Honouring
AUNTY
Emergency broadcasting Australians turn to the ABC in times of crisis. The ABC’s national Emergency Broadcast team works closely with its 56 capital city stations and regional bureaus and emergency service organisations, to bring audiences rolling emergency coverage when needed. This is supported by the ABC’s recently updated Emergency website (abc. net.au/emergency) and localised social media posts. To ensure the ABC meets the high expectations of the community, it has further invested in its Emergency Broadcast team to ensure it has the capacity to broadcast up-to-date and accurate information to all Australians during an emergency, no matter where they live. The 2019/20 bushfire season involved the largest number of ABC staff ever to have worked on an emergency event. The number of emergency events covered by the ABC almost tripled from the previous year and emergency broadcast and news teams often worked around the clock to provide critical information and coverage to local communities. At the height of the bushfire crisis (31 December-14 January), ABC Sydney and ABC NSW local radio produced 296 hours of rolling/continuous fire coverage, ABC Gippsland 134 hours and ABC Melbourne 83 hours. Over that same period, the ABC undertook emergency broadcasting for more than 200 emergency events across the country.
24 THE LAST POST – 2021 SUMMER EDITION
Independent research commissioned by the ABC showed that not only was the national broadcaster the most trusted information source at the time but lives were saved as a result of people acting on information the ABC provided. The ABC’s role in providing a rolling source of information was crucial in allowing people to be informed and aware of danger, to make plans and in evacuating. For many people, when digital and telecommunications failed in bushfire impacted areas, ABC Local Radio was the only way to access timely information and helped people survive. ABC teams also focused on supporting impacted communities as they recovered from the summer bushfires, sharing their stories of resilience and recovery. Local ABC teams have supported local fundraising events and the ABC also raised more than $13 million in partnership with the Red Cross and City of Sydney as part of its New Year’s Eve donation drive. Arts No media organisation does more than the ABC to promote and provide a forum for the arts and artists in Australia. More than three-quarters of Australians say the ABC encourages and promotes Australian performing arts, such as music and drama, in line with its governing charter. In 2020, the ABC increased its support for Australian artists and creatives to help them cope with the ongoing impacts of COVID-19. This support was highlighted by the ABC Arts Digital Fund for innovative new arts content and Australian Music Fund to support independent artists and musicians.
