ABC watchdog criticises ‘culture of secrecy’ and weak factchecking at Four Corners
An independent watchdog has found Australia's public broadcaster ABC breached editorial standards in two episodes of its flagship investigative program Four Corners, citing misuse of anonymous sources and misleading contributor claims.
The ABC ombudsman, Fiona Cameron, has found that two episodes of the broadcaster's investigative program Four Corners breached editorial standards on accuracy, fair and honest dealing, and independence and integrity.
The episodes in question, Cocaine Nation and Meth Highway, aired in 2023 and 2024 and were later pulled from broadcast over accuracy concerns. Both were fronted by journalist Mahmood Fazal, a former bikie who was sacked from the ABC in May. Fazal has denied any wrongdoing.
Concerns about the anonymous sources used in the two episodes were escalated by ABC chair Kim Williams to the ombudsman for review. Cameron's investigation found that audiences had been given a misleading impression of who the programs' key contributors actually were.
Both episodes featured a masked figure presented as a cocaine dealer to Sydney's elite. Media Watch later revealed the figure was in fact played by Sydney-based rapper Charissa Habkouk, who took on the role as a favour to Fazal.
Cameron confirmed this portrayal was "materially misleading" to viewers and recommended a full investigation into the ABC's use of anonymous and confidential sources across its investigative journalism.
