Kia ora koutou
The BSA team is now back in the office and there has been no time for pause. After a reduction in complaints during lockdown, they are increasing again, with 24 formal complaints received in the last month (compared to 10 in the same period last year). We received a sharp increase of enquiries in April and May with the team dealing with 243 inquiries, compared with 173 in the same period last year. As we reach the end of our financial year, we are getting ready to send out our last batch of decisions which takes our decision number to 111, compared with 90 last year. The media plays an important role in creating awareness about issues, and in enabling voices to be heard. This has been highlighted in the recent global coverage of racial inequality. Reporting on these issues requires care and broadcasting standards of fairness, accuracy, balance, and the discrimination and denigration standard provide guidance to broadcasters as they bring these stories to our community. A number of our decisions issued in the last month set out below, touch on these standards and provide guidance to broadcasters. In the lead up to the 2020 Election and Referenda, we are focused on ensuring that broadcasters and the public are aware of the standards for election programmes (promotional clips by candidates and parties on radio and TV in the election period) and aware that complaints about such content can be made. Broadcasting standards for election programmes recognise the importance of free political speech in the lead up to a general election, where political parties and candidates are seeking to influence voters, and audiences are seeking information to enable them to make informed voting decisions. The broadcasting standards are designed to define where the exercise of free political speech may be limited. Information about the Election Programmes Code is on our website hereopen_in_new. We are working with ASA, the Electoral Commission and the NZ Media Council who also have a role in responding to complaints and concerns by the public about Election/Referenda content. Details about the different roles we play are hereopen_in_new. We hope you enjoy this Pānui and that you, your friends and whānau are keeping safe. Ngā mihi Belinda |
