Editing Media Watch (TV program) (section)

==="ACON & The ABC"===

In 2022, ''Media Watch'' ran a piece about "a difficult conversation we all need to have", accusing the ABC of bias against "anti-trans voices" by examining its collaboration with LGBT health organization ACON, and its participation in ACON's "Workplace Equality Index", in which it has at least twice received the title of "Gold Employer". The piece drew significant scorn from ABC news staff, with [[Patricia Karvelas]] responding with "The ABC also participates in other benchmarking indexes to monitor its progress and improve workplace practices, such as those run by the [[Diversity Council Australia]], [[Reconciliation Australia]], and the Australian Network on Disability. But only scrutiny of one group." Luke Siddham Dundon tweeted "The ABC also has relationships with other diversity organisations, so why are you picking on our partnerships with LGBTQI+ communities and organisations?"<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2022/oct/21/abc-news-staff-hit-back-at-media-watch-over-coverage-of-trans-issues |title=ABC news staff hit back at Media Watch over coverage of trans issues |last=Meade |first=Amanda |website=[[The Guardian]]|date=21 October 2022 |access-date=7 November 2022}}</ref> ABC tech reporter Ariel Bogle responded by stating that anti-trans talking points are "often intertwined with far-right entities and narratives".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/media/raises-questions-media-watch-pins-abc-over-partnership-with-lgbt-group-acon/news-story/9cb3a54423f9cb2f67339c0da72bb5f6 |title='Raises questions': Media Watch pins ABC over partnership with LGBT group Acon |website=[[News.com.au]]|date=22 October 2022 |access-date=7 November 2022}}</ref>

The ABC itself issued a statement on the matter, saying "participation in benchmarking indexes has no bearing on content commissioning processes and no influence on editorial content" and "transgender and gender identity issues are complex and require careful editorial judgement to ensure informed reporting without causing offence or undue distress and harm to vulnerable individuals and communities."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://about.abc.net.au/statements/abc-statement-to-media-watch/ |title=ABC statement to Media Watch |website=ABC |date=18 October 2022 |access-date=7 November 2022}}</ref>