BSA Decisions Ngā Whakatau a te Mana Whanonga Kaipāho

Summary

"Aleppo to Aqaba" was the title of the episode of Great Train Journeys broadcast on TV One at 8.30pm on 20 January 1998.

On behalf of the Wellington Palestine Group, A Sidani complained to the broadcaster, Television New Zealand Ltd, that the programme breached the standards relating to accuracy and balance by including a map which showed Israel as including the Occupied Territories.

In response, TVNZ pointed out that Israel was named in only one of the three maps shown. However, it acknowledged that in each map the boundary of Israel did not allow for the Occupied Territories and, accordingly, TVNZ upheld the complaint about inaccuracy. Although the programme was already dated and unlikely to be rescreened, TVNZ said it had made arrangements for the matter to be tagged for attention should it be rescreened. As the plight of the Palestinians had been considered during the programme, TVNZ declined to uphold the complaint about balance.

Dissatisfied with TVNZ's action on the aspect upheld, A Sidani on behalf of the Wellington Palestine Group referred the complaint to the Broadcasting Standards Authority under s.8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989.

For the reasons below, the Authority declines to uphold the complaint that the broadcaster’s action was insufficient.

Decision

The members of the Authority have viewed the item complained about and have read the correspondence (summarised in the Appendix). In this instance, the Authority determines the complaint without a formal hearing.

The series Great Train Journeys included an episode entitled "Aleppo to Aqaba" which showed a journey undertaken by comedian Alexei Sayle. On behalf of the Wellington Palestine Group, A Sidani complained to TVNZ that the broadcast breached standards G1 and G6 of the Television Code of Broadcasting Practice. The programme contravened the standards, the Group continued, as it featured a map showing Israel to include the Occupied Territories.

The nominated standards require broadcasters:

G1 To be truthful and accurate on points of fact.

G6 To show balance, impartiality and fairness in dealing with political matters, current affairs and all questions of a controversial nature.

Assessing the complaint under these standards, TVNZ explained that each episode in the series featured a well-known comedian who brought a distinctive style to the broadcast. As for "Aleppo to Aqaba", TVNZ wrote:

There were three sketch maps in the programme, only one of which actually named Israel. However, we concede that this map and the others did show a western boundary of Jordan which was more or less a straight line and which did not allow for the "occupied" status of the West Bank.

Accordingly, the complaint was upheld as a breach of standard G1.

As in its view the programme fairly reflected the plight of the Palestinians, TVNZ did not uphold the standard G6 aspect.

Explaining that it had not been involved in the making of the programme and that the defect in the maps had not been noticed during the appraisal process, TVNZ reported that it believed that it did not have any further screening rights to the programme. Moreover, it was a few years old and a little out of date. Nevertheless, TVNZ advised:

Should further screenings be negotiated, I have had the programme "tagged" in the TVNZ computer so that this breach of standards will come to the attention of the programmer before it is scheduled.

Dissatisfied with the action taken by TVNZ when it upheld the breach of standard G1, the Group referred that issue to the Authority. It was dissatisfied, it wrote, as another broadcast by TVNZ had breached the same standard about a year previously, again by the use of an inaccurate map of the region.

The broadcast complained about was one in a series of programmes featuring train journeys. The maps included in the broadcast to show the route of the train were in the style of sketch maps. The Authority is of the view that the boundaries in question, in this context, were peripheral to the purpose of the programme. However, it was inaccurate as TVNZ itself determined in its own decision on the complaint.

The issue raised for the Authority by this referral is whether the action taken by the broadcaster was sufficient in the circumstances of this case. The Authority is not persuaded that the action taken was other than appropriate, or that anything further was called for. Had the broadcast focussed on political matters, it considers that the breach may have been viewed more seriously. However, this was a travel programme and in the overall context the breach was minor. In so holding, the Authority notes the complainant’s claim that this was the second occasion within twelve months on which TVNZ has used an inaccurate map of the region.

For the reasons above, the Authority declines to uphold the complaint that the action taken was insufficient.

Signed for and on behalf of the Authority

Lyndsay Loates
Member
7 May 1998

Appendix

Wellington Palestine Group's Complaint to Television New Zealand Ltd – 23 January 1998

On behalf of the Wellington Palestine Group, A Sidani complained to Television New Zealand Ltd about the programme Great Train Journeys broadcast on TV One at 8.30pm on 20 January 1998. The programme, the Group said, showed a map of Israel which included the Occupied Territories and this, it continued, was a breach of standards G1 and G6.

TVNZ's Response to the Formal Complaint – 9 February 1998

Assessing the complaint under the nominated standards, TVNZ reported that the series was made by the BBC and each featured a well-known comedian. The episode complained about was subtitled "Aleppo to Aqaba" and showed the journey undertaken by comedian Alexei Sayle.

TVNZ wrote:

There were three sketch maps in the programme, only one of which actually named Israel. However, we concede that this map and the others did show a western boundary of Jordan which was more or less a straight line and which did not allow for the "occupied" status of the West Bank.

Accordingly, TVNZ upheld the broadcast as a breach of standard G1.

Arguing that the programme fairly reflected the plight of the Palestinian people, TVNZ declined to uphold the balance aspect of the complaint under standard G6.

As one matter had been upheld, TVNZ advised the complainant:

As indicated above the making of this programme was outside TVNZ's control. The defect in the maps was unfortunately not noticed during the appraisal process, but to be fair to the appraiser political inaccuracy was not to be expected in a programme ostensibly about trains. It is my understanding that TVNZ has no further rights to this programme, so it is unlikely that it will be repeated. It is already a few years old, and a little out of date. Should further screenings be negotiated, I have had the programme "tagged" in the TVNZ computer so that this breach of standards will come to the attention of the programmer before it is scheduled.

The Group's Referral to the Broadcasting Standards Authority – 5 March 1998

Dissatisfied with the action taken, on behalf of the Group, A Sidani referred the complaint to the Broadcasting Standards Authority under s.8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989.

Pointing out that TVNZ had breached standard G1 for the second time within a year, the Group sought further action because:

There is surely no need to repeat ad infinitum the nature of our objection to an inaccurate map of the region nor comment further on the lapse back to the original indifferent attitude of TVNZ.

TVNZ's Response to the Authority – 10 March 1998

TVNZ advised that it had nothing further to add.