Annual Report Released

Today the Broadcasting Standards Authority released its 2007-2008 Annual Report.

During this period the BSA has determined complaints on everything from Breakfast to Nightline, from a children’s story read on radio to the television show Californication.

In the past year the BSA received 148 complaints, compared 131 in the previous year and issued 139 decisions, compared to last year’s 125.

Of the 139 decisions issued:

82% (114 decisions) concerned television programmes (73% or 91 in 2007)

18% (25) concerned radio broadcasts (27% or 34 in 2007)

29% of complaints (40) were upheld in full or in part (22% or 27 in 2007)

32 of the 40 upheld decisions concerned television broadcasts; 8 concerned radio

53% of decisions concerned news, current affairs and talk radio (70% in 2007)

65 alleged breaches of balance, fairness or accuracy standards. 35% were upheld (24% in 2007)

43 alleged breaches of good taste and decency. 16% were upheld (4% in 2007)

The full annual report contains a full overview of the year’s complaints statistics as well as determining complaints the BSA also conducts communications and research about broadcasting standards and the wider broadcasting environment.

In May 2008 the BSA released a new research report, Seen and Heard: Children’s Media Use, Exposure and Response.

In Seen and Heard the BSA interviewed 604 New Zealand children aged six to 13 and their primary caregivers and asked them about children’s media use across a range of media including television, radio, the internet and mobile devices.

The report shows that children have clear ideas about what is inappropriate for them and what upsets them in both traditional and new media.

A PDF of the Annual Report is available on the BSA website www.bsa.govt.nz.

If you would like more information, or a hard copy please contact the BSA info@bsa.govt.nz or 04 3829508.