BSA Decisions Ngā Whakatau a te Mana Whanonga Kaipāho

Summary

A news bulletin on Tonight, concerning China’s decision to veto a continued United Nations peacekeeping force in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), was broadcast on 26 February 1999 at 10.40pm. The item used the name "Macedonia" on several occasions when referring to the country officially recognised by the United Nations as FYROM.

The Greek Orthodox Community of Wellington and Suburbs Inc. complained to Television New Zealand Ltd, the broadcaster, that the use of the name Macedonia for FYROM was inaccurate and untruthful. It also complained that the broadcast was unbalanced and unfair because the UN had not recognised any country by that name.

TVNZ declined to uphold the complaint, arguing that it was valid to use the name Macedonia for FYROM when the context made it clear which territory was being referred to. It pointed out that there was only one Macedonia in which United Nations peace-keeping forces were stationed.

Dissatisfied with TVNZ’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 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 which is listed in the Appendix. In this instance, the Authority determines the complaint without a formal hearing.

A news item concerning China’s decision to veto a continued United Nations peacekeeping force in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) was included on Tonight and broadcast by TVNZ on 26 February 1999 at 10.40pm. It used the name "Macedonia" on several occasions when referring to the country officially recognised by the United Nations as FYROM.

The Greek Orthodox Community complained to TVNZ that the use of the name Macedonia for FYROM was inaccurate and untruthful. It also complained that the broadcast was unbalanced and unfair because the UN had not recognised any country by that name. The use of the name by TVNZ, it wrote, showed bias and implied that FYROM could legitimately be called Macedonia.

The Community referred to past correspondence with TVNZ on this issue, specifically a letter dated 8 October 1998 in which the broadcaster had stated that its journalists "have been instructed to refer to [that country] as the "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" on first script reference, and simply "Macedonia" in subsequent referrals". The Community advised that although this approach had not met its requirements, it had not pursued the matter further in the interests of compromise. However, as TVNZ had not adhered to even this "compromise policy", it considered that it was justified in demanding a correction by the broadcaster on this occasion. The Community requested that the date and time of such a correction be made known to it beforehand.

TVNZ advised the Community that it had assessed the complaint under standards G1 and G6. These 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.

TVNZ denied that it had any role, or sought any role, in settling or influencing the outcome of a dispute over which territory could legitimately claim the title "Macedonia". The role of its news programmes in these circumstances, TVNZ stated, was to make it as clear as possible which of the two Macedonias was being referred to so that viewers could better understand the events being reported. Its preferred style, it added, was to refer to either "the Greek province of Macedonia" or "the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia".

The broadcaster argued, however, that standards G1 and G6 had not been breached in this case. It contended that context had made it clear which territory was being referred to as there was only one Macedonia in which United Nations peace-keeping forces were stationed, and, as a republic, only one Macedonia was in a position to establish diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

TVNZ concluded:

Where we use the term "The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" and where we do not must remain a matter for TVNZ’s editorial discretion based on relevancy, and on ease of communication with our viewers.

Dissatisfied with TVNZ’s decision, The Greek Orthodox Community referred the complaint to the Authority stating that the Authority would be familiar with the grounds for the Community’s objection to the use of the simple "Macedonia" instead of FYROM. It emphasised that it viewed the matter as one of extreme importance, especially now that there was conflict in the neighbouring region with the result that the incorrect name for the province was constantly appearing in the media. This was free propaganda for FYROM and, it claimed, an affront to the Greek Community in New Zealand. The Community further argued that truth was not something which could be changed by common usage or majority decision. The use of a term in contradiction of the truth, it wrote, was most certainly an inaccuracy.

The Community concluded:

We are most hurt by the continued use of the term "Macedonia" for FYROM. We believe that there is a loophole in the Codes of Broadcasting Practice which allows false information and one state’s propaganda against another to be disseminated in this manner. Specifically, there is nothing in the codes which demands the exercise of cultural sensitivity and prevents a broadcaster from hurting the feelings of minority groups on cultural, religious, or other similar grounds.

TVNZ advised it had nothing further to add except to deny emphatically that TVNZ was involved in any way with providing "free propaganda" against Greece.

In its final comment, the Greek Community again dealt with the history of the region. It considered that the specific historical evidence it had presented in its submissions supported its contention that the item should not have used the name Macedonia for the country officially recognised by the United Nations as FYROM.

The Authority’s Findings

The Authority notes that it has addressed a similar complaint in decision 1999-017. It concludes, as it did in the earlier decision, that the matter raised is not one which it is capable of determining. It acknowledges that the issue is one of importance to the Greek Community and understands the Community’s perspective. Equally, the Authority believes, it could be argued that given its context in a news item, the use of the name Macedonia for FYROM was a legitimate "descriptor", or journalistic "shorthand", for the territory referred to. The Authority notes that news broadcasts originating from overseas consistently refer to the region in this manner. On balance, the Authority is not convinced that a standards matter has been raised which can be meaningfully resolved through the application of the Television Codes of Broadcasting Practice.

For the reasons set forth above, the Authority declines to determine the complaint in all the circumstances under s.11(b) of the Broadcasting Act 1989.

Signed for and on behalf of the Authority

Sam Maling
Chairperson
17 June 1999

Appendix

The following correspondence was received and considered by the Authority in determining this complaint.

1. The Greek Orthodox Community of Wellington and Suburbs Inc’s letter to TVNZ Ltd –
    22 September 1998

2. TVNZ’s letter of reply to the Greek Orthodox Community – 8 October 1998

3. The Greek Orthodox Community’s Formal Complaint to TVNZ – 27 February 1999

4. TVNZ’s letter to the Community – 8 March

5. TVNZ’s Response to the Formal Complaint – 16 March 1999

6. The Community’s Referral of the Complaint to the Authority – 7 April 1999

7. TVNZ’s Response to the Authority – 13 April 1999

8. The Community’s Final Comment – 23 May 1999