ABC boss: “I apologise to Stan”

ABC Managing Director David Anderson has apologised to Stan Grant after the Q+A host said he felt unsupported by ABC management following ABC’s Coronation coverage.

Grant is standing down from the show following a tirade of abuse online.

In a note to staff Anderson said, “The experiences of ABC presenter and commentator Stan Grant following our coverage of the Coronation of King Charles III have been distressing and confronting for the ABC, as they should be for the entire media industry and the broader community.

“Racism must never be tolerated, and I am dismayed that Stan has been exposed to such sickening behaviour.

“Stan has our full support. And he has always had our full support. Stan makes an enormous contribution to conversations of national importance.

“The role of the ABC includes providing content and programs that contribute to a sense of national identity, inform and entertain, reflect Australia’s cultural diversity and represent the diversity of perspectives held across the community.

“Sometimes this means facilitating conversations that can be uncomfortable, challenging and even confronting. If we did not do this, we would not be doing our job. This can sometimes result in strong reactions. Unfortunately, it is increasingly drawing unacceptable abuse, particularly online and through social media.

“The ABC is never above scrutiny or criticism. However, the nature of the anti-ABC reporting from some commercial media outlets is sustained and vitriolic. This has real-world consequences for ABC presenters and journalists who are personally attacked and vilified.”

Anderson did not name those media outlets.

In a column last Friday Grant said after being invited as a guest on the Coronation coverage, no one at the ABC had uttered one word of public support.

“Not one ABC executive has publicly refuted the lies written or spoken about me. I don’t hold any individual responsible; this is an institutional failure,” he wrote.

Anderson acknowledged that supporting people in these moments is important.

“Stan Grant has stated that he has not felt publicly supported. For this, I apologise to Stan. The ABC endeavours to support its staff in the unfortunate moments when there is external abuse directed at them,” he said.

“The Chair and Deputy Chair of the ABC’s Bonner Committee have asked me to conduct a review to investigate and make recommendations about ABC responses to racism affecting ABC staff, and what we can do better to support staff who face it. I have accepted this recommendation and I will provide more details later this week when we have them.

“This review will build on our work as the first media organisation to have an Elevate Reconciliation Action Plan. The next version of this will be released in the coming months, as will our new Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Plan.”

ABC offers support to First Nations staff through several management roles and resources, with zero tolerance for racism, bullying, harassment, discrimination or any antisocial behaviour.

Grant departs Q+A after hosting on Monday night.