Complaint First, Says Media Council

Complaint First, Says Media Council

www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=143456

SUVA (The Fiji Times/Pacific Media Watch): The Fiji Media Council says it is only empowered to act against inappropriate practices by media companies if a formal complaint was lodged.

Council secretary Bob Pratt said in any case of complaints against media organisations, complaints were scrutinised and relevant recordings sought before the council attempted to resolve the issue.

In the event the council was unable to get the complainant and company to an agreement, the complaint was then forwarded to a complaints committee, he said.

On the issue of the manner in which some radio announcers hosted shows, Pratt said people carried varying opinions on such shows.

He said the council had not received any formal complaints on radio announcing practices.

Communications Fiji Limited general manager Ian Jackson said they had clear and strict policies and operating procedures in place that governed on-air content.

"No one is authorised to encourage or promote discontent, discord or animosity between individuals or groups. This particularly applies to school groups as we are fully aware of the negative consequences of that," he said.

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