ABC host Stan Grant is fed up with going rogue and losing it to his own bosses in a very honest letter: ‘There’s no excuse for what I saw on the air last night’
- Q&A host Stan Grant sent an email to ABC
- He criticized the coverage of the NSW election
- He said the lack of panel diversity was “offensive.”
Indigenous TV journalist Stan Grant has sent a letter to the ABC criticizing the national broadcaster for its lack of diversity in its coverage of the NSW election.
The Q&A host sent the outraged letter to management on Sunday, attacking his own employer for using a “very white panel” during state election coverage.
David Speers and Sarah Ferguson led the panel on Saturday night with performances from NSW Treasurer Matt Kean and Labor frontbencher Penny Sharpe.
Grant, a Wiradjuri man born in 1963, questioned how it was ‘acceptable’ and accused the broadcaster of using non-white journalists as ‘cameos’.
Grant said he was ‘fed up’ of the broadcaster claiming it was on a ‘journey’ towards diversity, claiming that ‘the dial has barely moved in 40 years’.
He said he had not seen a significant change in diversity or equality since he joined broadcasting 40 years ago and was “tired” of empty promises to lead change.
Q&A host Stan Grant (above) sent ABC’s top bosses a scathing email to slam the ‘all white panel’ over coverage of the NSW election
“In 2023, how is it even acceptable for an election night coverage to feature a very white panel?” Grant wrote in a letter seen by Oh dear.
“This is not a criticism of my colleagues who are all well qualified, but it is a criticism of the ABC that for decades has nurtured and promoted white staff to the exclusion of others.
“There is no excuse for what I saw on the air last night. No.
“I’ve worked in organizations all over the world and nowhere would tolerate what we presented last night.”
Malaysian-born ABC journalist Jeremy Fernandez was one of the journalists Grant claimed was reduced to a “cameo” role despite appearing in promotional materials for the coverage.
During the show, Fernandez was tasked with explaining the ABC’s “big board” that showed which direction the highlights seats were expected to fall.
“The fact that all the journalists of color in our coverage were ‘off Broadway’ in supporting roles, reporting from the suburbs, only adds to the insult,” he said.
As an Indigenous man and the company’s First Nations journalist, Grant said he felt he had a responsibility to improve the ABC.
“I’m not doing it for myself, I’ve had my career, but I don’t want to wait another decade for things to change,” he told Crikey.
Sarah Ferguson (left) and David Speers (right) led Saturday’s panel, which Grant said featured only “cameos” from journalists of color
ABC News Director Justin Stevens told Daily Mail Australia the company appreciates Grant’s input and “welcomes constructive discussion.”
“Stan says the ABC isn’t where we want to be yet. I agree that we still have a way to go,” he said.
“We respect Stan immensely. For decades he has been one of the foremost First Nations journalists in this country, carrying the burden of fighting for the advancement of his First Nations and culturally diverse colleagues.
“That responsibility lies with all of us with the ABC and not with him alone. As Stan said, coverage of Saturday’s NSW election was editorially strong and well presented.
“It also showcased the amazing next generation talent we brought in through the NSW editorial staff.”