Two Campbell Live items reported on controversial comments made by the Chief Executive (CE) of the Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA), Alasdair Thompson, that some female workers are less productive because they take sick leave when they are menstruating. The first item was an excerpt from an interview with Mr Thompson, while the second consisted of a panel discussion about Mr Thompson’s behaviour during the interview. Both items questioned whether Mr Thompson should remain in his position at the EMA. The Authority declined to uphold complaints that the items were unfair, inaccurate, unbalanced and breached individuals’ right to privacy: the interview footage was fair; the items focused on Mr Thompson’s comments and his competency to fulfil his role as CE of the EMA, rather than the specific issue of pay equity, but balance was achieved in relation to both issues; and the items did not breach anyone’s privacy. In a minority decision, one member found that the broadcast of only a small part of the interview would have left viewers with an unfairly negative impression of Mr Thompson.
Not Upheld: Accuracy, Controversial Issues, Privacy
Not Upheld (majority): Fairness
An item on 3 News, broadcast on TV3 at 6pm, reported on the launch of the Green Party’s election campaign. The footage contained a brief, out-of-focus background image of a person’s “butt crack”. The Authority declined to determine the complaint that this breached the good taste and decency and fairness standards, on the grounds that the complaint was frivolous and trivial.
Declined to Determine: Good Taste and Decency, Fairness
An item on 3 News, broadcast on TV3 at 6pm, reported on a single bluefin tuna being sold at auction in Japan for nearly one million dollars. Footage was shown of the fish’s head being removed and the fish being sliced in half; there was also brief footage of other fish being sliced or filleted. The Authority declined to uphold the complaint that the broadcast breached the good taste and decency and violence standards. The images were not gratuitous and would not have offended most viewers in the context of a news item, and filleting fish did not amount to “violence” for the purposes of that standard.
Not Upheld: Good Taste and Decency, Violence
During Afternoons with Jim Mora, broadcast on Radio New Zealand National about 4.30pm, the host and panellists discussed the recent release of a controversial collectors’ edition Barbie doll. A panellist suggested there was a market in the Muslim world for “terrorist Barbie”, and in response the host suggested “suicide bomber Barbie”. The Authority declined to uphold the complaint that the broadcast breached standards relating to good taste and decency, accuracy, discrimination and denigration, and responsible programming. The comments were intended to be satirical, they were clearly commentary and opinion rather than statements of fact, the panellists were making the point that the marketers were smart to release controversial Barbie dolls, and the programme was not one likely to appeal to child listeners.
Not Upheld: Good Taste and Decency, Accuracy, Discrimination and Denigration, Responsible Programming
Items broadcast on Campbell Live on TV3 asked viewers for their opinions on changing the New Zealand flag and gave a brief visual overview of the history of New Zealand flags. The Authority declined to determine the complaint that this breached standards relating to controversial issues, accuracy, fairness, discrimination and denigration, and responsible programming: the complainant’s concerns were matters of personal preference and editorial discretion and the complaint was frivolous and trivial.
Declined to Determine: Controversial Issues, Accuracy, Fairness, Discrimination and Denigration, Responsible Programming
An episode of the cartoon comedy Family Guy, broadcast on FOUR at 7.30pm, contained sexual content and innuendo. The Authority declined to uphold the complaint that the broadcast breached standards relating to good taste and decency, responsible programming and children’s interests. The sexual content was subtle and inexplicit and the sexual innuendo would have gone over the heads of younger viewers; the content was not unsuitable for supervised child viewers; and the episode was correctly rated PGR, preceded by a visual and verbal warning, and screened in an appropriate time-band.
Not Upheld: Good Taste and Decency, Responsible Programming, Children’s Interests
A promo for 3 News broadcast on TV3 at 5.55pm contained a brief shot of a man head-butting another man during the ‘Occupy Dunedin’ protest movement. The Authority declined to uphold the complaint that the broadcast breached standards relating to good taste and decency, law and order, children’s interests, and violence. The footage was fleeting and inexplicit and no visible injury was shown; it did not encourage viewers to break the law or glamorise criminal activity; it screened immediately before the news within the host programme Home and Away which is not targeted at or likely to appeal to younger child viewers; and the voiceover signposted the footage as a “violent protest” against the occupiers.
Not Upheld: Good Taste and Decency, Law and Order, Children’s Interests, Violence
An item on One News, broadcast on TV One, reported on Prime Minister John Key referring the matter of the “tea tapes” to the police. It included Mr Key’s comment that because the crime rate had been lowered the police “do have a little bit of spare time”. At the end, the reporter said, “John Key may face criticism . . . for saying that police have too much time on their hands.” The Authority declined to uphold the complaint that the broadcast breached standards relating to controversial issues, accuracy and fairness. Viewers heard Mr Key’s original comment so they would not have been misled; politicians should expect robust commentary on their views during an election period; and the item presented alternative views on the involvement of police in the matter.
Not Upheld: Controversial Issues, Accuracy, Fairness
In an episode of Intrepid Journeys, broadcast at 7.30pm on TV One, well-known New Zealander Brendon Cole visited a Vanuatu village. The locals told him how to kill a chicken using a slingshot but he didn’t manage to hit the chicken properly and eventually killed it with his hands. The Authority declined to uphold the complaint that the programme breached standards relating to good taste and decency, children’s interests and violence. The footage was not gratuitous – it showed the daily reality of a different culture and it was clear that Mr Cole was upset about killing the chicken; the programme was correctly rated PGR and the scene was signposted so parents could exercise discretion; and the footage did not amount to “violence” as envisaged by that standard.
Not Upheld: Good Taste and Decency, Children’s Interests, Violence
During The Edge Morning Show one of the hosts performed a parody of a song, and later read out a listener’s text message which said, “Dom, your song was so gay I’m pretty sure I just got AIDS from listening to it.” The Authority declined to uphold the complaint that the broadcast breached standards relating to good taste and decency, accuracy, and discrimination and denigration. Given contextual factors such as the target audience and their expectations of content on The Edge, the potential harm to listeners did not outweigh the broadcaster’s right to freedom of expression; the programme was not a news, current affairs or factual programme to which the accuracy standard applied; and the content of the text message was directed at the host’s song and not against homosexuals as a section of the community.
Not Upheld: Good Taste and Decency, Accuracy, Discrimination and Denigration