Racism in the national broadcaster's newsrooms has been extensive and entrenched, employees of the ABC have stated.
The public revelations follow the release of a damning internal report into workplace culture at the ABC, which found that First Nations employees felt undervalued, ignored and discriminated against.
The broadcaster's culturally and linguistically diverse employees, as well as those living with disabilities, revealed similar experiences, with many taking to social media to confirm the findings of the report.
"Have experienced racism at my workplace since my first week on the job, and have heard the *many* harrowing stories of colleagues who have been through the same," said Dja Dja Wurrung Yorta Yorta woman, and respected Indigenous Affairs editor, Bridget Brennan.
"It's good to have this acknowledgment."
Indigenous Affairs reporter Jedda Costa said she "experienced racism many times throughout my cadetship in 2019."
Tweet by Bridget Brennan regarding the ABC interim report. Source: Supplied
"A former colleague in a leadership role even went out of their way to ruffle my hair once."
Sydney-based ABC reporter, Thuy Ong left her former position at the broadcaster in 2017 due to racism. Ms Ong's parents migrated to Australia from Vietnam.
Tweet by ABC reporter Jedda Costa in response to the interim report Source: Supplied
"The first time I left the ABC in 2017 was because of these issues. I’m glad it’s been acknowledged. Having worked in different newsrooms, institutionalised bias will always exist if everyone at the top looks the same," she tweeted.
She followed by saying that since she rejoined the ABC in 2021, there has been a "notable change".
"I’m grateful this has been acknowledged at the executive level, but the work to be better has to continue."
Former radio producer and now host of ABC TV's 'Art Works' Namila Benson, who has Papua New Guinean heritage, wrote an extensive thread on the pervasive nature of racism in the workplace, and the isolation many employees feel after incidents.
"The entire industry *does* need an overhaul... The issue is so ingrained in workplaces and it's often the subtle instances that can be the most deceptively harmful," she wrote.
"Oftentimes, you don't speak up because [of your] mental health... If leadership doesn't look like you, you're mostly on your own."
Namila Benson's response to ABC's interim report. Source: Supplied
'Now the heavy-lifting must be done'
Justin Stevens, who was appointed to the Director of News position in April following Gaven Morris' departure, issued a 'heartfelt apology' to the broadcaster's diverse employees in a company-wide email.
“To anyone in News who has ever experienced any racism or bigotry in our workplace, current and former News employees, as Director, News I would like to express my sorrow for that and make a heartfelt apology,” Mr Stevens said in the email, sent on Thursday.
“I am sorry.”
He acknowledged the findings, delivered by an internal advisory group, that revealed employees often felt like their ideas were ignored in meetings, and that internal processes around reporting racism were not fit for purpose.
“Some feel they’re not welcomed into or embraced by the workplace and other team members as they ought to be.
“Some feel their voices are not heard in team discussions as they ought to be.
“Some feel that at times there aren’t enough support mechanisms in place when something occurs and that, even when a formal complaint is made, processes aren’t always adequate.”
Mr Stevens' apology was welcomed as 'an important first step' by some employees, but the work to amend the issue had yet to begin.
"Over the years, I have felt quietly disappointed by what I have seen, heard and experienced in the ABC," wrote ABC News Channel presenter and 7.30 reporter, Jason Om.
"Now the heavy-lifting must be done by MD David Anderson and the ABC Board. Hopefully, this will lead to change. Take care everyone."
ABC offices at Ultimo, Sydney. Source: AAP
Breakfast news host apologises
The apology comes just days after an incident that saw the host of ABC's TV Breakfast program, one of the most-watched in the country, apologise for minimising racist taunts faced by tennis player Nick Kyrgios in a tournament in Germany.
Following a segment on the matter presented by sports reporter Tony Armstrong, host Lisa Millar postulated whether it was 'good' for Kyrgios.
"There's no room for racism but I do wonder whether it's good for him. There'll be other people who'll say you've just got to ignore that, you've got to block that out if his main aim is to go there and win," she said.
The following day, Ms Millar apologised on-air explaining she did not "intend to minimise the abuse that was directed" at Kyrgios.
"What I said and the clumsy way I said it, was wrong. I'm human, we mess up, I made a mistake yesterday and I am sorry. No one should have to deal with racist taunts," she said.
"I don't want anyone to be in any doubt about how strongly I feel about this. I'm a big Kyrgios fan, looking forward to seeing what he has in store for us at Wimbledon."
