The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) found that three ABC radio broadcasts in April 2021 were in violation of accuracy rules.
ACMA said the ABC broadcasts misrepresented dangers connected to the conclusions of the Office of the Conservation Regulator (OCR) in Victoria.
Each broadcast contained statements indicating that the OCR had discovered that logging violations by VicForests had put Melbourne’s drinking water at risk.
According to the ACMA, the OCR’s public remarks were not adequately reflected by these assertions made by the ABC.
Nerida O’Loughlin, chair of the ACMA, claims that the facts supplied in the ABC’s reports did not adhere to the guidelines outlined in its own code of practice.
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“When we assessed the factual material presented in the ABC news reports we found they did not meet the standards expected of it as a public broadcaster,” said O’Loughlin.
The misrepresentations happened during broadcasts of ABC Radio Melbourne Mornings, ABC Radio Breakfast, and an ABC Radio National news update.
No evidence that the OCR had discovered such hazards connected to the logging violations was discovered by an ACMA examination.
As a result, the ABC broadcasts violated the standards for accuracy and distorted the OCR’s point of view by attributing these conclusions to the oversight organization.
O’Loughlin said that the significance and gravity of the violations discovered by the OCR were overstated by the claim that there was a considerable risk to Melbourne’s water supply.
The ACMA Chair said, “This could have raised considerable concerns for the ABC’s audiences about such a critical issue as water quality.”
“The ABC attributed a perspective to the OCR that was not present in their published findings and in this regard has let down its audience,” she added.
Following ACMA’s finding, the ABC will publish an explanation on its website, distribute the results of the ACMA investigation to the appropriate staff members and use them in future staff training.
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Jaw de Guzman is the content producer for Comms Room, a knowledge platform and website aimed at assisting the communications industry and its professionals.
