BSA Pānui - A helping hand
Number 108
Kia ora koutou,

I hope you have been enjoying the quite spookily warm autumn.

One of the things we really like doing is helping out where we can via sessions with broadcasters, students or stakeholder groups.

It's a chance for us to get out and understand what is happening at the coalface and to also explain the standards and highlight developments. We can make these sessions really interactive.

Māori TV and Canterbury University were both kind enough to invite us along recently; we really enjoyed spending the time with their people.

So, if you're looking for a helping hand in bringing your people up to speed about the standards, or as a refresher, please don't hesitate to ask. Just drop me a line at the email address below.

Meanwhile, our code review survey is now with broadcasters and stakeholder groups. We've had a number of people ask for others to be added, which is great. If you have the survey please do take the time to fill it in.

Ngā mihi nui
Glen
Chief Executive

FEATURED DECISIONS

FREE-TO-AIR TELEVISION
Ancel and Television New Zealand Ltd - 2020-112 (16 March 2021) open_in_new

A 1 News item reported on studies showing an increase in emperor penguin numbers in the Antarctic, followed by ‘a word of caution’ about the danger posed to the penguin population by climate change. The Authority did not uphold a complaint that the second part of the piece, which included a forecast that the global population of emperor penguins could decrease by half by the end of this century, was based on ‘unproven science’. It found viewers were likely to interpret the comments and predictions as analysis or opinion to which the accuracy standard does not apply. Given the wide social acceptance of the existence and predicted impacts of climate change, the Authority did not consider the item discussed a ‘controversial issue’. Therefore the balance standard and the requirement to present alternative viewpoints did not apply.

Not Upheld: Accuracy, Balance

RADIO
Foster and Radio New Zealand Ltd - 2020-125 (16 March 2021) open_in_new

Continuing the above theme... an item on RNZ’s Midday Report reported ‘Scientists warn polar bears may become extinct by the end of the century because of climate change’. The complainant alleged climate change was not threatening polar bears as reported in the item. The Authority found the statements were clearly framed as predictions, and attributed as being the scientists’ view. Therefore, they were analysis and opinion (rather than statements of fact) and the accuracy standard did not apply. Reporting on the predicted future impact of declining sea ice on polar bear survival, as shown in studies, did not amount to a discussion of a controversial issue, so the balance standard did not apply.

Not Upheld: Accuracy, Balance, Programme Information

LATEST DECISIONS

NEWS AND RESEARCH

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