New Four Corners boss begins shake-up at current affairs flagship

In this week’s On Background, major changes at the ABC’s home of investigative journalism, the uphill battle for Charlie Pickering and ABC Radio Melbourne, Gina Rinehart’s renewal of a deal with News Corp and Waleed Aly’s new gig.

The ABC’s premier investigative program, Four Corners, is planning an overhaul of its editorial processes and restructuring its reporting team under new boss Joel Tozer.

A few months into the role, Tozer recently told staff on the show that after a review, he is planning to overhaul its leadership structure and strengthen both its processes and standards, On Background can reveal.

Part of this includes the shock decision to make the position of the show’s second in command, supervising producer Alice Brennan, redundant on Thursday, sources not authorised to speak publicly told On Background. Brennan has since taken leave and remains employed by the ABC.

Tozer later told staff he has created a new role of editor, commissioning and standards to work alongside him and oversee research, story verification and early editorial processes.

“Since taking on this position, I have been reviewing our editorial, commissioning and development processes, including verification, legal and editorial risk management, and have identified some gaps in how these areas are working,” Tozer said to his staff in an email seen by On Background.

“It has become evident that the current structure does not provide enough dedicated oversight and consistency to ensure effective management and controls in these areas.

“This is not a reflection on the commitment or professionalism of the team. Rather, it is a structural change aimed at strengthening our processes and standards,” he said.

While it has to appoint one or potentially two new reporters, Four Corners has become less rigid in deciding who works on the show. While it maintains a permanent set of reporters, journalists from its wider investigations unit or other sections of the ABC are increasingly contributing. Dr Norman Swan led a recent episode, for example.

In his first weeks in the job, Tozer took staff by surprise by canning an episode which was fully shot and already in post-production.

The changes are moving ahead under investigations and current affairs boss Jo Puccini despite the surprise resignation of director of news Justin Stevens last week, and his replacement, Reuters’ Simon Robinson not arriving until September.

Stevens’ departure has left staff across the news division concerned about the prospect of more changes and even job cuts – something the ABC has privately said is no