Foxtel failed to report news accurately, ACMA finds
source link: https://itwire.com/government-tech-news/technology-regulation/foxtel-failed-to-report-news-accurately,-acma-finds.html
Go to the source link to view the article. You can view the picture content, updated content and better typesetting reading experience. If the link is broken, please click the button below to view the snapshot at that time.
Friday, 28 April 2023 09:54
Foxtel failed to report news accurately, ACMA finds
By Staff Writer
A number of Outsiders programs broadcast on Foxtel between October and December 2021 breached requirements of the subscription TV code of practice, failing to present TV news accurately, according to the Australian Communications and Media Authority.
Eighty allegations across 10 episodes of Outsiders and selected sample of program content were assessed under the relevant code of practice.
ACMA chair Nerida O’Loughlin reminded the Australian community expects factual material to be accurate and for commentary to be clearly distinguishable from the reporting of factual material.
“The program has an obligation to its audience to clearly separate fact from comment. Across a number of its episodes Outsiders failed to do so and did not present news content either accurately or fairly,” O’Loughlin said.
The ACMA also found that the same Outsiders programs aired on regional commercial broadcasters WIN and SCA were guilty of accuracy and misrepresenting viewpoints.
In a separate investigation, broadcasts of the Ministry Now and Joni Table Talk programs aired on the Daystar channel on Foxtel in September 2021 included comments which also breached accuracy rules for news and current affairs programs under the Subscription Narrowcast Television Codes of Practice 2013.
The programs aired inaccurate statements related to COVID-19 vaccines including regulatory approval process, the use of alternative COVID-19 treatments, the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, and that vaccines may cause infertility and miscarriage.
Regarding its TV content, Foxtel argued it had limited control over the broadcasts as they are distributed by third-party providers under agreements which require all content to comply with Australian laws and regulations.
But O’Loughlin pointed out “broadcast licensees are ultimately responsible for what goes to air, including content that is supplied or purchased from another provider.”
“Broadcasters cannot outsource their compliance responsibilities to a third party. It is important that Australian audiences are able to trust that the information presented in current affairs programs is accurate and factual, particularly when national health issues are concerned,” O’Loughlin said.
The investigation led Foxtel to admit to the ACMA that as licensee it “is responsible for meeting its code and statutory obligations with respect to all material that is broadcast, even if it is material supplied by a third-party provider.”
Foxtel will also review the systems it has in place to ensure that content sourced from third-party providers is compliant with the code.
Foxtel will report back to the ACMA within four months on the outcome of this system review, to ensure future compliance with the code.
This first appeared in the subscription newsletter CommsWire on 27 April 2023.
Read 254 times
Please join our community here and become a VIP.
Subscribe to ITWIRE UPDATE Newsletter here
JOIN our iTWireTV our YouTube Community here
BACK TO LATEST NEWS here
GARTNER MARKET GUIDE FOR NDR 2022
You probably know that we are big believers in Network Detection and Response (NDR).Did you realise that Gartner also recommends that security teams prioritise NDR solutions to enhance their detection and response?
Picking the right NDR for your team and process can sometimes be the biggest challenge.
If you want to try out a Network Detection and Response tool, why not start with the best?
Vectra Network Detection and Response is the industry's most advanced AI-driven attack defence for identifying and stopping malicious tactics in your network without noise or the need for decryption.
Download the 2022 Gartner Market Guide for Network Detection and Response (NDR) for recommendations on how Network Detection and Response solutions can expand deeper into existing on-premises networks, and new cloud environments.
PROMOTE YOUR WEBINAR ON ITWIRE
It's all about Webinars.Marketing budgets are now focused on Webinars combined with Lead Generation.
If you wish to promote a Webinar we recommend at least a 3 to 4 week campaign prior to your event.
The iTWire campaign will include extensive adverts on our News Site itwire.com and prominent Newsletter promotion https://itwire.com/itwire-update.html and Promotional News & Editorial. Plus a video interview of the key speaker on iTWire TV https://www.youtube.com/c/iTWireTV/videos which will be used in Promotional Posts on the iTWire Home Page.
Now we are coming out of Lockdown iTWire will be focussed to assisting with your webinars and campaigns and assistance via part payments and extended terms, a Webinar Business Booster Pack and other supportive programs. We can also create your adverts and written content plus coordinate your video interview.
We look forward to discussing your campaign goals with you. Please click the button below.
Recommend
About Joyk
Aggregate valuable and interesting links.
Joyk means Joy of geeK