Photo credit: ABC

Ah, Q&A. Always delivering the goods.

Tony Abbott has declared ‘heads should roll’ over the scandal that involved Zaky Mallah, who was acquitted of terrorism offences, putting questions to MP Steve Ciobo. Q&A has previously been in hot water over airing  a tweet of someone with a rather lewd Twitter handle.

The panel discussion show which airs on ABC, features two interactive components: the live audience, and live Tweets from audiences watching at home which appear on the screen. This format allows for some interesting discussion and feedback, but it is also risky for the ABC. Live audiences are uncontrollable, and nor (at least they claimed) do they have control over the user names of the Tweeters who appear on screen. The ABC, as an institution, is able to curate the guests in their audience, the comments that appear on the screen, but they can’t control what questions are posed by their guests, and how the interviewees may respond.

Whether you believe it was a mistake to invite Zaky Malik to question Ciobo or not, this remains an interesting example of the times when institutions are able to exert power, and where they can lose control.