BSA Releases 5 Decisions
The Authority has not upheld a complaint that RNZ breached the accuracy and balance standards by including a statement in a news bulletin that Israel was ‘carpet bombing the Palestinian territory’. The BSA noted it is not its role to determine the definitive meaning of ‘carpet bombing’, nor whether Israel has carried it out. Its role is to decide whether reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy. Noting ‘carpet bombing’ carries multiple meanings and the story was focused on the impacts of the bombing, and not military strategy, the BSA found no material inaccuracy likely to impact the audience’s understanding of the broadcast as a whole. The balance standard did not apply as the brief news report did not constitute a ‘discussion’ as required for consideration under this standard. This and other recently released decisions can be seen here.