Today Tonight Adelaide breached TV code twice in 2011 report about beauty clinic
The media watchdog has found Channel Seven Adelaide breached factual accuracy and correction clauses of the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice in a story about a beauty clinic on Today Tonight broadcast in July 2011.
The release of the findings by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) into the Today Tonight breach follows on from The Federal Court of Australia dismissing an application by Seven for a judicial review of the findings.
In the segment which aired on July 25 2011, Today Tonight alleged that a patient of a beauty clinic undergoing hair removal treatment was left with permanent skin damage, but the ACMA found the show had failed to present factual material accurately in relation to a statement about tests performed prior to the patient being treated with Intense Pulsed Light and a statement about the industry regulation of the treatment.
A Seven spokesperson said: “At the end of the day a woman suffered permanent skin damage at the Essential Beauty clinic (a fact not challenged by the clinic or by the ACMA) and we do not regret trying to stop this happening to other members of the public who may not be aware of the dangers involved in these kind of treatments especially when administered by non-medical staff.
“We note the ACMA findings and will comply with its rulings.”
ACMA chairman Chris Chapman said in a statement: “The ACMA takes its obligations to investigate breaches of the Code seriously and, in doing so, takes great care to see that they are conducted fairly and in accordance with law. We naturally welcome the Court’s findings.”
The channel also failed to correct two inaccurate statements made in the broadcast, further breaching the code.
Miranda Ward
Miranda Ward worked for Mumbrella from 2013 to 2017, eventually becoming deputy editor. Miranda joined Mumbrella in September 2013 from Sky News.
Linkedin