Media Matters in New Zealand Inc. – a registered charity with the Charities Commission – in its press release issued on Sunday, has called for the Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) to be disbanded. The charity was registered with the Commission on 30 June 2008 (Reg. No. CC4277)

see: http://www.viewers.org.nz/Press_Release_20110814.html

BSA fines complainant Donald MacDonald

Press Statement: Media Matters in NZ | Sunday, 14 August 2011

It appears from its decision in respect of a complaint from one of our members, Donald MacDonald, a retired scientist, about news accuracy, which has resulted in its effectively fining Mr MacDonald for having the temerity to complain, that the Broadcasting Standards Authority has relinquished any claim to credibility as a monitor of standards in NZ Broadcasting.

Instead of having on the broadcasters for their persistent breaches of acceptable standards, especially in respect of sex violence and bad language, all of which it continues to allow to be thrust daily into the faces of the young and vulnerable in our society, the BSA has decided to go after complainants instead.

The sum of $50 (see attached BSA decision 2011-020) may seem small but Mr MacDonald is an elderly beneficiary who cannot afford any sort of financial impediment.  Instead of penalizing him financially, they should be pinning a medal on his chest for the many times he has complained in a valiant if vain attempt to make the BSA live up to its responsibilities. [Read more…]