ABC Friends Bendigo

09/04/2026

Ballarat Library from 1.30pm, Saturday, 11 April.

A chance to join ABC Statewide Drive Host Prue Bentley in conversation with journalist Eric Beecher to discuss and launch his newly revised edition of 'The Men Who Killed the News'.

Formerly chair of The Wheeler Centre, Beecher owns Private Media which publishes Crikey and The Mandarin and his upcoming hour-long discussion with Bentley is at the Ballarat Library from 1.30pm this Saturday 11 April.

ABC Alumni and ABC Friends Ballarat are co-hosting the conversation that is free to attend and will explore some of the concerns held by both groups around ensuring professional, impartial journalism will be able to keep reliably informing public opinion amid challenges.

Ahead of Beecher’s visit, spokesman for ABC Friends Ballarat David MacPhail said he “laments the loss of regional publications and the rising power of social media platforms that may not publish any original journalism and allow the dissemination of false and provocative material”.

“If we can’t trust our media it becomes difficult to trust governments and democracy is threatened,” MacPhail said.

Join Prue Bentley and Eric Beecher at Ballarat Library to discuss "The Men Who Killed the News." Free event on April 11.

24/03/2026

If you think you can tell facts from disinformation ... think again.

Hamish Macdonald wants to know what happens if we lose our faith in facts. We are all navigating a digital ecosystem where truth and lies can be indistinguishable, and where information is created - at scale - to change what we believe, how we behave and who we vote for.

03/02/2026

How independent media can support democracy, the rule of law, and human development, in a way that is sustainable and benefits all

ABC Friends Inner Melbourne held a seminar with Clare Gorman, the Head of ABC International, and Dr. Phil Kaftaloudis, a former Radio Australia presenter, exploring the question: who actually benefits from the ABC's international broadcasting work?

29/01/2026

Goulburn Valley ABC Friends -
Launches in Shepparton on 19th February, 2026 at 6:30pm

ABC Friends Victoria conducts its business on the Country of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation, over which sovereignty was never ceded. We acknowledge their custodianship and pay our respects to Elders, past, present and emerging.

29/01/2026

Conversations with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski
- over 2.4million downloads in December 2025.

The ABC has four of the six most-downloaded Australian podcasts in the latest Triton Ranker, with more than 50 of its shows landing in the top 300 list.This strong showing in the final ranker of 2025 solidifies an impressive year for ABC Audio.When organised by monthly downloads throughout December....

29/01/2026

Thank you ABC and Phoenix FM

https://www.facebook.com/reel/918301633934046

28/01/2026

Sign the petition: Safeguard the ABC's independence

The federal government's hate crime legislation has raised serious questions for the media and the ABC.

The Act's definition of a hate crime is vague. It may, or may not, include criticism of a country’s actions.

If criticism – or even reporting – a government's actions can be interpreted as a hate crime, the law could have a chilling effect on the media.

Any stifling of the ABC's capacity to report the news would quickly undermine the trust of the Australian people.

Trust is a fragile thing. Once gone it is hard to restore.

At a time of extraordinary international turmoil, growing authoritarianism, and unprecedented pressures on the media, we need a fearless independent ABC more than ever.

Support our call for stronger safeguards to protect the ABC against political interference and guarantee that it won't be punished for reporting the truth.

Support the ABC - uphold media freedom