Media release
27 June 2007

Broadcasting Standards Authority supports better training in intercultural understanding for journalists

The Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) is supporting better training in intercultural understanding for journalists, one of the recommendations presented at the recent Interfaith Dialogue in Waitangi, a forum to increase understanding and tolerance between nations of different cultures and religions.

“All cultures have a right to be treated fairly by the media,” says Dominic Sheehan, the BSA’s Chief Executive. “Better journalistic training in other cultures would be a solution to inadvertently offending people’s customs and protocols as a result of a lack of knowledge.”

The recommendation is one of several presented at the Interfaith Dialogue and comes from a High Level Group report by the United Nations.

Others include developing media campaigns to combat discrimination and working to increase the number of youth-orientated websites.

“The inclusion of media-related recommendations is indicative of the understanding of the important part the media plays in improving communication between cultures,” says Mr Sheehan.

Last year the BSA convened a 10-person community advisory panel from different backgrounds, ages and ethnicities to provide feedback about what is most relevant to their local communities.

The panel has representatives from the Maori, Samoan, Pakeha, Chinese and Indian communities, and members include a retired school principal, an environmental planner, a student and a carpenter.

One of the community advisory panel’s goals is to raise awareness amongst ethnic communities of the broadcasting standards complaints system and about some of the protections available, such as television classifications.

The BSA believes that this kind of two-way process is critical at a time when the number and diversity of cultures in New Zealand continues to grow and national identity becomes an increasingly important topic.

“Those from ethnic communities have not historically complained when they have seen a broadcast that they find offensive to their culture. Possibly this is because they do not know who to complain to, or being in a minority group they might feel that complaining could lead to ill-feeling towards them, or that nothing constructive would be achieved by it,” says Mr Sheehan.

“Also, some migrants to New Zealand have come from countries where the media is controlled or suppressed so they might feel hesitant to make their voices heard, even when they feel their religion or culture has been severely wronged on radio or television,” he added.

“While our media is underpinned by the right of free expression, we want people from all communities to know that broadcasters have a responsibility to maintain programme standards like the observance of good taste and decency, balance, fairness, accuracy and the privacy of an individual.
Included in the standards are safeguards against denigration and discrimination against a group in society.”

The BSA has a four-person Board which adjudicates complaints. Annually it determines an average of 200 complaints, of which about a quarter are upheld.

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