ACMA finds A Current Affair in breach over ‘All-Asian Mall’ story
Channel Nine’s A Current Affair will tonight make an on-air apology after the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) found the show had breached the codes of practice for a story alleging Asian retailers were taking over a local shopping mall in Sydney’s north west.
The media watchdog found an A Current Affair reporter Ben McCormack’s story, which labelled the Castle Hill mall an “All-Asian Mall”, breached the television codes of practice in regards to broadcasting “inaccurate factual material”, “gratuitous emphasis on ethnic origin” and “likely to provoke intense dislike and serious contempt on the grounds of ethnic origin”.
In the wake of the finding, the television station has agreed to take the story down from its website and make an on-air statement acknowledging ACMA’s finding in tonight’s broadcast.
“I commend TCN for acting on the ACMA’s recommendations,” said Chris Chapman chairman of the ACMA. “The broadcaster is to be congratulated for taking a mature approach to matters of such concern, and for being transparent with its viewers.”
The original broadcast, screened on November 7, sparked outrage with residents and shop owners who condemned the story and labelled it untrue.
In the story, A Current Affair also spoke with controversial former politician Pauline Hanson, who spoke about her comments “swamped by Asians” in her maiden speech in Parliament, and that “this (more Asian retailers) would never be allowed in any other country”.
This is the first time a commercial broadcaster has accepted the ACMA’s recommendation to issue an on-air statement acknowledging the breach. In June WIN News in the Illawarra was found in breach over broadcasting misleading information about measles vaccinations but refused to acknowledge the finding.
Chapman told Mumbrella this morning: “This is the first time a (commercial) TV broadcaster has accepted our recommendation.”
“David Gyngell (CEO of Nine Entertainment) has taken what I think is a mature approach. I find David very sensible, he copped the breach, he acknowledged implicitly not enough care was taken in the story, he thinks that the broadcaster needs to be transparent with its audience. I think that’s hopefully a sign of a changing culture and that’s why I took the unusual step of commending Nine.”
The ACMA has long been pushing for the power to force broadcasters to issue on-air corrections. A parliamentary inquiry recently recommended that the watchdog be given so-called “mid-tier” powers that would allow them to force broadcasters to make corrections and acknowledge findings against them.
Nic Christensen
What a truly surprising conclusion…. more xenophobic slop from ACA.
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Oh dear. TV stations usually fight rulings like this tooth and nail. The fact that Gyngell has acknowledged the ruling and will be broadcasting an apology does not bade well for ACA. If I were Tracy Grimshaw and the other ACA staff I would be consulting seek.com.au and the situations vacant columns ASAP.
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This and many other xenophobic rubbish they pump out. They are the most racist slanted television “current affairs” program on air. Week aft week, they are attacking some minority group with leading misrepresented rubbish. What a shame television has been dumbed down so much. Take note Mr Gyngell, time to lift your game and to go back to educating, not editorialising. I don’t care what your staffs views are.
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remind me why she still has a job? show is rubbish.
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A Current Affair should have been pulled from the airways years ago. Apart from racist sensationalists stories such as the above, the show has no redeeming value to current affairs. It’s a z-class gossip rag with no credibility.
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If ACA doesn’t like it then leave
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Quote from “Viewer”
“A Current Affair should have been pulled from the airways years ago. Apart from racist sensationalists stories such as the above, the show has no redeeming value to current affairs. It’s a z-class gossip rag with no credibility.”
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All Together Now – Australia’s national racism prevention charity – made the complaint to ACMA and we’re really pleased with this result. We all need to speak up when we see or hear something racist on TV or on the street otherwise this bad behaviour will continue.
Yes, I’m optimistic and I think this ruling will make a difference.
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Anyone else see ACA’s on-air ‘apology’ ? As sincere as a politician’s promise.
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