New BSA report: Principles and Pragmatism

Today the Broadcasting Standards Authority released a new report entitled Principles and Pragmatism.

The report is an assessment of BSA decisions from a journalist’s perspective. Author Colin Peacock, host of Radio New Zealand’s Mediawatch programme, consulted more than 40 BSA decisions while completing the assessment.

There is, as the report notes, “an inherent conflict between the day-to-day reality that broadcast journalists work with and the requirement to adhere to a set of prescribed principles such as those that make up the codes of broadcasting practice”.

The report addresses the following questions:

•Where is the tension between the ‘bottom-line standards’ for the Authority and the ‘bottom-line standards’for journalists?
• What is the Authority getting right from journalists’ perspective - and what is it getting wrong?

“We wanted a journalist to review the readability of BSA decisions and assess the extent to which the decisions provide useful guidance to journalists and other programme makers. Just as communication is the essence of broadcasters’ business, so it is of ours” said Joanne Morris, BSA Chair. “We chose Colin not only because of his experience in journalism but also because he is accustomed to analysing media issues from a critical, objective position.”

“This report and its conclusions do not represent the opinions of the BSA. Our opinions are contained in our decisions. We trust that Colin Peacock’s measured assessment of BSA decisions will inspire many other journalists to engage with the vitally important questions that surround the application of broadcasting standards in New Zealand”

“The BSA looks forward to being part of the continuing debate and utilising its lessons to the advantage of all New Zealanders who rely on the broadcasting standards system”

Some of the points raised in the report are:

• The way “public interest” is explained in the decisions may be confusing and journalists may believe there are inconsistencies in the way it is applied by the Authority.
• With ‘rolling news’ and new platforms making stories available around the clock, broadcasters may argue that stories which could balance allegedly unbalanced stories are available elsewhere at any time.
• Journalists may feel the Authority sometimes puts too much responsibility for fairness on broadcasters, possibly encouraging uncooperative interviewees or sources to obstruct their broadcasts.
• Journalists may feel that in some cases the Authority is too sensitive to the feelings of people featured in the broadcasts in question.

The BSA is planning to hold a symposium with journalists in July.
The full report is available on the BSA website www.bsa.govt.nz

ENDS

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