Kia ora koutou
Consultation has now closed on Manatū Taonga’s Media Reform proposals – thank you to those who shared their thoughts with us and made submissions to the Ministry.
The BSA has been calling for reform of the Broadcasting Act for many years, as have many broadcasters, other media and stakeholders. We are all aware of the increasing urgency to update broadcasting regulations that were created in 1989 in a pre-internet world.
The digital revolution has transformed – and continues to transform – how we consume media. The impact on the sector, and the resulting deepening of inequities and power imbalances, have brought the limitations of the current framework into stark relief.
With 35 years of experience as an effective regulator of media content – and through our conversations with broadcasters and other media – we’re well placed to help identify issues to be addressed in shaping any new system or regulator.
Need for reform and a level playing field In our submission, we’ve expressed strong support generally for an overhaul of the Broadcasting Act, and the aim to modernise the standards system to cover all professional media operating in New Zealand, not just broadcasters.
We welcome the ‘platform-neutral’ nature of the proposed system. Any new system needs to be flexible and futureproof as the ways content is produced and consumed continue to evolve.
This, and the suggested measures to make New Zealand content more accessible and discoverable, and adjust the functions of the regulator, could help level the playing field so local media and content producers can compete with much bigger global platforms. This, in turn, could help ensure New Zealand stories continue to be told.
We’ve also identified issues for policymakers to consider in any further development of the proposals:
- We believe levelling the playing field for local platforms is unlikely to be achieved if global online platforms carrying similar content, such as YouTube, are excluded.
- We understand the rationale for focusing on professional media initially, but strongly recommend any new system leaves the door open to expanding its scope to include social media, where the majority of harm is happening.
- The proposed mix of self-regulation and regulatory oversight may lead to confusion and duplication. If the goal is to simplify the system and reduce fragmentation, the layering of a self-regulatory body between media and the regulator may run counter to this.
- Careful consideration needs to be given to how any new system or new (self) regulator would be funded, and by whom.
We believe any new system must simplify the regulatory landscape, rather than further complicating it. It needs to consider the fairest way to address any resulting increase in costs for the industry.
At its heart, any future system must continue to protect freedom of expression, while allowing for appropriate limits to prevent harm.
The existing co-regulatory system has proven highly effective in balancing freedom in broadcasting with maintaining community expectations around the kind of content people expect to see or hear on TV and radio. While the Broadcasting Act 1989 is no longer fit for purpose, our research and experience show the standards themselves are still relevant and important in a free and democratic society.
Consultation may have closed, but we remain available to discuss any thoughts or concerns you may have about the reform proposals.
We look forward to keeping in touch with broadcasters and stakeholders - we want to make sure our input continues to reflect your views and concerns.
You can see the full BSA submission
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The Media Reform proposals can be seen on Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage’s website
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Ngā mihi mahana
Stacey Wood
Chief Executive