BSA releases three new decisions today - two complaints relating to an item on the Hauraki Breakfast Show upheld
Today we released decisions on three complaints, two of which were upheld.
The two upheld complaints related to an item on the Hauraki Breakfast Show. In the item, the hosts intentionally broadcast live on air a caller who had asked to make a complaint off air. The Authority found the broadcast breached the fairness and privacy standards. It has ordered broadcaster NZME Radio to pay $4,000 in privacy compensation to the caller, Deborah Stokes, $4,000 in costs to the Crown and to broadcast a statement summarising the Authority’s findings.
You can read our media release on the Hauraki Breakfast Show decisions here or by clicking on the Media Releases button below.
For the full decisions click on the Latest Decisions button below.
Mrs Stokes initially complained to NZME Radio that the broadcast was unfair and breached her privacy. NZME Radio upheld Mrs Stokes’ complaint, but the Authority found that NZME Radio did not take sufficient action to adequately rectify the breach.
The Authority found the broadcast amounted to a serious breach of the privacy and fairness standards. It considered that the matter involved deception, which is a substantial departure from the standards of broadcasting expected in New Zealand. The Authority also found that the hosts’ behaviour after the broadcast aggravated the initial breach of standards.
The Authority also upheld another complaint from a member of the public that the broadcast breached Mrs Stokes’ privacy.