An item on 60 Minutes entitled “Turned Away” was broadcast on TV3 and investigated the case of a young man who died of meningococcal disease after being misdiagnosed by medical professionals. The reporter interviewed the Chief Executive of the Northland District Health Board (NDHB) about the circumstances surrounding the man’s treatment and, in particular, about the doctor who made the decision not to administer a lumbar puncture earlier, despite the fact that the man displayed all but one of the symptoms of meningitis. The Authority declined to uphold the complaint that the item was inaccurate and misleading and that the interview was unbalanced and unfair. The item did not create a misleading impression; the District Health Board’s viewpoint was included through the interview with its Chief Executive and the item was not unfair; and significant perspectives were included on the issue under discussion.
Not Upheld: Controversial Issues, Accuracy, 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
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
Overgrown, on Otago University’s Radio One station, is a weekly radio show advocating cannabis law reform. A host referred to a phone call from a general practitioner and commented on the views he allegedly expressed about a purported link between cannabis use and schizophrenia. The Authority declined to uphold the complaint that the broadcast breached standards relating to law and order, controversial issues, accuracy, fairness and responsible programming. The programme’s promotion of cannabis use was in the spirit of protest and to promote law reform – challenging particular laws is a vital component of freedom of expression; the show was opinion-based, putting forward a particular viewpoint, and was not a “factual programme", so the controversial issues and accuracy standards did not apply; the complainant was not named and unlikely to be identified; and the hosts highlighted responsible use.
Not Upheld: Law and Order, Controversial Issues, Accuracy, Fairness, Responsible Programming
An item on 3 News, broadcast on TV3, showed four different clips of a reporter trying to obtain comment from Don Brash on a Labour proposal to raise the retirement age. The complainant argued that one clip would have made the point about the refusal to be interviewed and the series of clips amounted to electioneering by the reporter. The Authority declined to uphold the complaint that the broadcast breached the fairness standard: the item was broadcast in the lead-up to the general election, Mr Brash chose to refuse to comment on a subject other party leaders had freely commented on, and the clips were shown unedited.
Not Upheld: Fairness
An episode of reality series Four Weddings was broadcast at 2pm on TV One. It included a ‘naturist’ ceremony where the bride and groom and most of the guests were shown naked. The Authority declined to uphold the complaint that the broadcast breached standards relating to good taste and decency and children’s interests. The nudity was matter-of-fact and non-sexual, nudity is not in itself harmful to children, and the programme was preceded by a verbal and written warning.
Not Upheld: Good Taste and Decency, Children’s Interests
A promo for Comedy Convoy, a documentary series on performances by stand-up comedians, was broadcast during Home and Away on TV3 at 12.48pm. It included a female comedian stating, “When I was in my early twenties I really wanted kids, like I really wanted them, but I just could never lure them into my car.” The Authority declined to uphold the complaint that the broadcast breached standards relating to good taste and decency, children’s interests and responsible programming. The comment was clearly intended as a joke and was broadcast in the middle of the day during the school term; the promo was broadcast during Home and Away, a programme not targeted at children, and the promo was correctly rated G and screened in an appropriate timeslot.
Not Upheld: Good Taste and Decency, Children’s Interests, Responsible Programming
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