Press Release: for Immediate Distribution 22 June 2006

BSA Meets the Community

The Broadcasting Standards Authority today announced names of the members of its inaugural community advisory panel. The panel will give the BSA an opportunity to meet and discuss broadcasting standards issues affecting a cross-section of New Zealanders. Panel selection was specially balanced so a broad spectrum of communities can be represented.

Over 160 people applied to join the panel. “We were staggered by the response,” said BSA chief executive Jane Wrightson. “Our original intention was to appoint six people from varied backgrounds. We ended up appointing 10 and could easily have doubled that”, she said.

“The BSA board is delighted that it can now consult effectively and regularly with a variety of New Zealanders,” said Ms Wrightson. “It will be a two-way process. As well as assisting the board with issues the BSA is facing, panel members will also discuss matters with their own communities and raise them with the Authority”, she said.

The panel will not be involved with complaints determination, but will give advice and feedback about wider issues. It will meet up to three times a year. Recent examples where a panel would have been useful include when the BSA was considering changes to the rules about early evening promo scheduling, and when it was discussing how to assess viewing habits of children.

The panel is chaired by BSA board member Diane Musgrave. Members are:

Tim Cadogan, solicitor, of Clyde
Fraser Campbell, retired principal, of Christchurch
Anna Carter, environmental planner, of Waikanae
Efeso Collins, public servant, of Auckland
Liz Hirst, self-employed, of Nelson
Huia Lloyd, communications consultant, of Wellington
Raj Mundi, electronics supervisor, of Hamilton
Jessica Ralph, student, of Auckland
Lynda Park, managing director, of Auckland
Rob Tuwhare, carpenter, of Waiheke Island

ENDS

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