1,000 signatures reached
To: Minister of Media and Communications, the Hon Paul Goldsmith
Don't scrap the Broadcasting Standards Authority. Strengthen it!
Responsible, trustworthy media is the backbone of functioning democracies. We need media that are honest, reliable, and uphold the law and basic ethical principles.
The government's plan to scrap the Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) will make Aotearoa New Zealand's media less trustworthy, less balanced, and less reliable. It will allow more misinformation to be spread, not just through social media and online media but on radio and television.
It will weaken our democracy, eroding trust in media further, and encouraging more vile, dishonest, divisive and hateful media, like we now see in the United States.
Don't scrap the Broadcasting Standards Authority. Don't replace it with weak self-regulation by the industry.
Instead, put in place the recommendations of the government's 'Safer Online Services' research project which incorporates the best of the BSA and applies it to online media. All media including television, radio, newspapers and online media would come under industry self-regulation but with real statutory penalties for irresponsible media organisations that go rogue. It's an inexpensive and effective solution that is working well in Australia and the United Kingdom. We need better regulation like this. Not worse as a result of scrapping the BSA.
The government's plan to scrap the Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) will make Aotearoa New Zealand's media less trustworthy, less balanced, and less reliable. It will allow more misinformation to be spread, not just through social media and online media but on radio and television.
It will weaken our democracy, eroding trust in media further, and encouraging more vile, dishonest, divisive and hateful media, like we now see in the United States.
Don't scrap the Broadcasting Standards Authority. Don't replace it with weak self-regulation by the industry.
Instead, put in place the recommendations of the government's 'Safer Online Services' research project which incorporates the best of the BSA and applies it to online media. All media including television, radio, newspapers and online media would come under industry self-regulation but with real statutory penalties for irresponsible media organisations that go rogue. It's an inexpensive and effective solution that is working well in Australia and the United Kingdom. We need better regulation like this. Not worse as a result of scrapping the BSA.
Why is this important?
The BSA is the only real protection New Zealand has against the broadcasting of lies, abuse or misinformation. Since 1989, it has done an excellent job supporting our television and radio broadcasters to be responsible by providing an avenue for complaints from the public. The BSA upholds standards which all broadcasters must meet. These cover:
- offensive and disturbing content,
- the interests of children,
- promotion of illegal or antisocial behaviour,
- discrimination and denigration,
- balance,
- accuracy,
- privacy, and
- fairness.
Without these standards, New Zealand’s media cannot claim to be responsible and trustworthy.
A different organisation called the Media Council regulates print and online media but it has no teeth. It can't force media organisations to be responsible if they go rogue. Moreover, if media like the Platform and Reality Check Radio don't join the Media Council (which they haven't), they're not within its jurisdiction and can be as irresponsible as they wish.
For years, many observers have been calling on the government to increase the BSA’s scope to include online media. Instead, the government proposes to scrap the BSA and increase the Media Council to include radio and television. As a result standards will slide and NZ will drift inexorably towards a media system like we see currently in the US.
For years, many observers have been calling on the government to increase the BSA’s scope to include online media. Instead, the government proposes to scrap the BSA and increase the Media Council to include radio and television. As a result standards will slide and NZ will drift inexorably towards a media system like we see currently in the US.
How it will be delivered
We will deliver the petition to Parliament. If the Hon Paul Goldsmith won't accept it we will deliver to any senior politician who is willing to listen to the thousands of New Zealanders who care about media and about our future.