ABC presenter's Coles blunder leads to hilarious response
The slip-up took place as colleagues farewelled veteran journalist and News Breakfast co-host Lisa Millar from the show.
As veteran television presenter Lisa Millar was farewelled during her last appearance as host on ABC News Breakfast, an accidental slip-up from co-anchor Michael Rowland left the panel in a fit of laughs.
Millar, who has co-hosted the national broadcaster's flagship breakfast show for the last five years, finished up on Friday to explore new work opportunities. "I’m excited to hit the road and discover more of the incredible stories that make up the remarkable tapestry of our culture," she said earlier of her departure.
Surrounded by fellow ABC TV personalities, including meteorologist Nate Byrne, The Project's Georgie Tunny and her partner, actor Rob Mills, Millar reflected on her time on the show as her colleagues paid homage to her incredible, three-decade long career at the network. But it was amid this emotional tribute that a minor gaffe slipped through the cracks.
ABC held to strict editorial standards, Charter states
Gifting the beloved presenter with a signed cap from Aussie tennis champ Ash Barty, Rowland lifted a paper bag with Coles branding on it out from behind the lounge, right in front of a live camera. This prompted fellow presenter Tony Armstrong to quickly grab the bag and slap his hand over the supermarket's signature red logo. "Hey, editorial standards — I've got them," he quipped.
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Rowland joked in response as colleagues caught onto the blunder: "It's a supermarket that rhymes with moles, but I appreciate the thought".
Armstrong's quick thinking is in response to the publicly-funded ABC's editorial standards.
"The ABC needs to be able to reflect the world as it is, and this involves referring appropriately to commercial organisations, products and services, while maintaining the ABC’s editorial independence and integrity," the broadcaster's Charter states.
The Charter directs that ABC services must reflect what is seen as the traditional role of a public broadcaster and must not inappropriately advertise or promote commercial entities.
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