“In that email you have drawn to my attention, I acknowledge that it is open to interpretation; however, I was referring to what I saw as an offhand manner in dealing with talent. On reflection, that was inappropriate,” Williams told Media Watch in a statement.

“I understand the sensitivity which surrounds such matters and have sympathy with the way that misunderstandings can arise from time to time and where people can take offence.”

Williams added that he gave Gutman no guarantee of airtime and that he did not intervene, nor seek to override his staff’s editorial judgment.

“There was no instruction or suggestion of intervention made. I do not believe that I have acted in any way inconsistent with ABC editorial policies. It is important to keep these matters in proportion and not to amplify it into something it was not.”

ABC managing director Hugh Marks, who is less than two months into the job, backed the Media Watch team, led by Linton Besser and executive producer Mario Christodoulou, for chasing the story.

“The matters raised by Media Watch are important. I have been at the ABC a short time, but I am vigilant to ensure the proper delineation of responsibility between the board and management, and will act appropriately to ensure the best interests of the ABC, its people and audiences as we move forward,” Marks said.

Williams affirmed that he understood the difference between his role as chair and that of the managing director and senior management.

Besser, a Walkley Award-winning reporter, was appointed host of Media Watch last November, replacing Paul Barry after 12 years in the role.

The show’s most recent episode on April 14 was viewed by an average audience of 613,000 across metro and regional television, alongside digital streaming on ABC iview.

The scrutiny of the ABC’s chairman represents another challenge for the broadcaster after Williams’ predecessor, Ita Buttrose’s role in the sacking of Antoinette Lattouf dominated her unlawful termination proceedings in the Federal Court this year.

Unionised ABC staff said that given the damage to the broadcaster’s reputation wreaked by the Lattouf case, the revelations of Williams’ alleged interference were particularly galling.

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Since his arrival at the ABC, Williams has taken a significantly more visible approach to being chair than Buttrose, who rarely gave interviews or spoke on matters concerning the functioning of the national broadcaster.

He has given a number of public addresses, speeches, interviews and appearances in 13 months, with a common theme being the justification for improved funding for the broadcaster, arguing that strong media is essential in an age of misinformation, declining trust in the media and threats to democracy.

Earlier this month, Williams told the Melbourne Press Club the ABC was ready to defend itself in any efficiency reviews brought by a Peter Dutton-led government.

As chair, Williams has also been open about the ABC’s areas for improvement, telling the Press Club there were areas where the broadcaster had “lost the plot”, while also underperforming in its service of documentaries. Last year, Williams also criticised the ABC’s online news output, arguing it over-preferred “lifestyle stories” instead of hard news.

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