Television Violence Project Working Group
Media Release - Thursday 1 April, 2004
Working Group report released today
A ninety-page report released today, Towards Precautionary Risk Management of TV Violence in New Zealand, presents the
findings of the government commissioned Television Violence Working Group. The Working Group comprised broadcasters,
community advocates, regulators, producers and academics.
The aim of the project was to provide a contemporary view on violence on TV, whether it represented a problem in the
context of New Zealand society, and if so, what ought to be done about it. In particular the Working Group was to review
the current literature, examine international regulatory mechanisms, measure the amount of violence on New Zealand TV
and evaluate current tools for controlling the level and nature of TV violence in this country.
Chair of the Working Group Dr Rajen Prasad said, “While there is a high incidence of violence shown on New Zealand TV,
its influence on anti-social behaviour is not a simple issue to determine. Studies show that the strength of the
relationship between TV violence and violent behaviour is relatively modest. However, this is so with most aspects of
human behaviour. Furthermore, not everyone is affected in the same way and the eventual effect is determined by the
complex interaction of a number of factors.”
“The Working Group determined, that given this up-to-date research review, no action is not a valid response. We
concluded that the time had come to move from a preoccupation with proving or disproving some form of causative link
between TV violence and violent behaviour toward a different process of risk assessment and evaluation.”
“To enable us to combat the risks posed by current levels of television violence, our recommendation is to establish a
new form of collaboration between broadcasters and television viewers, and a new-look Broadcasting Standards Authority.
We also have to face new challenges resulting from technological change.”
The Working Group’s proposals on television violence include:
To bring about creative dialogue between viewers, interest groups and broadcasters that strikes a balance between the
freedoms of broadcasters and the attitudes and expectations of viewers and communities
An expansion of the educative and informative role of the Broadcasting Standards Authority
Education strategies to better inform viewers and communities
More choice for viewers over what they watch through better information
More voice for viewers
An independent and accessible complaints system that protects the rights of viewers to have their concerns taken
seriously and to be acted upon if standards are breached
Better research and information on which to base public policy about community responses
The Television Violence Working Group comprised, Dr Rajen Prasad (Chair), Dr Max Abbott (Dean, Faculty of Health, and
Professor of Psychology and Public Health, Auckland University of Technology), Dr Trisha Dunleavy (Senior Lecturer,
Media Studies, Victoria University), Robert Boyd-Bell (TV executive producer, Screen Production and Development
Association - SPADA), Hone Edwards (Commissioner of Programming, Maori Television Service, now Kaihautu, TVNZ), Ian
Fraser (Chief Executive, TVNZ), Rick Friesen (Managing Director, TV3/C4), Jane Parker (Children’s Television
Foundation), John Terris (Viewers for Television Excellence) and Jane Wrightson (Chief Executive, Broadcasting Standards
Authority).
The Working Group considered and reported on the findings of a six-month research project commissioned from Auckland
University of Technology’s Centre for Communication Research. This provided a literature survey of international and
national research on television violence, an analysis of current levels of television violence taken from a full week’s
viewing in March last year, and a survey and evaluation of existing regulatory regimes relating to television violence
in New Zealand and other countries.
The research project resulted from an agreement with the Green Party to investigate levels of TV violence in New
Zealand, with a funding allocation for it in the 2002 Budget.
A copy of the report was received today by Acting Broadcasting Minister Hon David Benson-Pope.
The Television Violence Working Group report, Towards Precautionary Risk Management of TV Violence in New Zealand and
the AUT research report Television Violence in New Zealand – a study of programming and policy in international context
are available online www.tv-violence.org.nz Printed copies of the reports can be obtained from PO Box 5364, Wellington.
(Working Group report is free of charge; AUT report is $28.00 inc. postage and packing)
ENDS