Editor's note

In recent months, the ABC has been under almost constant attack, mostly from the Coalition government and conservative elements of the media. Then yesterday, its managing director, Michelle Guthrie, was unceremoniously sacked half-way through her term. As the broadcaster’s former Head of TV News and Current Affairs Peter Manning writes, it was a bad match from the start – Guthrie seemed to lack the political smarts to deal with an increasingly hostile federal government, and the necessary editorial experience to lead such a large, diverse and changing media outfit. Moreover, budget cuts hit hard and, as Denis Muller explains, Guthrie failed to defend the journalism strongly enough, further chipping away at already faltering staff morale.

Still on the ABC fallout, in a special episode of Media Files, a podcast about the media, Monash University’s Margaret Simons and former ABC staff-elected director Matt Peacock talk to Matthew Ricketson and Andrew Dodd about what Guthrie’s sacking might mean for the ABC – particularly in the lead up to a federal election.

Amanda Dunn

Section Editor: Politics + Society

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Rolling cuts, plummeting morale and a hostile government - Michelle Guthrie had much to contend with as managing director. Wes Mountain/The Conversation

Despite her good intentions, Michelle Guthrie was never the right fit for the ABC

Peter Manning, University of Technology Sydney

A former senior manager with the ABC laments the poor choice of Michelle Guthrie as managing director, leaving her - and the organisation - in an invidious position.

Former ABC Managing Director Michelle Guthrie looking toward a different future earlier this year at the ABC’s first Annual Public Meeting. JOEL CARRETT/AAP

Media Files: ABC boss Michelle Guthrie sacked, but the board won’t say why

Andrew Dodd, University of Melbourne; Matthew Ricketson, Deakin University

ABC managing director Michelle Guthrie was sacked today, despite being less than halfway through her five-year term. The major question is: why? Today on the podcast, we explore the possibilities.

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