BSA Decisions Ngā Whakatau a te Mana Whanonga Kaipāho

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Summary

A spokesperson for Rape Crisis was interviewed on Good Morning on TV2 on 17 May

1996 at 10.00am. She discussed some aspects of the work of Rape Crisis and how its

services could be accessed.

Ms Dawkins complained to Television New Zealand Ltd that the item was sexist and

lacking in balance because it did not discuss the male perspective.

TVNZ responded that the subject of the discussion was the work of the Rape Crisis

Centres and it was neither surprising nor sexist that it focused on abused women. It did

not agree that the programme lacked balance and declined to uphold the complaint.

Dissatisfied with that decision, Ms Dawkins referred the complaint to the Broadcasting

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

For the reasons given below, the Authority declines to determine 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

determines the complaint without a formal hearing.

A spokesperson for Rape Crisis Centres was interviewed on Good Morning, broadcast

on TV2 on 17 May 1996 at 10.00am. In addition to discussing two topical issues, the

conviction of the father of a serial rapist, and the publication of a list of sex offenders,

the guest discussed the role of Rape Crisis and how women could make contact.

Karen Dawkins of Rotorua complained that the item was biased because it failed to give

a male perspective. She alleged that it was in breach of standard G6 of the Television

Code of Broadcasting Practice.

In its response, TVNZ advised that it considered the complaint in the context of the

nominated standard, which requires broadcasters:

G6  To show balance, impartiality and fairness in dealing with political

matters, current affairs and all questions of a controversial nature.

Emphasising the informal, casual chat format of the interview on Good Morning,

TVNZ responded that it did not consider a searching investigation of the subject of rape

was appropriate in this context. It noted that the principal purpose of the interview was

to tell viewers of the role of Rape Crisis Centres and how the services could be

accessed. TVNZ advised that it did not consider that balance was an issue in the context

of this discussion, and declined to uphold the complaint.

The Authority considers the programme's informal format made it abundantly obvious

that the show was dealing with a discussion of the role of Rape Crisis, and not with a

controversial issue of current affairs. The Authority decides to exercise its powers

under section 11(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989, which states:

11. The Authority may decline to determine a complaint referred to it

under section 8 of this Act if it considers

(a) that the complaint is frivolous, vexatious, or trivial:

On this occasion, the Authority considers that the complaint was both vexatious and

trivial.

For the reasons set forth above, the Authority declines to determine the

complaint.

Signed for and on behalf of the Authority

Judith Potter
Chairperson
11 July 1996

Appendix

Ms Dawkins' Complaint to Television New Zealand Ltd - 17 May 1996

Karen Dawkins of Rotorua complained to Television New Zealand Ltd that an interview

on its programme Good Morning on TV2 on 17 May 1996 at 10.00am was extremely

sexist. The interview, with Toni Allwood of the Rape Crisis Centre, was unbalanced in

Ms Dawkins' view because it did not deal with such issues as false allegations of rape.

Ms Dawkins added that she was disappointed with the interviewer's style of

interviewing, which she considered unbalanced. She wrote:

. . . more care should be taken to be impartial and less slanted towards one

perspective, however emotional people feel about it personally.

In a second letter, dated 27 May, Ms Dawkins, at TVNZ's request, clarified some

points made in her first letter.

She complained about the lack of a male perspective in the discussion of the date rape

issue, and the fact that the interviewer seemed to accept the interviewee's perspective

without challenge. She considered that the role of the interviewer was to challenge

some contentious points and not just sympathise and encourage one perspective,

especially if it was obviously biased.

In a postscript, Ms Dawkins added that had the interviewer mentioned the issue of

untrue assertion of rape, it would have made the discussion less partial. She considered

that the overall bias breached standard G6.

TVNZ's Response to the Formal Complaint - 6 June 1996

TVNZ responded that there was a difference between current affairs programmes and

the less formal chat show Good Morning. It suggested that it could not be compared to

such programmes as Assignment or any of the other current affairs programmes

broadcast by TVNZ. It noted that the setting of the show - with its comfortable chairs

and its lounge setting - suggested a casual chat rather than a searching investigation.

To the suggestion that the male perspective was absent, TVNZ noted that Ms Allwood

dealt all the time with victims of rape and that it was therefore not surprising, nor sexist,

to find her talking about abused women. It added:

It is noteworthy, we submit, that Ms Allwood spoke against the proposed

index of sexual offenders saying her organisation believed in rehabilitation.

She described an incident of rehabilitation in Southland as being

"progressive".

Responding to the point that Ms Allwood should have been questioned about the issue

of date rape, TVNZ noted that she had already commented on that issue in a recent

Assignment programme. It did not consider it necessary that every time she was

interviewed, the questioning should cover all possible angles. It noted that the principal

purpose for this interview was to tell viewers of the role of Rape Crisis and how to get

in touch with it. It did not believe the issue of date rape was relevant.

In TVNZ's view, the issue of balance in the context of a show such as Good Morning

was not an issue. Further, it noted that the Broadcasting Act specifically allowed for

balance over time (within the period of current interest). It suggested that Ms

Allwood's appearance on various TVNZ programmes in recent months had provided a

fair and balanced view of the position and attitudes held by Rape Crisis.

Ms Dawkins' Referral to the Broadcasting Standards Authority - 10 June

1996

Ms Dawkins asserted that standard G6 should apply to all television programmes that

deal with issues of a controversial nature. She contended that to prepare and present

such a one-sided programme showed partiality. She asked:

. . . what about the social stigma attached to a person falsely accused of rape

as well?

Ms Dawkins suggested that women were not always the victims in regard to rape, and

suggested that the overall role of the Rape Crisis Centres should be questioned if they

suggested that only women are victims of rape.

TVNZ's Response to the Authority - 17 June 1996

In a brief response, TVNZ advised that it had nothing further to add.