BSA Pānui - Cracking the code
Number 106
Kia ora koutou,

I hope after a month of 2021 that your holiday isn't already feeling like a distant memory. 

As flagged up late last year, we have begun work on the review of the broadcasting codes (you'll find the existing ones hereopen_in_new).

In February we will be touch with those who have kindly put their hands up to be part of our industry working group. 

Then in March and April we will share a survey with all broadcasters to seek your feedback on the codes. 

When it arrives, please take the time to fill it in - it's key to having standards which reflect the broadcasting environment and changes in society. I will keep you informed as the review progresses through this year.

Broadly speaking, I think it will likely be a fascinating year for the media sector here and overseas.

The Australian government’s proposed mandatory news media bargaining codeopen_in_new and the discussions around it are causing many a rippleopen_in_new. While in Canada, Facebook has said it wants the Government there to set rulesopen_in_new for what kind of content should - or should not - be allowed on social media platforms.

In the US and Europe discussions are ongoing about the challenges presented by the spread of misinformation and harmful material.

Back here conversations about the importance of maintaining a strong media sector; funding for content and potential changes to the regulatory environment will likely bubble away.

Take care,
Glen
Chief Executive


 

FEATURED DECISIONS

FREE-TO-AIR TELEVISION

 

Hilless and Television New Zealand Ltd - 2020-028 (16 December 2020) open_in_new

The Authority upheld a complaint that an item on Fair Go was unfair to the fencing contractor investigated. It found the fencing contractor was not treated fairly due to the way the interview was set-up and because he was not given a fair and reasonable opportunity to respond to the allegations made in the programme. It found the inclusion of information about the contractor’s past which had a criminal element was unfair as it was not relevant to the issues being investigated. The accuracy complaint was not upheld as the item did not mislead or present inaccurate information, and the balance standard did not apply as the item did not discuss a controversial issue of public importance.

Upheld: Fairness. Not Upheld: Accuracy, Balance. Order: Section 16(4) - $750 costs to the Crown

Hessell and Television New Zealand Ltd - 2020-051 (21 December 2020) open_in_new

The Authority has upheld a complaint that an episode of 20/20 aired on free-to-air television on a Sunday at 9am, detailing serial killer Ted Bundy’s crimes, motivations, and background, breached the children’s interests and programme information standards. It noted that the broadcast presented in detail some potentially distressing and disturbing content, and themes including sexual violence and perversion, murder, and abduction, without any audience advisory or warning for this content. Additionally, the Authority considered the content and themes were suited for broadcast during the M timeband (suitable for a mature audience), rather than during PG time (which indicated the content was not necessarily unsuitable for child viewers under adult supervision). Viewers were not given sufficient information or signposting about the programme’s likely content to enable them to make informed choices about whether they, or children in their care, should view the broadcast.

Upheld: Children’s Interests, Programme Information. Orders: Section 16(4) – $750 costs to the Crown

RADIO

Tualamali’i & Whittaker and MediaWorks Radio Ltd - 2020-063 (21 December 2020) open_in_new

Two complaints about a Magic Talk interview of Te Whānau ā Apanui spokesperson Louis Rapihana were upheld under the discrimination and denigration standard. The interview was about the legal basis for iwi roadblocks in the eastern Bay of Plenty under COVID-19 Alert Level 4 and what the iwi intended to do if anyone refused to comply with the travel permit requirement established under Alert Level 3. The Authority1 found the approach during the interview and comments made on-air afterwards had the effect of amplifying negative stereotypes about Māori and the potential to cause widespread harm.

Upheld: Discrimination and Denigration Orders: Section 13(1)(a) – broadcast statement; Section 16(4) – $3,000 costs to the Crown

Filmer and MediaWorks Radio Limited - 2020-080 (21 December 2020) open_in_new

The Authority did not uphold a complaint that a spoof of OMC hit song ‘How Bizarre’, in which the singer mimicked the original artist’s accent, breached the discrimination and denigration standard. It found the accent used was an attempt to imitate the distinctive singing voice of Mr Fuemana and sound of ‘How Bizarre’, in the spirit of spoofing the song itself, rather than an attempt to imitate a specifically Māori or Pacific Island accent. 

Not Upheld: Discrimination and Denigration

LATEST DECISIONS

NEWS AND RESEARCH

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