BSA Pānui - Celebrating 35 years of game-changing broadcasting co-regulation

Number 151
Kia ora koutou

As we publish the BSA’s 35th annual report today we celebrate the game-changing role broadcasting standards have played in protecting freedom of expression while also tackling potential harm.

A major reduction in standards breaches over time shows the co-regulatory broadcasting standards system has achieved its purpose since it was created, along with the BSA, under the Broadcasting Act 1989.

Working alongside broadcasters, the BSA has overseen a system that has delivered on a vision of freedom in broadcasting without harm.

Throughout this time broadcasters have carried out their vital role as conduits for free speech, strengthening our society and democracy. Record-low rates of upheld complaints in the last three years show they are getting the balance between free speech and harm right in the overwhelming majority of cases.

However, the rapid migration of TV and radio audiences to new platforms outside the remit of existing regulators now limits our ability to keep delivering on our vision. Reform of content regulation is overdue to ensure community standards continue to be upheld beyond traditional broadcasting. We welcome the Government’s work towards a modern, streamlined regulatory landscape and look forward to seeing proposals.
 
You can see our media release with more details hereopen_in_new, and our full annual report hereopen_in_new. [Click on infographic to see full size]

New video resource: How to complain

We’re delighted to launch the latest in our new series of ‘quick guide’ videos, a bite-sized outline on how to navigate the complaints process.
 
This will be a valuable resource to help complainants understand how to get started and what to expect when making a formal complaint about a TV or radio broadcast. It’s now available on our website, and broadcasters may like to consider pointing or linking to this in communications to audiences about the process.
 
This is the second of our new plain-English video guides to broadcasting standards and the complaints process. We’re producing these in response to feedback that many people prefer more visual ways of learning.
 
The new video can be seen hereopen_in_new.
Closure of safeviewing.co.nz

In our last Pānui, we launched a new videoopen_in_new on the tools audiences can use to make informed viewing and listening decisions. This is now our ‘go-to’ guide for audiences on safe viewing and listening.
 
In the coming weeks we plan to close a previous resource, the safeviewing.co.nz website.
 
This was created in collaboration with free-to-air TV broadcasters in 2020 to help educate the public about changes to classifications and timebands. More than four years on, this site has served its purpose, the changes are well bedded in, and the change-focused content is out of date.
 
From now on, we invite broadcasters and others with an interest in this area to direct audiences to the BSA’s safe viewing/listening web pageopen_in_new – home to our new video and a handy written guide in multiple languages – and to update any audience-facing comms and resources you may have that still mention or link to safeviewing.co.nz.
 
As ever, if you know of others who may find the resources and information in this Pānui useful, please feel free to share them via your networks.

Ngā mihi mahana
Stacey Wood
Chief Executive
FEATURED DECISIONS

Duke and Television New Zealand Ltd - 2024-068 (24 October 2024) open_in_new

The Authority has not upheld a complaint under the balance, accuracy and fairness standards about a broadcast of 1News discussing the United States’ decision to send more combat aircraft and war ships to the Middle East following the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh. The complainant argued the broadcast was unbalanced and biased towards American and Israeli interests by omitting to mention Haniyeh was the chief negotiator for Hamas in ceasefire negotiations relating to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. The Authority found the broadcast was more of a report on recent events than a discussion of issues to which the balance standard might apply. Even if the balance standard applied, it would not have been breached as the audience could reasonably be expected to be aware of the relevant matters from other reporting; the item was a short news item focused on events and did not purport to present a balanced examination of Israel’s motivations or the significance of killing the Hamas leader and ceasefire negotiator; and it featured comments from a variety of perspectives and sources. The accuracy and fairness standards did not apply or were not breached.

Not Upheld: Balance, Accuracy, Fairness


Humphries and Television New Zealand Ltd - 2024-059 (24 October 2024) open_in_new

The Authority has not upheld a complaint about language used in a Seven Sharp interview with Neil Finn. At two separate points in the interview, presenter Jeremy Wells and Finn referred to another band member as ‘a GC’ and a ‘good [beep]’; and later Finn quoted a review of his own album, which said, ‘red card, you [beep]’. The Authority found the broadcast was unlikely to cause widespread disproportionate offence or distress, and unlikely to adversely affect child viewers, taking into account: Seven Sharp is an unclassified news and current affairs programme targeted at adults (during which adult supervision is expected); the content was consistent with audience expectations of Seven Sharp and Jeremy Wells; Wells and Finn had the right to express themselves in language of their choosing (within the boundaries of the standards); and all uses of the c-word were appropriately censored. Neither ‘GC’ nor the c-word were used to discriminate against or denigrate women. The remaining standards did not apply.

Not Upheld: Offensive and Disturbing Content, Children’s Interests, Discrimination and Denigration, Promotion of Illegal or Antisocial Behaviour, Fairness.

LATEST DECISIONS

NEWS AND RESEARCH
New Zealand International

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