The Broadcasting Standards Authority’s rulings on complaints can be a good litmus test for what the New Zealand public can stomach these days—and an entertaining insight into the beliefs of the nation’s easily offended wowsers. We’ve looked at some of the decisions of the last six months and compiled a handy tutorial for those in New Zealand media.
TVNZ will air an apology to Colin Craig on Seven Sharp tomorrow night after an item about Conservative Party leader Colin Craig was judged to have breached the fairness standard. The Broadcasting Standards Authority says some remarks in the Jesse Mulligan-presented “Guide to Making Fun of Colin Craig” were legitimate satire, but some were “personal abuse masquerading as satire”.
The Labour Party is feeling vindicated after the Electoral Commission decided an hour-long radio show hosted by Prime Minister John Key last September broke the law. The EC are understood to have referred the matter to police. RadioLive could face fines of up to $100,000 if it is found guilty of breaching the Broadcasting Act.