ABC Managing Director Hugh Marks has found himself in an embarrassing situation after appearing to have no knowledge of an internal proposal for a new interactive platform known as 'Journo Feed'. The incident occurred during his address at the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday, 19 November 2025.
Leadership Unawareness Sparks Controversy
When questioned about the mysterious 'Journo Feed' project that had been circulating among ABC staff, Mr Marks responded with surprise. "I have never heard about the proposed 'Journo Feed'. I'm not able to answer that question. I regret to tell you," the ABC chief stated before directing attention to ABC news director Justin Stevens, suggesting he might have more information.
Mr Marks added, "I'm not aware of the secret project. It can't be that good a project if I'm not aware of it. Things can happen without my knowledge but I like to be at the centre of things." This public admission of ignorance about an internal initiative raised eyebrows among media observers and staff alike.
ABC's Explanation and Digital Innovation Push
Following the awkward exchange, senior ABC figures quickly moved to downplay the significance of 'Journo Feed'. They described it as merely a "thought bubble" rather than a fully developed project ready for implementation. According to an ABC spokeswoman, the concept was part of a broader innovation report shared with all ABC News employees to encourage digital creativity.
"Recently we shared with all ABC News employees, as well as other areas of the ABC, an Innovation Report that captures ideas bubbling up throughout the division and encourages more," the spokeswoman explained. "'Journo Feed' was one of many interesting story format ideas in that, which are being further assessed. It's an audience engagement idea designed to bring the public closer to the news gathering process."
When pressed about whether Mr Marks would receive a briefing on the project and what resources had been allocated to it, the spokeswoman clarified that it wasn't a formal proposal but simply one of many ideas under consideration.
Broader Context: Digital Strategy and Past Mistakes
The 'Journo Feed' controversy emerged as Mr Marks outlined the ABC's ambitious digital content strategy. He highlighted the success of ABC's vertical video content on platforms like TikTok, praising reporters Lia Walsh and Claudia Long for their "incredible" social media tailored stories.
Mr Marks revealed that the ABC plans to increase its prime-time premium television series from 43 in 2025 to 60 next year, alongside launching new podcasts and on-demand audio offerings. He emphasized the importance of creating "predator model" journalists with dynamic skill-sets across all platforms.
In a candid moment, Mr Marks addressed what he called a "lost opportunity" regarding the ownership model of the beloved children's show Bluey. "The BBC probably makes $300 million a year out of a property that was a joint BBC-ABC production but we should have been more active in the participation in what that was going to be," he admitted, acknowledging the costly blunder.
The ABC chief also responded to questions about the broadcaster's coverage of various controversies, including Donald Trump's January 6 speech and the unlawful dismissal case of journalist Antoinette Lattouf. He stressed the importance of owning mistakes rather than being defensive, stating "When mistakes happen, we acknowledge them. We own them. We make the correction. We move on."
Despite facing criticism from outlets like Sky News and The Australian regarding impartiality concerns, Mr Marks defended the ABC's relevance, arguing that consumption of ABC News is growing across multiple platforms and that the broadcaster is becoming more important, though in different ways than before.
