Fans angry over ABC’s call on Spencer Howson
Is Aunty being consistent, or fair, in applying its conflict-of-interest policy? Also: When is breakfast. And: Inner-city idyll.
Radio fans are unhappy that they will no longer be able to hear Brisbane’s favourite ABC personality on the national broadcaster.
And some are scratching their heads over the decision sidelining Spencer Howson, because it seems to be at odds with the situation elsewhere at Aunty.
Social media has fired up with reactions to the news, reported here first, that the longtime king of Brisbane was all set to host the Saturday Breakfast shift this year — until ABC bosses said he couldn’t do that very part-time job unless he gave up another gig working for Media Potential.
Media Potential, which is run by Jillian Whiting and Suzanne Stark, offers “cutting edge training programs to assist those seeking professional communication skills, television presenting skills and help in building a media profile”.
It seems that the ABC’s position is that working for this company on a part-time basis would somehow compromise Howson in presenting a magazine-style show on a weekend morning.
According to online sources, the ABC’s conflict of interest policy states that “approvals are only granted if there is no, or adequately mitigated, conflict of interest, particularly regarding editorial independence”.
Howson is understood to have offered a workaround, saying he would not interview any person he had trained. If for some reason it became essential that that particular individual had to be interviewed on a Saturday morning, then the job could be done by the show’s producer.
Now that all seems perfectly reasonable to me. But not, apparently, to the management at the ABC, which has struggled to find a presenter, or combination of presenters, who can command even half the audience share that Howson had at his peak hosting the weekday Breakfast shift full-time. (He remains their highest-rated presenter in at least 30 years.)
The first comment I received when I posted a Facebook link to my exclusive story went straight to the point: “Another dumb decision by ABC.”
Another said: “What a laugh! Offer a contract for one day per week and has the hide to demand he forego employment for the rest of the week.”
Across social media, comments included:
Bugger, you're one of my favourites.
Disappointed we won’t be enjoying your expertise Spencer. The ABC audience is the poorer without your talent.
Damn - I was looking forward to Saturday Breakfast
I understand that The ABC "has" the right to ask you to choose Spencer, however, I fail to understand why they would or should even care, unless, like so many other businesses, they exist in a house of mirrors.
In my humble opinion — and, yes, Spencer is a friend of mine, I produced his show at 4BC and I was a regular guest on his old, top-rating 612 ABC Breakfast show — this is total nonsense. It’s as if the public-funded network doesn’t want to give the public what it clearly wants.
You don’t have to look too far to find people who work both at the ABC and in commercial media or other corporate positions.
What mechanism allows, for example, Murray Olds to be both a journalist on the ABC and Weekends presenter (with Murray Wilton) on commercial stations 2GB and 4BC? One is a direct rival of the other.
And what’s the deal with Sharnelle Vella, the co-host Breakfast on ABC Melbourne?
Here’s an extract from her profile with talent agency CMC: “As a trusted voice and experienced media professional she is regularly called upon to workshop media training sessions where she passes on skills to the corporate world. These workshops allow other professionals to learn how to clearly communicate their message and how to be confident in public speaking situations.”
Is the profile wrong or out of date? If not, what is the difference between her situation and Howson’s?
It might be that the decision-makers at South Bank are thinking back to an incident involving current affairs presenter Peter Thompson. But that was 26 years ago and the allegation was that he had not declared his interests.
Howson has been upfront and has paid the price for it.
In my opinion — and that of many others — it’s not just a matter of one person missing out on a job, it’s a matter of the ABC dudding its own listeners.
Footnote: The opinions expressed here are entirely mine. For his part, Howson has said: “I’m very happy with my decision [to stick with Media Potential].” He has also suggested, graciously, that his absence from the scene will create opportunities for others.
It’s about time
Still on the subject of radio (which seems to be what you, dear reader, come here for), the question is being asked: When is Breakfast?
According to the official GfK survey, that all-important on-air shift starts at 5.30am and finishes at 9am. Problem is, only a few stations conform to that.
Just a few local examples: the ABC’s Craig Zonca and Loretta Ryan kick off at 5am and finish at 8am; on KIIS 97.3, it’s 6am-10am (they’re getting some value out of the newly unfired trio of Robin Bailey, Kip Wightman and Corey Oates); and the Nova 106.9 team of Nick Allen-Ducat, David “Luttsy” Lutteral and Susie O’Neill starts at 6am and just drifts past 9am, usually handing over to Mel Tracina around 9.15am.
This — along with similar discrepancies across the day — creates “leakage” between shifts, which can result in a show appearing to be more, or less, popular than it really is.
Mister Brisbane is free to read but you if you really like it, you
can buy me a coffee or take out a paid subscription.
P.S.
I was amused to receive an email from Brisbane Times this week referring to the “bucolic” back streets of Toowong (yes, the suburb that’s four railway stations away from the CBD). I must hitch my wagon and mosey on out there one day…
Disclosure: Brett Debritz is a journalist and producer who used to be heard on the ABC. Probably not again anytime soon.
Meanwhile, Radio National can give a contract to a presenter for one of their shows who’s also employed by Seven. https://www.theguardian.com/media/commentisfree/2026/jan/30/sky-news-australia-lefties-losing-it-zara