{"product_id":"their-abc-richard-alston-9781922815071","title":"Their ABC: Inside Australia's Largest Sheltered Workshop","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe ABC was established in 1932, following in the footsteps of the BBC. In its early years it was a shining example of a revered public broadcaster.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe key to its early success was having two strong minded, long serving General Managers who ensured that the place was well run, with everyone knowing their place.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut as the years went by senior management progressively outsourced responsibility to producers and celebrity presenters and the organisation lost its way, so that now it is little more than a mouthpiece for \"progressive\" outpourings.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt still remains an important national institution, especially in regional Australia, but its political obsessions, catering almost exclusively for inner suburban elites, render it in dire need of reform.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs Alston argues, the fundamental problem is that the ABC is a protected entity, with a guaranteed income in excess of a billion dollars, while commercial media outlets struggle to stay alive.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWith no competitors it doesn't have to earn a living and has no incentive to perform or innovate, let alone live within its means. Instead of catering for its audience it prefers to lecture to them.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEffectively accountable to no one, it feels free to ignore its charter obligations, or the interests of its audience, ignoring valid criticism or contemptuously dismissing it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDespite being founded in the depths of the Depression it has long since lost interest in the joys and struggles of the middle class.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eInstead of relating to basic issues such as jobs, families and incomes it prefers to pander to the elite, inner urban instincts of people like themselves.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAlston concludes with a practical reform agenda for adoption by government, but no doubt it will be strenuously contested by the organisation.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRichard Alston AO has been a barrister, a senior Cabinet Minister, Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Federal President of the Liberal Party. He is currently a businessman and company director.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Richard Alston\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1922815071\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781922815071\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Connor Court Publishing Pty Ltd\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 06\/01\/2022\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 76\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.27lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.18d","brand":"Richard Alston","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":44074986307839,"sku":"9781922815071","price":25.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_554ead5d-a50d-4ac0-bafd-88dfc5bd508f.jpg?v=1685456939","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/their-abc-richard-alston-9781922815071","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}