Kia ora koutou
The Government has today launched a public consultation on proposals to reform legislation for media and content production.
This is a welcome development. The BSA has long called for and supported moves to modernise regulation that no longer aligns with how content is produced and consumed – as have many broadcasters, media and stakeholders.
The Media Reform discussion document proposes New Zealand’s media standards system should cover not just broadcasters, but also streaming platforms and online providers.
It also floats changing the role of the regulator – currently the BSA – so it has a more ‘system-level’ focus with a greater reliance on industry self-regulation.
We support the paper’s high-level aims to create a modern, fit-for-purpose regulatory and funding environment, and to support a sustainable media and content production sector.
For years we’ve highlighted the increasingly urgent need to update our 35-year-old broadcasting regulations that pre-date the internet.
We welcome the ‘platform-neutral’ nature of the proposed system, providing flexibility and future-proofing in view of sweeping changes in how content is produced and consumed. This, and suggested measures making local content more accessible and discoverable, and to increase self-regulation, may help local media to better compete with much bigger global platforms. This, in turn, could help ensure New Zealand stories continue to be told.
However, any reform will need to consider the fairest way to address any resulting increase in costs for media.
Regardless of the exact shape of any new system, it’s vital from the BSA’s perspective that it continues to protect freedom of expression, while allowing for appropriate limits to prevent harm.
We’ll examine the new proposals in detail before making a submission. In doing so, we’ll draw on the BSA’s 35 years of experience as an effective regulator of media content.
We also want to hear what broadcasters and those working in New Zealand media think of the proposals. As is often the case with public consultations, the proposals are light on details, and we know there will be different views on the best way to achieve a fair and sustainable media regulation framework that is practical now and for the future.
Please get in touch if you have thoughts or concerns you’d like to share.
You can see the statement we’ve issued to media welcoming today’s consultation announcement
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The Media Reform consultation document can be seen on the Ministry for Culture and Heritage website
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Long-awaited reform of the regulatory landscape will of course take time. Until any new framework is finalised and enacted, we look forward to continuing to work closely with broadcasters and stakeholders on a ‘business-as-usual’ basis.
Ngā mihi mahana
Stacey Wood
Chief Executive