It appears that the Channel Seven Network like to dish out criticism but not take it.
Following our story earlier this week about the Today Tonight Show being reprimanded by the Australian Communications and Media Authority for being in breach of the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice, over a story relating to Telstra’s operations, a senior executive of the Network has demanded that we remove the story.
Simon Francis the Director, of Corporate Development for the Seven Network wrote to SHN claiming that we had to remove the story because it was according to him “incorrect, contained no response from the Seven Network and defames one of their executives with claims of drunk driving”. He went on to say that Channel Seven reserve their rights. Oh what garbage!
Firstly, Channel Seven News Director Peter Meakin who is also the defender of Today Tonight’s exposure of serial drink-drivers and other law-breakers, is facing a number of charges including refusing to stop for a breath test, driving with a blood alcohol reading of 0.10 and reckless driving. The alleged offences occurred late this year in Wakehurst Parkway, North Narrabeen. The case was adjourned until December 13. This is not the first time that Meakin has faced Drink Driving charges.
Secondly this is what a press release issued by the Australian Communications and Media Authority had to say of the Today Tonight Program.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority has found that the licensee of ATN, Channel Seven Sydney Pty Ltd, has breached relevant provisions of the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice 2004 in Today Tonight broadcasts about certain Telstra’s operations.
The breaches mainly relate to accuracy and fair representation of viewpoints arising from broadcasts in September and October 2005.
Following discussions with the Chairman of ACMA, the licensee has directly addressed the issues raised by ACMA’s investigation with Telstra at senior levels. The licensee has also committed to take actions to better raise awareness of ACMA’s concerns in relations to these broadcasts with all relevant news and current affairs staff, including senior management, so that they are taken into account in future stories. This will include using this particular investigation in Network training programs, as well as the reporting of this specific investigation to the Seven Network board.
In light of the action taken by the licensee, in particular its action in addressing issues directly with Telstra, ACMA does not intend taking any further action in this instance. However, ACMA will continue to monitor the licensee’s compliance with the relevant code provisions.
The authority is concerned about the number of recent complaints to ACMA relating to potential breaches of Clause 4.3.1 of the code by news and current affairs programs generally. The authority will be closely monitoring this trend, including whether it raises issues for consideration in the forthcoming review of the code, expected to commence by mid-2007.
ACMA also considers that clauses 1.5 and 1.6 of the code enable broadcasters to effectively handle potential areas of complaint or consumer concern by acting quickly and actively to address ‘reasonable mistakes’ as soon as practicable after they are identified to the broadcaster. Therefore, broadcasters need to actively assess this aspect of their programming. This will better ensure that viewers are informed of reasonable mistakes or other relevant matters as close to the time of the broadcast as possible.
In relation to this specific investigation, ACMA found that the licensee of ATN, in relation to the Today Tonight program of:
12 October 2005
· Breached clause 4.3.1 [present factual material accurately] of the code in the broadcast of 12 October 2005.
· Breached clause 1.6 by not promptly remedying a failure in the Today Tonight broadcast on 12 October 2005 that resulted from one or more of the circumstances in clause 1.5.
· Did not breach clause 4.3.11 [make reasonable efforts to correct significant errors of fact] of the code in relation to the broadcast of 12 October 2005, but breached clause 1.6 of the code, as the licensee did not remedy the failure to comply with the code resulting from one or more of the circumstances identified at clause 1.5.
So were we wrong? No.
