The ABC's managing director has told staff to "stick to the journalism" and avoid "second-guessing" whether their work would attract external scrutiny.

Addressing the National Press Club eight months after taking the helm of the broadcaster, Hugh Marks said he inherited an organisation with a "fearfulness of external force" but that this was improving.

"I think that fearfulness drives a counter-productive behaviour, which is that we should at all times react to that," he said.

"I think we've had great discussions since I've been at the ABC … around the importance of owning mistakes quickly."

Mr Marks said the broadcaster should correct and acknowledge mistakes and then "move on", and that its journalists should focus on the merit of their work rather than worrying about political impli

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