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Kia ora koutou
Our last Pānui was written during the Level 4 Lockdown while broadcasters were working under strict protocols as essential services and the full BSA team was working from home. Now under level 2, we are continuing to work from home, as we prepare for a gradual transition back to our office, and broadcasters are taking stock of the impact that COVID 19 has had on our sector, our community and our economy, while continuing to provide broadcasting services to all of us. was written during the Level 4 Lockdown while broadcasters were working under strict protocols as essential services and the full BSA team was working from
This experience has highlighted the value that standards play in providing an ethical framework that promotes accurate, balanced and fair news reporting, and provides safeguards that keep broadcast audiences safe, particularly our younger generation, from content that may harm them.
In this environment, we have continued to deliver all of our services with some key highlights this month which are summarised in our Over the Last Month section below. The decisions released are also profiled. Alongside our complaints and oversight work, we have contributed to the work undertaken by the Ministry for Culture and Heritage (MCH) to develop the media support and recovery package. Our focus has been to ensure that the views of all broadcasters, large and small are considered in the support provided. More details about the support packages are available on MCH's website hereopen_in_new. A key highlight in April was the launch of our campaign to raise awareness about the changes to timebands and classifications on free-to-air television. These changes are the result of 3 years of hard work and collaboration between the BSA and broadcasters, to adapt our standards system to the modern environment and to enhance important classification and timeband safeguards. Please check out our new website www.safeviewing.co.nzopen_in_new, where, with some entertaining guidance from How to Dad Jordan Watson you can learn about the changes and pick up some tips to keep kids safe from content that might harm them. Equally important last month, was the release of a guidance note on reporting on terrorism and violent extremism. This has been prepared reflecting principles applied to reporting during the March 15 Mosque attacks, with valuable input from broadcasters.
We are acutely aware of the challenges facing the broadcasting sector and our community at this time. Working together to emerge from this crisis, resilient and open to new opportunities is key. For BSA, our attention is now on the 2020 Election, and the role we play in overseeing standards under the Election Programmes Code and working with other organisations such as the Electoral Commission, ASA and Media Council to address concerns that the community may have about election content.
We hope you enjoy this Pānui and that you, your friends and whānau are keeping safe.
Ngā mihi
Belinda |
