Kia ora koutou,
As concerns over misinformation and disinformation soar, accuracy regularly ranks as the most complained-about of the broadcasting standards the BSA oversees.
Accuracy complaints made up over half of all those the Authority determined in 2020/21, driven by concerns over coverage of COVID-19 and elections here and in the US.
Access to accurate information is essential to a well-functioning democracy – yet determining if material is accurate within the broadcasting standards system is not always straightforward.
To ensure we’re applying the accuracy standard correctly, the BSA has commissioned two new pieces of research.
This year’s ‘litmus testing’ surveyopen_in_new explored public views on accuracy.
It found New Zealanders are worried a shift to online platforms is fuelling misinformation and making it harder to identify ‘the truth’.
This finding comes as social media overtakes free-to-air TV as our most-consumed media, according to the survey.
Participants expressed doubts about the reliability of social media sources but were more trusting of organisations known for verifying sources when broadcasting information.
An average of 83% agreed with five BSA accuracy decisions we tested.
We also invited media law expert Emeritus Professor John Burrows to carry out an independent review of five BSA accuracy decisionsopen_in_new, four of which related to COVID.
Overall, Prof Burrows found the decisions were ‘sound and realistic’ and the BSA was doing a ‘difficult job well’.
He stressed the need, ‘in times of unrest and dissention’, for rigorously researched and reasoned decisions which convincingly answer the parties’ arguments.
He emphasised the value of citing previous cases, and returning to the issue of freedom of expression at the end of a decision to show how it influenced the determination.
We’ll take these findings and recommendations into account in future decisions.
We’re also making both reports available to broadcasters and other stakeholders who may find them useful.
You can see our media release and read the full research on the BSA website:
Media release - BSA research highlights public concerns over spread of misinformationopen_in_new
Litmus Testing 2022 – Accuracy Standardopen_in_new
External Review of Decisionsopen_in_new
Ngā mihi nui
Helen Cruse
Acting Chief Executive
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