Summary：**Journalist’s AI Prompt Deleted Sparks Heated Segal vs SBS Showdown** *Plus: a freedom of informat

referrerpolicy="no-referrer"
style="max-width:100%;height:auto;display:block;margin:0 auto;">

**Journalist’s AI Prompt Deleted Sparks Heated Segal vs SBS Showdown**
*Plus: a freedom of information document reveals how eSafety prepared for a Senate estimates grilling.*

---

### Introduction
A seemingly routine internal memo at SBS ignited a firestorm after a journalist’s AI‑generated prompt was hastily deleted, prompting accusations of censorship and igniting a public clash between media veteran John Segal and the national broadcaster. The incident, first flagged by Crikey’s “The Snoop” column, has quickly become a flashpoint for debates over editorial autonomy, the role of artificial intelligence in newsrooms, and the transparency obligations of public broadcasters.

### Key Developments
- **Deleted Prompt:** On 12 May, a senior SBS reporter used an AI tool to draft a question for an upcoming Senate estimates hearing on online safety. The prompt, which probed eSafety’s preparedness, was removed from the reporter’s draft folder within hours, reportedly following a directive from senior management.
- **Segal’s Reaction:** Veteran commentator John Segal took to social media, labeling the deletion “an attempt to scrub inconvenient scrutiny” and calling for an independent review of SBS’s AI‑use policies.
- **SBS Response:** The broadcaster issued a statement asserting the removal was a routine “quality‑check” to ensure compliance with editorial standards, denying any intent to suppress legitimate inquiry.
- **FOI Revelation:** A freedom‑of‑information request lodged by the media watchdog group Right‑to‑Know uncovered an eSafety briefing document showing the agency had prepared detailed talking points