Review of Broadcasting Standards Authority Decisions 2013
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Date published: June 2013
Reviewers: Simon Mount, Jim Mora, Raymond Miller
Scope
In March 2013 we requested a panel of three to provide an external review of ten of our more challenging decisions. The reviewers were: Simon Mount, Barrister (Convener); Jim Mora, Broadcaster; and Raymond Miller, Associate Professor, Department of Politics, Auckland University.
We asked the panel to assess:
- The legal robustness of the decisions and the quality of the legal reasoning;
- How well the board dealt with the boundary or balance between the broadcasters’ freedom of expression and harm of the broadcast to individuals or society;
- Style and structure – readability and clarity of the decisions;
- The degree to which the decisions provide guidance and useful clarity on the Authority’s approach; and
- Consistency of approach (where possible given small sample size)
Results
The Authority was commended on its well-written, accessible and thorough decisions. The institutional expertise that it has built up was recognised. The report noted the decisions ‘reflect a healthy and robust commitment to high standards and thoughtful analysis’ and it was noted ‘the Authority delivers decisions in a timely manner at a fraction of the cost of comparable processes in the courts’.
The report, completed in June, also includes useful suggestions and recommendations which the Authority will review and consider. A number of them are likely to be implemented.