BSA Decisions Ngā Whakatau a te Mana Whanonga Kaipāho

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Summary

While reporting a suicide bombing in Gaza, an item on One Network News at 6.00pm

on 11 April 1995 referred to the remaining Israeli settlements in Gaza.

On behalf of the Wellington Palestine Group, Nadia el Maaroufi complained that the

item was incorrect. Through the use of the word "remaining", the item suggested that

the number of settlements was declining when, in fact, the number of Israeli

settlements in Gaza was no fewer than in the past.

Confirming that the number of Israeli settlements in Gaza had not decreased since the

peace accords, TVNZ upheld the complaint that the item was incorrect. Newsroom

staff, it said, had been reminded of the need to monitor closely the wording of items

received from overseas dealing with controversial issues. Dissatisfied that TVNZ's

action did not involve explaining the problem to the overseas supplier, Ms el

Maaroufi on the Group's behalf referred the complaint to the Broadcasting Standards

Authority under s.8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989.

For the reasons below, the Authority declined to uphold the complaint.

Decision

The members of the Authority have viewed the item complained about and have read

the correspondence (summarised in the Appendix). As is its practice, the Authority

has determined the complaint without a formal hearing.

A news item on One Network News about some bombing in Gaza referred to the

remaining Israeli settlements in Gaza. On the basis that the use of the word

"remaining" suggested that the number of settlements were decreasing – which was

incorrect – the Wellington Palestine Group complained to TVNZ that the item

breached the standards.

TVNZ assessed the complaint under standard G14 of the Television Code of

Broadcasting Practice which states:

G14 News must be presented accurately, objectively and impartially.

Ascertaining that no Israeli settlements had been moved from Gaza since the peace

accords and taking into account the Oxford Dictionary meaning of the word

"remaining", TVNZ upheld the complaint. It continued:

It was noted that the word was used within an item put together in Britain and

that TVNZ did not have any control over or involvement in the assembly of the

piece. That does not excuse TVNZ, but it is a factor in considering what action

should be taken as a consequence of your complaint.

Already there has been considerable discussion of your complaint, and an

acceptance by the News and Current Affairs department that it erred in

showing that part of the report in which word "remaining" was used. Copies of

this decision will go to the news area and TVNZ will make renewed efforts to

more closely monitor the precise wording of items from overseas dealing with

controversial issues.

As TVNZ in the past had blamed overseas suppliers for "errors" but had been vague

about the specific action taken, and as "errors" continued, the Group was dissatisfied

with TVNZ's action on this occasion. When it referred the complaint to the

Authority, it suggested that TVNZ should be required to write to its suppliers to ask

why mistakes had been made and what steps were being taken to ensure that they did

not recur.

In response, TVNZ pointed out that it was responsible for what it broadcast and that

it was not in a position – nor was it appropriate – to impose New Zealand standards

on a foreign broadcaster. It added:

It seems to us that the Wellington Palestine Group is seeking perfection. That is

our goal too – but perfection in every detail can be elusive, especially in the

same-day turnaround of news and current affairs.

The Authority is aware of the Wellington Palestine Group's vigilance in regard to

news broadcasts on radio and television. The Authority is also aware of the

broadcasters' efforts to ensure accuracy in reporting events in the Middle East. Like

the parties, the Authority would settle for perfection. However, that state is unlikely

to be achieved in the reality of day-to-day news broadcasting and, in those

circumstances, the Authority is unlikely to impose a penalty while it is apparent that

broadcasters are taking their responsibilities conscientiously.

Accordingly, given TVNZ's undoubted efforts, the Authority accepted that the action

it took having upheld the complaint was sufficient in the circumstances.

For the above reasons, the Authority declines to uphold the complaint.

Signed for and on behalf of the Authority

Judith Potter
Chairperson
31 July 1995

Appendix

Wellington Palestine Group's Complaint to Television New Zealand Ltd - 13

April 1995

On behalf of the Wellington Palestine Group, Ms Nadia el Maaroufi complained to

Television New Zealand Ltd about an item broadcast on One Network News at

6.00pm on 11 April.

The item, she wrote, referred to the "remaining Jewish/Israeli settlements in Gaza".

As the number of Israeli settlements in Gaza remained the same, the item was

inaccurate when it had suggested that the number was declining. It was, she added, an

Israeli distortion of reality to suggest that the control and occupation of Gaza was

passing from the Israelis to the Palestinians.

To the contrary, Ms el Maaroufi reported, the Israeli government was actually

increasing the size and number of settlements in the occupied territories.

TVNZ's Response to the Formal Complaint - 9 May 1995

Reporting that its Complaints Committee had assessed the complaint under standard

G14 of the Television Code of Broadcasting Practice, TVNZ said that it had taken

into account the Oxford Dictionary meaning of "remaining". It had confirmed that no

Israeli settlements had been removed from Gaza since the peace accord and,

accordingly, decided that the use of the word "remaining" was incorrect and in breach

of standard G14.

TVNZ pointed out that the item was put together in Britain and, although that did not

excuse TVNZ, it was a matter to be taken into account when assessing the

appropriate action to be taken. TVNZ concluded:

Already there has been considerable discussion of your complaint, and an

acceptance by the News and Current Affairs department that it erred in showing

that part of the report in which the word "remaining" was used. Copies of this

decision will go to the news area and TVNZ will make renewed efforts to more

closely monitor the precise wording of items from overseas dealing with

controversial issues.

The Group's Complaint to the Broadcasting Standards Authority - 31 May 1995

Dissatisfied with the action taken by TVNZ having upheld the complaint, Ms el

Maaroufi on the Group's behalf referred the complaint to the Broadcasting Standards

Authority under s.8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989.

Ms el Maaroufi began:

Over the years TVNZ has blamed its overseas suppliers for "errors" in the

items TVNZ has broadcast, albeit that TVNZ accepts final responsibility as

broadcaster. But TVNZ has always been very vague about what attempts it has

made to ensure that the same or similar distortions or lies are not provided in

future material. TVNZ informs us that informal and verbal remonstrations to

overseas and current affairs sources are sufficient.

In view of the complaints upheld over the years, Ms el Maaroufi argued that TVNZ's

efforts were insufficient and she proposed the following action.

We would therefore like to see a practical, written response to the overseas

supplier from TVNZ, making its objection to the particular item, enquiring why

the script was inaccurate to the point of propaganda, what the supplier is going

to do about it, and what response TVNZ will make if the slanted editorial angle

continues to make it subject to more successful complaints in future.

If TVNZ carried out that action, she added, the Group would withdraw the referral to

the Authority.

She also expressed surprise that TVNZ could propose any meaning to the word

"remaining" in the item other than the one advanced in the complaint.

TVNZ's Response to the Broadcasting Standards Authority - 14 June 1995

Explaining that it was responsible for what it broadcast, TVNZ said that the onus

rested with its newsroom. A letter along the lines requested by the Group, it added,

would be received with bewilderment by the supplier of the item in London. TVNZ

could not, it continued, impose New Zealand standards on a foreign broadcaster.

Observing that its suppliers were some of the world's most respected broadcasters,

TVNZ said an unfortunate error - a single word - had occurred. It was not, it stressed,

as the Group suggested, inaccurate to the point of propaganda.

The Group's Final Comment - 3 July 1995

On behalf of the Group, Ms el Maaroufi's final comment began:

At the outset we must state that we are astonished at the reluctance of TVNZ to

take up the issue of biased material with their supplier ITN. It does however

give us an insight as to why the reputation of news services and journalism is as

low as it is.

Expressing concern at TVNZ's reluctance to adopt modern practices, Ms el Maaroufi

stated that the error - the inclusion of the word "remaining" - appeared not to be just a

mistake but an expression of bias.