ABC host says Michael Clarke’s hand-to-hand fight with Karl Stefanovic is “no news” as he doubles down on the public broadcaster’s refusal to cover the story everyone is talking about
An ABC presenter has doubled down on his station’s decision not to cover Michael Clarke’s late-night altercation with Karl Stefanovic, dismissing the most talked-about story in Australia this week as “no news”.
ABC News Breakfast co-host Michael Rowland said on Instagram Thursday the “personal drama” between Stefanovic, Clarke and his girlfriend Jade Yarbrough is not worth airtime.
This is despite the fact that the riot in Noosa topped Channel Seven newscasts, dominating all major news websites and even grabbing international headlines.
ABC host Michael Rowland (left, with Emma Rebellato) has doubled down on his station’s decision not to cover Michael Clarke’s late-night altercation with Karl Stefanovic, dismissing the most talked-about story in Australia this week as “no news”.
Rowland offered his view on the newsworthiness of Clarkey’s clash with the Today anchorman after Chron Australia published an article suggesting that ABC and Nine had completely avoided the one story everyone in the country was talking about.
“Lol… Personal drama. No news,” he wrote on Instagram alongside a screenshot of the Chron trending story.
Meanwhile, Amanda Meade, media correspondent for Guardian Australia, was quick to point out in her column on Friday that her masthead also did not touch on the Clarke saga, except to comment on the avalanche of press coverage.
The uproar over Stefanovic, Clarke (left) and his girlfriend Jade Yarbrough (right) led to news bulletins on Seven, dominating all major news websites and even making headlines around the world
In extraordinary footage that emerged Wednesday night, Stefanovic intervenes in a simmering argument between Clarke and Yarbrough in a park outside a Noosa restaurant, as Yarbrough accuses Clarke of cheating on her with his ex Pip Edwards last month.
The video was recorded by a viewer on January 10th.
Stefanovic hosted the Today Show on Thursday and Friday but remained silent about the video, which also starred his wife Jasmine – Jade’s sister – and celebrity accountant Anthony Bell.
Rowland offered his view on the newsworthiness of Clarkey’s clash with the Today anchorman after Chron Australia published an article suggesting that ABC and Nine had completely avoided the one story everyone in the country was talking about
It also wasn’t mentioned on any of Nine’s websites, despite being a huge traffic opportunity.
ABC News Breakfast decided not to give the footage any airtime this week either.
The story was also absent from ABC News and the public broadcaster’s website.
While Nine’s reason for ignoring the story is obvious — his golden boy Stefanovic is involved — ABC news bosses likely felt it was just too unremarkable for their viewers.
In extraordinary footage that emerged Wednesday night, Stefanovic intervenes in a simmering argument between Clarke and Yarbrough (pictured November 3) in a park outside a Noosa restaurant, as Yarbrough accuses Clarke of cheating on her with his ex Pip Edwards too to have