An Insider's Account Of The Battle For Public Broadcasting
'Death Struggle' is one insider's account of more than a decade of boardroom intrigue and political powerplay at Australia's national independent media institution. From the era of David Hill to the arrival of Jonathan Shier, it exposes the clash of some of this country's greatest egos as they manoeuvre and manipulate to control or undermine the national broadcaster.
Here are political animals at their most dangerous - from Bob Hawke and Paul Keating to John Howard, Richard Alston, Donald McDonald and Brian Johns. Through the eyes of a key player we gain an up-close and personal view of the impact of political malice on the ABC's attempts to fulfil its charter. The ABC always makes front page news but never before has the story behind the batter for "ownership" of the ABC been so vividly revealed.
Quentin Dempster uses his skills as an investigative journalist and his unique access to sources to provide a chilling account which prompts the question: can the ABC survive? What can be done to safeguard the future of innovative independent program making, serving audiences as citizens in a democracy, not merely consumers in a market place?
