she knows where the bodies are buried. She’ll be able to charm the politicians and nobody will ever want to be seen as the bad guy.
“It’s a genius bloody move.”
‘Wildly-popular’ is an understatement. Chin has a social media following at over 250,000 followers. In February she joked about assuming the role on Twitter, which caught the eye of ABC insiders.
Dear @ABCaustralia I see you’re taking applications for a new Managing Director. I shan’t be applying. A queen doesn’t apply for jobs, she is offered them. I look forward to your forthcoming deal memo.
— Lee Lin Chin (@LeeLinChin) February 16, 2019
Buttrose is believed to have wooed the former SBS doyenne over cocktails and Uber Eats.
“Yes I will accept Ms. Buttrose’s coronation. I deserve it,” Lee Lin Chin said.
“I have further agreed to selfies with my minions in the ABC foyer, strictly between the hours of 2 and 3pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.”
Yet while Buttrose is also hoping to push Chin into an on-air role, the former SBS World News presenter is having none of it.
“I plan to move into my office, listen to all the ideas from middle management while having a cucumber face mask and then dismiss them all,” she said.
“From there I’ll just wing it.”
#ManaChinDirector
Image: Roberto Parlavecchio
54 Responses
So funny, I almost wrote a Congratulatory comment for LLC. Who knows Ita might just hire her in some capacity.
You b______, Mr Knox. You sucked me right in. Brilliant.
Your AFD article was exposed this morning at 9.30 on studio 10. You need to have a word with them
It’s all good!
If only this were true. Lee Lin would bring much flare and fabulousness to old Aunty. And ‘It’s Raining Men’ as ABC’s new news theme!
Brilliantly written, very witty, and who knows ?maybe it will come true.
I was completely fooled by the Big Brother one last year so I was extra vigilant when checking the site today!
Ahh not as good as last year’s Lisa Wilkinson/Big Brother article. Which was brilliant and sucked me in for basically the entire read. ?
Your comments brought back memories of another April Fools’ joke a couple of years ago (which I believe was on TV Tonight) in regards to advertisements being introduced on the ABC.
Hats off to another great April Fools prank. Look forward to April 1 2020.
Thanks David, Saw the headline, but didn;ty manage to read the article until 11:30 am Qld time. Always love these, still sounded plausible, loved the Uber Eats reference and the tweet gave it credibility 😉
Came here for the annual AFD gotcha. Easy to spot. But in reading the article, the first half of it reads as fact. We are not worthy. You should get a job with the Daily Mail writing Fake News.
That’s the way these roll ever year…. start out as “faction” and get more absurd by the end.
I loved the #ManaChinDirector.
Happy April Fool’s, thanks for playing again.
Once again, a good idea presented, cruelly marred by today’s date.
Fabulous news. I for one bow down to our new overlord Madame Chin.
Well done David, another great AFD story!
Whats the date?
happy april fools day to you all!
You can’t fool me David, I was waiting with baited breath for your annual April Fools post and this has got to be it. A classic once again 🙂
happy 1st of april
I hope Lee Lin includes the ABC foyers of every state and capital and not just Sydney for her selfies haha. Happy April Fools Day David 🙂
Apparently she’s considering introducing commercial breaks purely for UberEats advertisements
Two hours after reading this I suddenly realised what day it was. Thanks for the laugh
Congratulations Lee Lin Chin! ?? She’ll be an improvement to the ABC. Oh wait a minute, it’s a joke. Happy April Fool’s David! ?
Happy April Fools Day. You got me right to the very end. Then I thought , hmmm hang on this is too hilarious
If only it was true. At least Lee Lin gets what public broadcasting is.
Was wondering David what your April Fools story would be this year. Was thinking it might have been Lisa and Karl to reunite on Today Show.
Best One Ever!