The Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) will be scrapped in favour of having the media self-regulate, the media and communications minister has confirmed.
Paul Goldsmith says New Zealand’s media landscape has changed dramatically but “regulatory settings have not kept up” and the current framework can create inconsistencies and “unfair outcomes”.
“If you’ve got a panel discussion on a podcast that’s on demand, that’s not covered, but if you’ve got a panel discussion on RNZ, it does, and there’s no sort of logic for that,” he told Midday Report.
“And so, you know, we could try and extend the brief of BSA far into sort of social media, or we could say, well, actually, why don’t we just rely on the self-regulation that works fine for print journalism and set the sector free.”
The BSA told RNZ in a statement it has said for more than 15 years the current Broadcasting Act “is no longer fit for purpose”.
“Our primary interest has been to ensure the public continue to have access to accurate, reliable media content, and a regulator they can turn to if they think public standards are breached,” its chief executive said.
Wednesday’s announcement came after the BSA faced backlash from government ministers following a decision to begin regulating podcasts and online media.
A complaint sent by the BSA to the Platform was published on the online platform’s website, outlining concerns raised about allegedly “unacceptable racist comments”.
The letter from the BSA stated it “has found it has jurisdiction” to consider a complaint about the Platform’s live talkback programme on the basis the transmission of the programme met the definition of ‘broadcasting’ in the act.
RNZ
Face of the Day
“... we could try and extend the brief of BSA far into sort of social media, or we could say, well, actually, why don’t we just rely on the self-regulation that works fine for print journalism and set the sector free” – Media and Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith.
Related
Face of the Day
Philip Polkinghorne got a call midway through from his friend, defence lawyer Tony Bouchier, who told him his house was a crime scene and he was likely a suspect. Police had not told him that, he said.
Face of the Day
A possible new population has been discovered after fly-fishing guide Martin Langlands snapped a picture of the reptile in the Korowai Torlesse Tussocklands Park and Castle Hill area
Overreach of the Day
You don’t have to agree with me and you don’t have to like what I said, but once we accept that authorities can punish a Kiwi for political speech they consider too confronting, every New Zealander should be concerned. Free speech isn’t free if you can be punished for using it.
Face of the Day
Ukad has laid the blame for the positive test on Parker’s nutritionist for the fight in a report which said he was a “regular user of cocaine”.
Latest
What Do You Get When You Cross Smollett With Warren?
Jussie Smollett faked a hate crime. Elizabeth Warren faked being a Native American to be labeled a minority professor at Harvard. Arday said hold my beer and watch this.
Land Tax Could Hammer Homeowners and Farmers
Troy Bowker says the tax would not take account of changing personal circumstances. “You pay this every single year regardless of your income and your personal circumstances.”
Death throes: Outgoing broadcasting watchdog claims authority over online speech
What is a "broadcaster"?