ACMA rules 2GB and Alan Jones were in breach, again
The media watchdog has again ruled against Radio 2GB, over comments made in the Alan Jones Breakfast Show in two, separate, broadcasts.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) found the licencee Harbour Radio, which runs Radio 2GB, did not make reasonable efforts to ensure comments made by Jones on 17 October 2012 about power station closures and the comments made by Mr Jones on 23 October 2012 about salaries paid in the Department of Climate Change were accurate.
In regards, to the power station closure comments, 2GB relied on sources which were contradicted by primary material readily available on the website of the owner of the power stations and “there was no evidence of 2GB’s efforts to ensure the accuracy of the comments.”
ACMA found a third complaint relating to the accuracy of comments made by Jones on 29 October 2012 concerning the NBN were “statements of opinion”.
The ACMA investigation also found in relation to Jones’s statement and opinions that:
“‘(these) were inherently subjective’ statements.
“Mr Jones used ‘exaggerated and emotive terms such as “white elephant”, “disaster” and “hopelessly”’.
“The ‘overall impression [was] of rhetorical pronouncements rather than factual material’.
“‘The delivery was emotional; the language judgmental and hyperbolic; and the statements lacking in specificity’.
ACMA Chairman, Chris Chapman ruled out any chance of Harbour Radio losing its licence, he told Mumbrella: “We’re in discussions with the licensee about remedial measures and it’s not appropriate to say anything further about those discussions until they’re concluded.”
Radio 2GB was also found to have breached its complaints-handling obligations. In response to complaints against broadcasts covering coal-seam gas mine approval, government expenditure and the US economy in October, 2GB submitted that it was “not obliged to respond to a complaint it considered frivolous, vexatious or an abuse of the complaints process.”
ACMA did not accept this, as the Codes require licensees to provide a substantiative response to a complaint.
A second complaint, regarding comments made in relation to the NBN, was said to have not been received by Radio 2GB however the complainant provided ACMA with a fax transmission report proving the complaint had been successfully sent to the station.
This is not the first time the authority has found Jones in breach. In October last year 2GB was forced to temporarily hire fact-checker to review scripts by his radio station’s producers before going to air.
Earlier this month, Jones’s morning counterpart Ray Hadley was also found to have breached accuracy standards.
Miranda Ward
Linkedin
for all of you that thought Jones and Hadley were factual, this just burst your bubble- dont bother listening to them, find another station and move on….
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This radio station should have had its license withdrawn for continued breaches. ACMA is a toothless tiger.
The public is being held in contempt by all involved.
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Julia Gillard famously said to Canberra journos “Don’t write crap”. Like to add to those well chosen words “Don’t listen to it either…”
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ACMA must be close to running out of wet lettuce.
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When ACMA Chairman, Chris Chapman says: ”We’re in discussions with the licensee about remedial measures and it’s not appropriate to say anything further about those discussions until they’re concluded.” he probably means he is still waiting to be told if they want Tea or Coffee.
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Mum thinks Alans great.
Mum and Dad both think that ACMA is far too powerful already. It’s all full of leftist “warmists”.
A better system would be just to leave Mum and Dad alone.
I am sure all you loopy left wing lesbians would agree that a simple constitutional ammendment to the right to free speech like in America will fix all these problems.
At least that’s what Dad reckons.
Dad also reckons you are either a journalist or a leftist though. There can be no middle ground.
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Now to fix the ABC’s lies eh ACMA.
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It is strange how many people associated with the mad right in Australian media think they should be free to tell lies. When it is pointed out to them they have their facts wrong they complain about censorship. (And they think people on the Left a dumb.)
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Sorry Ross it is the lies told about the ABC which are the ones than need fixing. But they are not covered by ACMA and neither is the ABC.
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Ithink ACMA is going to far to put over control on the radio station. Our family really love the Alan Jones breafast show and even made his bobblehead from http://www.bobbles.com.au. It’s a huge pity that the show were in breach.
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Actually, Lindsay, the ABC is indeed covered by the ACMA, all broadcast media, regardless if it’s commerical, government or community, come under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992.
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