What led you to write about the ABC and explore this specific period – 2006 to 2016 – of its history?

The idea was suggested to me by Mark Scott, but I was easy to convince. The ABC is so important, and I had been reporting on it through all of those years.

Was there resistance inside the ABC to ‘going digital’, or was it welcomed as progress?

Depends on who you ask! Some embraced it, others resisted, and everything in between.

In embracing new forms of coverage, has the ABC sacrificed depth?

This is an ongoing debate. The question is most relevant to the journalism, of course. I think the daily news is lacking in depth, but I don’t think the digital transformation is the main reason for that. It is more about staff and talent management, and as always limited resources. As for the main current affairs programs – they are mostly very strong, though Four Corners has clearly had well publicised problems.  

Do you think Australians underestimate how much the ABC offers them?

Certainly. Most people only use a small amount of its many services. Some people think they don’t use it at all, but still benefit from the fact it is there, providing reliable news and information and supporting Australia’s creative industries.

How do you imagine the ABC will have changed in another 10 to 20 years?

Read the next book!

What do you hope readers take away from your book?

I hope it means that we have better informed debates about this vital Australian institution.