Broadcasting Standards Authority releases its annual report and calls for urgent reforms

The Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) has recently published its annual report for 2022-23 and called for urgent reforms to bring outdated laws and regulations in line with the present broadcasting reality.

In its annual report, the BSA emphasised the necessity for changes to the 34-year-old legislation it operates under to respond to the risks of a fast-changing media landscape and ensure a sustainable media sector.

Stacey Wood, chief executive of the BSA, highlighted the difficulties arising from increasingly obsolete legislation, making it harder to fulfil their mission. “As audiences migrate at pace from traditional broadcasting to online and digital platforms, increasingly obsolete legislation is making it more difficult to achieve our mission,” Wood said.

While the co-regulatory standards regime effectively minimises harm in traditional broadcasting spaces, the rise of unregulated online platforms poses new challenges, according to Wood. She also stressed the need for legislative updates to protect against harmful content and maintain a robust media sector.

“Audiences consume media differently now than in 1989 – if we are to protect New Zealanders from harmful content and maintain a strong and sustainable media sector, our laws must also change,” Wood said.

Over the past year, the BSA offered its expertise to support the progress of proposed law changes that would see the Authority administering a new fair bargaining framework for news media and digital platforms and bringing long-awaited wider reform to the regulatory environment.

BSA received 169 complaints and issued 121 decisions over the past year. The annual report revealed various complaints, with accuracy, balance, and fairness topping the list. TV attracted more complaints than radio, with news and current affairs being the most complained-about genre. The report also highlighted significant themes, including concerns about the privacy interests of vulnerable individuals, accuracy and balance concerns in reporting about particular organisations or events, and allegations of unfair treatment towards those featured in broadcasts.

BSA also dealt with a range of complaints concerning gender identity issues, which escalated with media coverage of Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull’s visit in March. In this context, the BSA issued guidance for broadcasters highlighting key matters recognised and determined in recent decisions on such issues.

In July 2022, the Authority published a new Code of Broadcasting Standard, introducing a streamlined standards regime that broadcasters and complainants have positively received.

The recent annual report contains a complete listing of decisions issued over the past year and is available on the BSA website.