ABC and SBS to appear at antisemitism royal commission after complaints of ‘unbalanced’ Middle East coverage

Representatives from the ABC and SBS will be called as witnesses to the royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion , after complaints were made to the inquiry about their coverage of the Middle East. On Monday, counsel assisting Richard Lancaster SC said some submissions to the royal commission – established after the Bondi terror attack – are “highly critical” of the public broadcasters’ reporting on the Middle East conflict. “These media outlets occupy a particularly important, trusted position in the Australian media landscape. Their statutes, charters and policies commit them to high standards of accuracy, impartiality and balance, [which] they are charged with reflecting and indeed fostering,” he said. Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email “There are complaints that the ABC and the SBS have produced coverage that is inaccurate or unbalanced, both in their selection of stories and focus and in the reportage that they produce.” The special envoy to combat antisemitism, Jillian Segal, will be called to speak on those concerns, he said. “Witnesses from the public broadcasters themselves will also be called to speak to the approach taken by the ABC and the SBS to their reporting of the conflict,” Lancaster said. An SBS spokesperson said it was “engaging with the royal commission process, including by providing written submissions”. The ABC also made a submission. …