Number 04 December 2009
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The members and staff of the BSA wish all our stakeholders a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! The BSA Bulletin provides news from the Broadcasting Standards Authority. Feel free to forward the Bulletin to anyone you think might be interested. Email us if you would like to subscribe to our mailing list. We welcome any feedback and suggestions to the look and content of the Bulletin.
New appointments to the BSAThe BSA is pleased to welcome two new appointments to the board - Peter Radich as the Chair and Leigh Pearson as a board member. Peter Radich is a partner in Radich Law and has been a solicitor of the High Court since 1969. He was previously the Chair of the New Zealand Law Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal until it was disbanded in January 2009. He also serves as Milk Commisioner for the Fonterra Dairy Group, District Solicitor to the Marlborough District Council and is a member of the Law Practitioners and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal. Peter replaces Joanne Morris who has served as Chair since August 2003. Leigh Pearson is a self-employed government relations and communications advisor. She has worked for TVNZ, Radio NZ, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. She is a former Chair of the Parliamentary Press Gallery. Leigh replaces Paul France who has served as a member since December 2003. Peter and Leigh have been appointed for three-year terms until 30 November 2012. An official hello/goodbye function to welcome the new members and thank the leaving members will be held early in 2010.
BSA Christmas/New Year hoursThe BSA will close on Thursday 24 December for the Christmas/New Year break. It officially reopens on Monday 11 January (some staff will be working in the preceding week but will not necessarily be in the office). Note that under the Broadcasting Act 'working days' are suspended between 25 December and 15 January. This means if you receive/make a complaint during this period you have 20 working days from 15 January to reply/receive a response.
Recent decisionsThese decisions were released earlier this month. Clicking on the names below will take you directly to the decisions. Thomson and TVNZ - One News contained footage of Clayton Weatherston describing his attack during murder trial. Good taste and decency. Upheld. Coates and TVNZ - Two items on One News covering the murder trial of Clayton Weatherston contained footage of the accused describing his attack, and of the prosecutor swearing. Good taste and decency, children’s interests, and violence. Upheld. Fairness, discrimination and denigration, and responsible programming. Not upheld. Oswald and TVNZ - One News item reported on murder trial of Clayton Weatherston and included footage of the accused explaining how his relationship with his victim began. Good taste and decency, and privacy. Not upheld. ACC and TVWorks - Items on 3 News and Nightline alleged that ACC had not fulfilled legal obligation to inform clients about Independent Tax Earner Credit. Accuracy, upheld. Balance, not upheld. Stockwell and TVNZ - Movie A Man Apart contained violent scenes. Children’s interests, and violence. Upheld. Programme classification, law and order, and good taste and decency. Not upheld. Henderson and Quayle and TVWorks - Dexter promo contained themes of murder and torture. Responsible programming and children’s interests. Upheld. Good taste and decency and law and order. Not upheld. Simpson and TVWorks - Home and Away showed couple in bed being recorded on camera. Responsible programming, not upheld by majority. Good taste and decency, and children’s interests. Subsumed. Halliwell and TVNZ - Items on One News and Sunday discussed suppressed evidence from David Bain trial that was released by the courts. Balance and fairness, not upheld. Accuracy, subsumed. Prendergast and TVNZ - Close Up item discussed “all-out war” between Wellington Mayor and City Councillor. Accuracy and fairness. Not upheld. Galbraith and TVNZ - One News item featured man who had deliberately driven his car into the reception of IRD following employment dispute. Privacy. Not upheld. Helm and TVNZ - Sunday item examined attitudes of “boy racers” in Christchurch. Accuracy. Not upheld. Heppel-Pukehika and TVNZ - Illegal New Zealand looked at illegal trading of guns and included footage of presenter holding shot gun in firing position aimed at camera. Law and order. Not upheld. WP and TVNZ - Footage shown on One News of interpreter during murder trial. Privacy. Not upheld. McKay and TVWorks - 3 News at Midday item included graphic stating “Immigration scam”. Law and order, balance, accuracy and fairness. Not upheld. McDonald and RNZ - Radio New Zealand National News reported that 66 New Zealanders had opted to change their status as Distinguished Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit. Accuracy. Not upheld.
Review of complaints procedure ads - final deadline 24 December!Thank you to all broadcasters who have provided information as part of our review the the complaints procedure ads. Some broadcasters have still not responded so we are extending the deadline for replies to Thursday 24 December. If you haven't yet been in touch then please see below. The Broadcasting Act requires broadcasters to publicise procedures for making complaints, including broadcasting notices about the process on each of their channels. The BSA is currently reviewing these ads. What you need to tell us: If you have any questions concerning your complaints procedure ads or this review then please contact Dominic Sheehan.
BSA Annual ReportAll stakeholders have been sent a copy of the BSA's 2008-9 Annual Report. If you didn't get one or you would like an additional printed copy please request one from Trish. The report can also be found online. In the 2008-9 reporting year the BSA received 167 and issued 151 decisions. Of the 151 decisions issued:
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