BSA Pānui - To the point

FREE-TO-AIR TELEVISION

The Authority has found aspects of Talanoa Sa’o breached the accuracy standard. While parts of the programme were opinion, comment or analysis to which the standard does not apply, it did contain incorrect statements of fact, false assertions, and omissions of information which would materially mislead viewers (particularly through implication). The programme created the incorrect impression that social housing will only be provided to people who are vaccinated against COVID-19; that hydroxychloroquine is an effective COVID-19 treatment and the Government has deliberately prevented New Zealanders from accessing it; and that a baby was born after an attempted abortion and left to die as a result of recently amended abortion laws. The broadcaster did not provide evidence of reasonable efforts to ensure the accuracy of the programme.

Upheld: Accuracy

Orders: Section 13(1)(a) – broadcast statement; Section 16(4) – $500 costs to the Crown

RADIO

An announcer on The Edge Breakfast recounted an experience at her antenatal class where she discussed how to address constipation post childbirth. The complaint was this segment breached the good taste and decency and children’s interests standards. The Authority did not uphold the complaint, taking into account the programme’s target audience, audience expectations, and the low-level language complained about (being of an anatomical, rather than a profane or sexual nature).

Not Upheld: Good Taste and Decency and Children’s Interests

• Clark & Sallee and Apna Television Ltd - 2021-081 (20 December 2021)open_in_new - Upheld: Accuracy. Orders: Section 13(1)(a) – broadcast statement; Section 16(4) – $500 costs to the Crown
• Carran and Television New Zealand Ltd - 2021-125 (20 December 2021)open_in_new - Not Upheld: Balance and Accuracy
• Derleth and Discovery NZ Ltd - 2021-109 (20 December 2021)open_in_new - Not Upheld: Balance
• Gilchrist and Discovery NZ Ltd - 2021-130 (20 December 2021)open_in_new - Not Upheld: Accuracy, Good Taste and Decency, Programme Information, Balance, Fairness
• Glen and MediaWorks Radio Ltd - 2021-128 ( 20 December 2021)open_in_new - Not Upheld: Good Taste and Decency and Children’s Interests
• Jarvis and Television New Zealand Ltd - 2021-135 (20 December 2021)open_in_new - Not Upheld: Balance, Accuracy
• Laroche & Breed and Television New Zealand Ltd - 2021-132 (20 December 2021)open_in_new - Declined to Determine (section 11(b) of the Broadcasting Act 1989, in all the circumstances): Discrimination and Denigration, Accuracy, Balance, Fairness
• Morgan and NZME Radio Ltd - 2021-131 (20 December 2021)open_in_new - Declined to Determine (section 11(b) of the Broadcasting Act 1989, in all the circumstances): Discrimination and Denigration
• Nightingale and NZME Radio Ltd - 2021-129 (20 December 2021)open_in_new - Not Upheld: Privacy
• Powell and Television New Zealand Ltd - 2021-127 (20 December 2021)open_in_new - Not Upheld: Accuracy

• NZ: ACT Party's boycott of RNZ's Morning Report caused by host comparing one of its policies to eugenics open_in_new
• UK: Former BBC editors scrutinise the broadcaster's impartiality open_in_new
• UK: Major broadcasters commit to avoid using 'catch-all' BAME acronym open_in_new
• UK: Guidance for ODPS providers on measures to protect users from harmful materialopen_in_new
• Australia: Founder of anti-vaccination Christian TV network dies after contracting COVID-19, as review finds no breach of TV codesopen_in_new
• Australia: Support for local television in battle over Smart TV appsopen_in_new
• Canada: Media experts agree action is needed, but urge caution on how streaming is regulatedopen_in_new
• International (Reuters Institute): How news organisations navigate trade-offs around building trust in newsopen_in_new