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The communications watchdog has found Melbourne-based station 3ZZZ in violation of community broadcasting rules in its coverage of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
According to an inquiry by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), material aired on 3ZZZ’s “The Russian Program” on 24 February 2022, violated standards for factual accuracy and stereotyped and attempted to denigrate Ukrainians.
The host of the program, broadcasted in Russian, repeatedly stated during the program that there had been no “missile, air, or artillery strikes on the cities of Ukraine.”
The ACMA inquiry discovered that this was untrue at the time of transmission because reliable evidence indicated that Russia’s missile attacks against Ukrainian cities began on 24 February 2022.
The investigation also revealed that the program’s host made claims that Donetsk and Luhansk are truly independent of Ukraine.
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According to the ACMA’s evaluation of reliable outside sources, including remarks made by Australia’s then-minister of foreign affairs, these assertions were false.
Nerida O’Loughlin, chair of the ACMA, said that there are laws governing accuracy in community radio news so that listeners can feel confident that what is being presented is accurate and reliable.
O’Loughlin said, “Community radio, including in-language services, fulfils a vital role in Australia’s broadcasting landscape, providing access to content audiences may not otherwise be able to find.”
The ACMA chair likewise stressed the importance of gaining audiences’ trust in the accuracy of information presented to them.
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O’Loughlin added, “In this case, 3ZZZ has aired material that did not meet the accuracy standards expected of a community broadcaster.”
Additionally, the program featured material that was derogatory toward Ukrainians because of their nationality, language, and political affiliations, according to the watchdog.
This contained a song that ridiculed the Ukrainian government and people and aimed to degrade their dignity by presenting a stereotypical image of Ukrainians.
In response to the findings, 3ZZZ and the ACMA have entered into a court-enforceable contract under which 3ZZZ will train all pertinent employees and volunteers on how to comply with the Community Radio Broadcasting Codes of Practice.
In order to properly address serious geopolitical issues and environmental sensitivities in future broadcasts, the station will also set up structures, processes and practices for this purpose.
Source: ACMA
Jaw de Guzman is the content producer for Comms Room, a knowledge platform and website aimed at assisting the communications industry and its professionals.
