Thread by @margokingston1

1. Try as I might I can’t move on from my ABC #campaigntrail experience. I’m devastated by the ABC’s betrayal of her values. The only way to regain my balance is to tell my truth. I expect not to ever again appear on the ABC but maybe I might help the ABC rediscover its mission.

2. The #campaigntrail producer asked me to appear & I agreed. The first I knew Alan Jones was a guest was when the host tweeted the lineup. I assumed that he’d been told to & agreed to be fact based, as he had been on the #QandA’s I’d seen. I was concerned, but up for it.

3. I was told One Nation would lead the discussion. I assumed, as per ABC guidelines, that Jones or the host would disclose up front that he was a One Nation donor. Didn’t happen.

Jones ran ON talking points in total denial of the revelations of the doco...

4. Jones slandered Al Jazeera journo, a respected former executive producer of Lateline, & the ABC, which he falsely accused of being involved in the program. He smeared al jazerra in total disregard of its ethical guidelines. He lied about how ON got involved.

5. Shocked, I fought back. The host gave me no support & did not fact check him. She cut me off & gave Jones full rein.

Jones falsely stated, as he had on 2GB that morning, that Morrison told Libs to preference Greens above ON. I tried to fact check him but the host cut me off.

6. I was not paid to appear. In my appearances on the ABC since retiring from mainstream journalism in 2005 I have never been paid. In fact, I pay to appear - on Friday I drove 100 km each way to get there, without recompense. I do it because I believe in the ABC. No more.

7. I was used. There’s no other way to explain what happened. There’s the well coifed ABC journos ‘playing it straight’ in the face of blatant fake One Nation propaganda and there’s dishevelled me fighting back. The patsy.

8. Jones has a megaphone in the city & the regions, on radio and commercial TV. ABC chose to give him yet another platform to spew his fact free bile & relied on an unpaid stooge to take him on. This betrays the ABC values of telling the truth.

So why did the ABC choose Jones?

9. Was it political or way to generate controversy to promote a new program? 1 answer came next day. I cried.
I cried google.com.au/amp/amp.abc.ne…

Spelt my name wrong (corrected) ran video clip focused on the conflict, not my substantive rebuttal, & ran Jones at length, not my reply

10. I began to tweet my horror when ABC rang to talk me out of it. I spoke to host, who said Jones wanted to come on again & would I do it again. No.

I’m gunna do something bad for what I believe is a greater cause - the integrity of a public institution crucial to our democracy

11. After the show I sent the host this email -

12. I have decided not to reveal the host’s email to me because I believe in privacy.

Please, ABC, WTF do you stand for? I’m still in shock that it’s no longer safe for a person committed to facts to appear without being forced to defend facts because the ABC won’t.

ENDS

14. Why am I so upset and haven’t been able to get over it? My trust in the ABC broke. I thought the ABC would protect us from the chaos of a fact free America. Nope. Devastation ensued. I tweeted the heartbreak. Now what? It’s up to us now. Onward! #theresistance

16. And now, the official ABC line:

https://twitter.com/abcmediacomms/status/1112866338664460288?s=21

17. My reply to the official ABC line - I’m just feeling sad now. (btw I have not been reimbursed)

https://twitter.com/margokingston1/status/1112875235152257024?s=21

18. Jones’ donations to ON not disclosed up front by host or Jones - was asked well into the debate & replied it was ‘his business’. Why does ABC host a guest found guilty of multiple ethical breaches, inc racism who feels no disclosure obligations and is a proved liar & defamer.

19. I could have pulled out when I learned VIA TWITTER he was on. In retrospect I should have, especially on hearing his 2GB fact denying Hanson rave that morning. Sorry, ABC, for assuming he would have been told to lift his game on the ABC. Silly me.

https://twitter.com/abcmediacomms/status/1112866338664460288?s=21

20. ABC tried to talk me out of going public with my concerns - won’t reveal private convos except to say they’re at odds with this deliberately disingenuous statement. Makes me feel sick. Circle the wagons, folks. ABC perfect, heartfelt critique from a long-time guest bunkum.

21. Anyway, bridges burned. The ABC welcomes Alan Jones aboard - he’s keen to return to #campaigntrail, the host told me (she even asked me to go through all this again with him) - and says goodbye to me. Fitting.

22. It’s all about the conflict on the ABC too now, folks. Not facts, not debate, conflict. Thrilled to have done the job for you, ABC. I just love being used.

And since the ABC wants to play hardball, here’s the proof - email from host after the show-