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ABC questioned over Julia Zemiro tweet

Tweets by contractors not directly employed by ABC are still causing the broadcaster their share of headaches.

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ABC Managing Director David Anderson has conceded to some frustration over contractors, employed by ABC partners, using social media.

In a Senate Estimates hearing last night Anderson was questioned over tweets Julia Zemiro made about NSW and Federal governments.

Use of social media by ABC employees has been an ongoing headache for ABC management, with the broadcaster reminding staff not to damage ABC’s reputation for impartiality and independence.

Zemiro is employed by producers CJZ for the final season of Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery, but is not a direct ABC employee.

“When it comes to personal use of social media, it is an employment matter,” David Anderson told NSW Liberal Senator Andrew Bragg.

“It’s different to what we do when we publish an editorial issue on our own platforms. We do look at these on a case by case basis when they are referred to us.”

He pointed out that Julia Zemiro is not a journalist but an external presenter in light entertainment.

“She is hired by CJZ to make the program for the ABC. What you’re describing, Senator is what we’re having to deal with, and that is that dealing with people who aren’t in the direct employ of the ABC that otherwise might be affiliated with the ABC,” said Anderson.

“They’re things that we will follow up with… things that we don’t want to see. And in the end, when somebody is removed from you and not your direct employee, then there’s obviously less control that you have over their behaviour when it comes to the ABC.”

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  3. The issue with ABC staff was that they were using their positions, staff and personal accounts to make ad hominem attacks against Coalition MPs, and getting sued for defamation. Which violated the ABC’s requirement for the appearance of objectivity and now it’s social media and legal policies. The ABC could use contracts to force CJZ to implement similar policies the question is why on Earth would the Coalition want that? Corporations are increasingly using HR policies, NDAs and social media policies to control what their employees can say, and what political activities are permissible. This is not not in the interests of a party the supports individual rights, and they certainly aren’t gaining from it. Zemiro is perfectly entitled to tell everyone how she intends to vote. And I doubt anyone will be surprised. Though she probably lives in a save Green or ALP seat so it doesn’t matter anyway.

  4. … the reality of this problem is that it is another self-inflicted wound … when I went back to the ABC as a presenter in 2011, along with all other “on-air” staff I was advised by state management that they had set up a log-in for me on the ABC TweetDeck and instructed me to open my own personal Twitter account and “tweet something every day” … many people did just that and the first reaction by management was a panicky order to not include their own personal opinions … needless to say that didn’t work and the problem has escalated ever since … not only that, but all reporter supers on news programs carried their Twitter handle together with the commercial Twitter logo which itself was in breach of the ban on advertising …

  5. this is getting ridiculous. What next? Going to chase up the cleaners’ social media accounts to see if they say any nasty words about the government? For a party that screams about being for freedom of speech they seem to have incredibly fragile glass jaws.

    1. People are entitled to share their views especially as a sub-contractor.
      I am not sure why funding should be rescinded. I agree freedom of speech and Social media is a platform for people to share their views navigating and adhering to company directives is one aspect, but is it a form of censorship?

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