The former boss of the ABC has sparked controversy by slamming journalists at the national broadcaster as being ‘too sensitive’ and biased.
Ita Buttrose made the explosive claims on Patricia Karvelas’ Radio National Breakfast show on Monday morning.
She also claimed some journalists at the corporation were biased, adding that anyone who is biased or sensitive ‘should just give up’ if they can’t handle criticism.
‘There’s no harm in presenting both sides of an argument, and I don’t understand the reluctance of some of our interviewers not to do that,’ she said.
‘Have both sides of the story, it’s much better for the viewer or the listener.’
During the interview Ms Karvelas also discussed News Corp, which owns a number of news organisations, and accused its journalists of targeting people like her.
Ms Karvelas claimed News Corp journalists ‘have gone after ABC frontline reporters and presenters pretty hard’ and asked Ms Buttrose whether that concerned her.
The response surprised Ms Karvelas.
Former ABC boss Ita Buttrose told Patricia Karvelas on ABC’s RN Breakfast that journalists were becoming ‘too soft’ and should quit if they cannot handle criticism
Ms Buttrose, who left the job in March, also questioned why some journalists had troubled presenting both sides to the story and said she ‘did not understand’ why they could not
‘No, look, quite frankly I think you are all too sensitive about News Corp; let them do what they want to do,’ Ms Buttrose said.
She added ‘really doesn’t matter’ what critics say so long as journalists continue to do their job.
‘Don’t keep worrying about what they say… just keep doing your own job, which you have to do.’
The former boss also criticised staff at Nine Entertainment, which owns a number of newspapers and networks, for their recent five-day strike action.
Ms Buttrose said it was ‘unwise’ to choose the start of the Olympics for a strike since its exclusive coverage on Nine’s platforms was ‘a major investment’.
She believes that Nine employees should ‘toe the line, quite frankly’ instead of criticising chief executive Mike Sneesby, who is in Paris working with advertisers.
Ms Karvelas asked her old boss’ thoughts on News Corp, who she claimed had targeted her in smear campaigns, but Ms Buttrose said the host was being ‘too sensitive’
Ms Buttrose revealed that she used to have ‘vehement’ debates with former Nine boss Kerry Packer about the ABC.
She said the pair would argue about the taxpayer-funded organisation since Mr Packer did not like it, whereas Ms Buttrose considered the ABC to be ‘important’.
Ms Buttrose was also asked what the ABC’s biggest challenge was going ahead, which she said was giving audiences ‘what they want’.
Ms Buttrose ended her five year term at the helm of the ABC in March and was replaced by Kim Williams.
Mr Williams said at the time that impartiality was the ABC’s most important factor.
‘If you don’t want to reflect a view that aspires to impartiality, don’t work at the ABC,’ he said.
