Authority Releases Four Decisions
The Authority released decisions on four complaints today, one of which was upheld. All four of the complaints raised issues under the accuracy standard. A number of other standards were also raised.
One of the complaints related to two episodes of The Box Seat, which included a two-part segment looking at blood spinning in harness horse racing. The Authority found that the segments about blood spinning in harness racing covered a controversial issue of public importance but failed to include balancing views on the issue being discussed, or indicate that the programmes were presented from a specific perspective. The Authority also found that, although the broadcasts did not contain any specific factual errors, the omission of alternative perspectives and information on the safety and propriety of blood spinning meant that the broadcast was misleading as a whole. The Authority considered the publication of the decision sufficient to censure the breach of standards by the broadcaster and made no orders.
To see our latest decisions, click here.