BSA Decisions Ngā Whakatau a te Mana Whanonga Kaipāho

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Summary

According to a news item broadcast on National Radio on 30 October 1998 at 9.00pm, those who escaped from a fire in Sweden included refugees from Macedonia and Somalia.

The secretary of the Greek Orthodox Community of Wellington and Suburbs Inc complained on its behalf to Radio New Zealand Ltd, the broadcaster, that the report was inaccurate and untruthful. Furthermore, it complained, the bulletin was an outright lie, as there were no refugees from Macedonia. The Community argued that the item was unbalanced and unfair because it favoured those who were of the view that the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia could legitimately be called Macedonia.

RNZ responded that it had received complaints on previous occasions regarding the use of the name Macedonia, and that it had nothing further to add to its previous responses. It declined to uphold the complaint that the use of the name breached broadcasting standards.

Dissatisfied with RNZ’s decision, the Greek Orthodox Community 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 listened to a tape of the item complained about and have read the correspondence which is listed in the Appendix. On this occasion, it determines the complaint without a formal hearing.

A fire in a nightclub in Sweden had claimed the lives of many young people, most of whom were refugees from Macedonia and Somalia, according to a news item on National Radio on 30 October 1998 at 9.00pm. The nightclub, located on the second floor, had only one exit, and many of those who died were caught in the panic to escape.

The secretary for the Greek Orthodox Community of Wellington and Suburbs Inc complained on its behalf that the item breached standards R1 and R9 of the Radio Code of Broadcasting Practice. Those standards require broadcasters:

R1  To be truthful and accurate on points of fact in news and current affairs programmes.

R9  To show balance, impartiality and fairness in dealing with political matters, current affairs and all questions of a controversial nature, making reasonable efforts to present significant points of view either in the same programme or in other programmes within the period of current interest.

The Community declared that the item was neither truthful nor accurate. In fact, it contended, it was an outright lie to state that the refugees were from Macedonia, which is a large province of the Hellenic Republic.

Furthermore, it argued, the item was unfair and unbalanced because it favoured those who held the "abhorrent view" that the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia could legitimately be called simply "Macedonia".

The Community demanded that RNZ make restitution and present the opposite point of view by publishing a retraction and using the correct name for the country in the future.

In its brief response, RNZ advised that it had already considered a complaint from the group on this matter and that its decision on this occasion conformed with its previous decision. It declined to uphold any aspect of the complaint.

The Authority notes that it has dealt with the question of the use of the name Macedonia to refer to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in a previous decision (No: 1999-001). It reasoned on that occasion that because the item had been sourced in its entirety from an international source, and because the reference in the item to Macedonia was incidental in a story about the plight of Albanian refugees, the use of the name did not transgress the accuracy requirement. However it cautioned RNZ that it could well be expedient for it to adopt the correct nomenclature in accordance with New Zealand’s official foreign policy.

After further consideration of the issues raised by the complainant on this occasion, the Authority concludes that this is not a matter which it is capable of determining. It acknowledges that the issue is one of importance to the Greek Community and notes that other news organisations have made an effort to resolve the question to the satisfaction of the complainant. The Authority believes that is a solution open to the Greek Community, in conjunction with RNZ, and encourages the parties to meet to negotiate a mutually satisfactory resolution. Accordingly, under s.11(b) of the Broadcasting Act 1989, the Authority declines to determine the complaint in all the circumstances.

For the reasons set forth above, the Authority declines to determine the complaint in all the circumstances.

Signed for and on behalf of the Authority

Sam Maling
Chairperson
25 February 1999

Appendix

The following correspondence was received and considered by the Authority when it determined this complaint:

The Greek Orthodox Community of Wellington and Suburbs Inc’s Complaint to Radio New Zealand Ltd – 30 October 1998

RNZ’s Response to the Formal Complaint – 18 November 1998

The Community’s Referral to the Authority – 13 December 1998

RNZ’s Response to the Authority – 22 December 1998

The Community’s Final Comment – 10 January 1999