The ABC’s own Media Watch program has criticized the public broadcaster for its handling of war crimes reporting, and the broadcaster has paid a heavy price for it.
The ABC has launched an independent investigation into a story by journalist Mark Willacy that allegedly showed misleading audio alongside helmet camera footage during a report on Special Forces Commander Heston Russell in 2022.
Watching media Presenter Janine Perrett confirmed on Monday night’s programme that the investigation will also look into claims the broadcaster’s legal team received a letter in November 2022 raising concerns that the audio had been manipulated.
The taxpayer-funded broadcaster has come under fire since an audio expert claimed the sound of at least five gunshots had been added to the footage, making it appear as if Australian soldiers were repeatedly shooting villagers instead of firing a single warning shot.
The ABC claimed the contents of the letter were not shared with the news team, an apparent omission Ms Perrett described as “embarrassing”.
“Hopefully a full external investigation will not only provide answers but also some accountability, because this has not only cost the ABC a lot of money but also its reputation for trust,” she said.
The footage allegedly shows Australian Defence Force soldiers, including Mr Russell, firing from a helicopter at unarmed civilians in Afghanistan in 2012.
Six gunshots were heard during the disturbing video. Channel Seven’s Spotlight recently claimed that five of the shots were added by ABC News in post-production.
Janine Perrett (pictured), a presenter at Media Watch, said on Monday that ABC News had added several gunshots to footage of alleged war crimes.
Last year, Mr Russell successfully brought a libel action against the ABC in connection with Mark Willacy’s articles.
The footage and story were recently removed from the ACS site, with outgoing director David Anderson calling it an “editing error.”
Ms Perrett claimed the ABC boss announced the independent investigation just six hours after the broadcaster was questioned by the Media Watch team about the 2022 letter.
ABC News told Media Watch it “has no evidence that reporter Mark Willacy directed anyone to alter the audio of the (helicopter) video and the suggestion that this is not true is incorrect.”
“Mark Willacy categorically denies any allegation that he directed or authorized any alteration to the audio of his story,” the statement said.
Special Forces Commander Heston Russell successfully sued the broadcaster for libel last year, following a series of articles by ABC journalist Mark Willacy (pictured) in 2022
The investigation also focuses on allegations by retired DEA chief Bret Hamilton that he was misrepresented in an ABC interview.
Mr. Hamilton recently told the Daily Telegraph His ‘soundbite was manipulated’ and a general comment about war crimes was made to sound as if he was calling for a specific investigation into Australian troops.
The ongoing legal battle between the ABC and Mr Russell has cost taxpayers an estimated $3 million in legal fees.