ABC President Ita Buttrose has been accused of failing to comply with the station’s own editorial style guide in a major speech in which she referred to First Nations people as “Aboriginal.”
Ms Buttrose used the term in Sydney on Friday night while giving an annual media conference in honor of distinguished journalist Andrew Olle, who died in 1995 at the age of 48.
Speaking about Mr. Olle’s work, he said that “it would tell the stories of the aborigines, the mentally ill, the poor and the helpless … stories, at that time, without a secure place in the media agenda. “.
Ita Buttrose’s IconABC chair has been criticized for using a term that is considered offensive to First Nations people. Credit: supplied
Former ABC, SBS and NITV journalist Jennetta Quinn-Bates was offended by the use of the term “aboriginal” and took to Twitter to point out that she was not in line with the ABC style guide. .
“It still tells us aborigines and basically reminding First Nations people that we’re lucky to have any airtime,” Ms. Quinn-Bates wrote.
“Message received loud and clear. My sincere apologies to my former ABC Indigenous colleagues.”
Following her initial comments, Ms. Quinn-Bates posted screenshots of the ABC editorial style guide, which tells staff to “avoid Aboriginal people out of quotes.”
Ms. Quinn-Bates said that while Ms. Buttrose could argue that it was “just a guide,” she asked for “a little respect, please.”
“He thinks one would be familiar with the policies and standards of the organization he chairs,” Ms. Quinn-Bates posted.
In response to comments on her Twitter post, Ms. Quinn-Bates said that “speaking this way is a terrible example.”
“Leaders must be admirable, not ignorant and borderline racist,” he said.
“This is unacceptable.”
According to Amnesty International, the term “aboriginal” is considered insensitive because it has racist connotations of Australia’s colonial past.