An item on TV3’s Nightline reported on controversial comments made by British television presenter Jeremy Clarkson that striking workers should be shot. The Authority declined to uphold the complaint that the broadcast breached standards relating to law and order, discrimination and denigration, and violence. The item was a straightforward news report about Mr Clarkson’s comments, and broadcasting the comments did not encourage viewers to break the law; nor did it encourage denigration of or discrimination against a section of the community; and the item contained no violence.
Not Upheld: Law and Order, Discrimination and Denigration, Violence
Afternoons with Jim Mora, broadcast on Radio New Zealand National, included a panel discussion about the National Party’s welfare reform policy. The Authority declined to uphold the complaint that the broadcast breached the controversial issues and accuracy standards. The New Zealand welfare system, including welfare reform, amounted to a controversial issue of public importance, the broadcaster had made reasonable efforts to present significant viewpoints, and as the issue was ongoing listeners could reasonably be expected to be aware of alternative viewpoints. The panellist’s statements were his personal comment and opinion and therefore exempt from standards of accuracy under guideline 5a.
Not Upheld: Controversial Issues, Accuracy
One News election coverage showed a graphic “Election 2011” logo which included a blue box with a white tick mark. The Authority declined to uphold a complaint that the colour of the logo influenced people to vote for the National Party, in breach of the controversial issues standard. Use of the logo did not amount to a discussion of a controversial issue and the broadcaster was entitled to editorial discretion in the use of standard graphics.
Not Upheld: Controversial Issues
A documentary Real Crime: Broken Promises, Broken Brides, broadcast on TV One, investigated the abuse of foreign brides in New Zealand. It profiled a Malaysian woman who had died of a methadone overdose nine years earlier and interviewed her New Zealand husband, the complainant, who was convicted of her manslaughter. The Authority declined to uphold the complaint that the programme breached the accuracy and fairness standards. The programme did not create a misleading impression that the complainant had intended to murder his wife, the reporter clearly stating that the complainant was convicted of manslaughter; the complainant’s perspective was included; the programme was accurate and would not have misled viewers; and the complainant was provided with a sufficient opportunity to give his perspective in two interviews and the interviews were not unfairly edited.
Not Upheld: Accuracy, Fairness
During a replay in the broadcast of the Rugby World Cup Semi-Final between France and Wales on TV One, the commentator used the exclamation “Jesus”. The Authority declined to uphold the complaint that the use of the name “Jesus” was “blasphemous” and “offensive” and breached standards relating to good taste and decency and law and order. The exclamation “Jesus” as a spontaneous reaction during a live sports programme was not derogatory or abusive and would not have offended most viewers in that context.
Not Upheld: Good Taste and Decency, Law and Order
An episode of the children’s cartoon Paddle Pop Begins, broadcast on TV3, contained a main character whose name was the same as a brand of iceblock. A complaint was made that this breached the responsible programming and children’s interests standards, because the programme amounted to advertising targeted at children, for a product high in sugar and fat. The Authority declined to uphold the complaint. It accepted that the ‘Streets’ logo and the name of the character amounted to branding or marketing – however, the programme was clearly a children’s cartoon rather than an “advertisement” for the purposes of guideline 8d.
Not Upheld: Responsible Programming, Children’s Interests
An item entitled “The Prophecy Makers” broadcast on Campbell Live reported on a pamphlet drop and Christian websites’ predictions of an earthquake and tsunami in Christchurch. The reporter sought comment and an apology from Kathy Robinson, the author of an article in the pamphlet. The Authority declined to uphold the complaint that the item breached standards relating to controversial issues, accuracy, fairness, and children’s interests. The item legitimately focused on Ms Robinson as she had given her permission for the publication of her prophecy on websites and was the first to have her predictions disseminated; it explicitly stated that it was unclear who had printed the pamphlet; and Ms Robinson was given a reasonable opportunity to comment.
Not Upheld: Controversial Issues, Accuracy, Fairness, Children’s Interests
A pre-recorded item from ABC, broadcast on TVNZ News on TVNZ 7, stated that “your odds” of being hit by a piece of a falling satellite were 1 in 3,200, and then implied that this was more likely than being in a car accident. The Authority declined to uphold the complaint that this breached the accuracy standard. While the item was inaccurate in making the statement, the broadcaster could have expected to rely on a reputable news agency and figures supplied by NASA and the effect of the inaccuracy was not so serious as to outweigh the broadcaster’s right to freedom of expression.
Not Upheld: Accuracy
A promo for Real Life: The World’s Most Enhanced Woman and Me, a documentary about the presenter’s search for the woman with the largest breast implants, was broadcast during One News, which was unclassified, and contained footage of a number of women with very large breasts. The Authority declined to uphold the complaints that this was in breach of standards relating to good taste and decency and children’s interests. The footage was relatively inexplicit (all the women were clothed, one was wearing a bikini top) and was not salacious; and the content was not unsuitable for child viewers under the guidance of an adult and did not contain any material that warranted a higher classification.
Not Upheld: Good Taste and Decency, Children’s Interests
In an episode of the TV3 reality programme Noise Control, a noise control officer was called to a party where there had been complaints about loud music. The complainant, one of the partygoers, was shown in the background and speaking directly to the camera. He complained that this episode and a promo for Noise Control were unfair, inaccurate and irresponsible and breached his privacy. The Authority declined to uphold the complaints. The complainant was properly informed of the nature of his participation and the item did not contain any unfair statements; he was identifiable but no private facts were disclosed in the broadcast and he did not have an interest in solitude or seclusion; the item was not inaccurate or misleading; and the responsible programming standard did not apply.
Not Upheld: Privacy, Accuracy, Fairness, Responsible Programming