ABC to apologise to Kenny over skit

The ABC will broadcast an apology to journalist Chris Kenny, saying comedy show The Hamster Decides should never have put the skit to air.

The ABC logo seen in Sydney

(AAP)

The ABC will air an apology to journalist Chris Kenny following a crude skit that ridiculed him during the network's 2013 federal election coverage.

An ABC spokesman says a settlement has been reached with Mr Kenny, who works for The Australian newspaper, and the matter is now resolved.

Mr Kenny launched defamation proceedings after being ridiculed on the ABC's political satire show The Hamster Decides, hosted by the the Chaser team, last year.

The lawsuit was filed against the ABC, production company Giant Dwarf and presenter Andrew Hansen.

The skit aired in September 2013, but ABC editor-in-chief Mark Scott did not formally apologise until April 14.

Despite the apology, Mr Kenny continued with proceedings until this week, when an out-of-court settlement was reached.

"The ABC has reached a settlement with Mr Chris Kenny and is pleased to see this matter now resolved," an ABC spokesman said in a statement issued to AAP.

"As part of that settlement, the ABC will tonight broadcast an apology to Mr Kenny. Mark Scott, as editor-in-chief of the ABC, has previously given an apology to Mr Kenny."

The ABC's apology will air about 9pm on Wednesday.

It will refer to Mr Scott's apology and say the skit should never have aired.

It will also acknowledge that Mr Kenny was targeted on The Hamster Decides because he had been critical of the ABC.

"Having reviewed the issue, Mr Scott, as the editor-in-chief of the ABC, has come to the view with the ABC's director of television that the ABC should not have put the skit to air," the statement of apology will read.

"The ABC apologises to Mr Kenny for having put the skit to air, his depiction in the skit and because it was triggered by his criticism of the ABC.

"The ABC is sorry for the distress this incident has caused Mr Kenny and his family."

Mr Kenny told The Australian he pursued the matter because of the offensive nature of the skit, the damage to his reputation and for singling him out for criticising the ABC.

He was surprised it took about nine months for the ABC to settle the complaint.

"It shouldn't be this hard to get the taxpayer-funded national broadcaster to behave decently, but at least it's finally happened," Mr Kenny told The Australian.

"I was singled out because I've been a critic of the ABC and it was an attempt to silence me," he said.


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Source: AAP


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