ABC has revealed plans for a permanent version of your Say Audience Engagement initiative from federal elections, following the long-standing panel program Q&A x, committing to more news documentaries.
With changes announced today, the station has announced the cancellation of its currently unbroadcast Monday night program, following an 18-year run.
The Q&A, launched in 2008 under executive producer Peter McEvoy and host Tony Jones, has struggled to maintain the same level of influence since Jones’ departure in 2019, temporarily moving the time slot, even if it repeats some viewers who reportedly fell more than 35% between 2019 and 2022.
Jones was initially replaced by Hamish McDonald. Hamish McDonald quickly spun hosts David Spairs, Virginia Trioli and Stan Grant. Grant took over the role in late 2022, but left ABC a year later, citing media status as the reason for his departure. Patricia Karvelas has been launching the program since 2023.
ABC Director News, Justin Stevens said the programme has made a significant contribution to Australian society and added a decision to broadcast it.
“We are extremely proud of the great achievements of Q+A over the years,” he said.
“The team did an incredible job, including strong performances during the federal election campaign. We need to constantly innovate and update. Twenty years after Q+A began, the world has changed. It’s time to rethink how our audience wants to interact and carry out our engagement with the public so that we can include many Australians in our national conversation.”
The program was known to fill the gap in audience participation and engagement, but ABC News continues to say what you say. It was established ahead of this year’s federal election, which allowed voters to present ideas on issues that matter to them.
According to the broadcaster, your statement received around 30,000 online submissions during the campaign, of which 36% received thousands of talkback calls from outside the capital as well as local and regional radio. Some of the contributions were used by the news team, and their insights informed the questions politicians and topics for discussion of ABC leaders.
ABC News will invest in producing more news documentaries, as well as its 2015 murder season and its nemesis last year, and promote new positions in executive producers, documentaries and specials.
“A premium news documentary program with additional high impact” will complement ABC’s existing slate of facts.”
The announcement is reportedly part of a broader change under the new Managing Director, Hewmarks.
The Guardian reports that ABC staff were warned yesterday about potential cuts from the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance.
