Media regulator ACMA warns media about coverage of war in Ukraine
Television and radio broadcasters have been put on notice to be careful about the content they air relating to the conflict in Ukraine.
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Television and radio broadcasters have been put on notice by the media regulator over coverage of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, warning that it is “paying close attention” to broadcasting complaints about reporting of the war.
The stern edict from the Australian Communications and Media Authority has raised the ire of some within the media industry who believe the regulator was “late to the party” in terms of contacting news outlets about any problematic war coverage, given the conflict started in February, while some broadcasters believe the more obvious issue for the regulator is the level of problematic information aired in relation to the federal election.
ACMA deputy chair and chief executive officer Creina Chapman wrote to the national broadcasters and broadcasting peak bodies late last month – including the ABC, SBS, commercial radio, subscription broadcasters and narrowcasting services – to inform them that the regulator was carefully monitoring any complaints they had received from members of the public about coverage of the war.
In the correspondence, Ms Chapman said that if the ACMA was not satisfied broadcasters were responding appropriately to any complaints made about their coverage – given the “heightened sensitivities” around the crisis – it would take the “unusual step” of commencing its own investigation into the complaints.
Ms Chapman also warned that broadcasters must take the proactive approach of reminding all staff and volunteers of any obligations that they have under various codes of practice and take swift action to address any complaints received from viewers or listeners.
But one senior television executive told The Australian the ACMA’s move to put broadcasters on notice about the ongoing conflict highlighted how “out of touch” the regulator is and questioned why they were not celebrating that most major news TV stations still have reporters on the ground covering the war, including from networks Seven, Nine and Ten.
The executive said that the ACMA’s focus should be instead on any problems relating to content aired about the upcoming federal election.
An ACMA spokesman said during March the regulator had received multiple complaints about the media coverage relating to the Ukrainian conflict, which had prompted the warning being issued.
ACMA is also investigating complaints that Kremlin propaganda was aired on Melbourne-based Russian community station 3ZZZ earlier this year.
The Community Broadcasting Association of Australia said last month it was “deeply concerned following complaints of extreme and offensive sentiments expressed by a presenter on the Russian program”.
It urged the investigation into the matter “be undertaken as a matter of urgency” and reminded the station of its obligations under the Community Radio Broadcasting Codes of Practice.
The presenter who made the comments, Oleg Bydanov, no longer works on the program and the ACMA is continuing its investigations in the matter after requesting copies of content that was related to the complaints.
Since the war erupted earlier this year there has been worldwide outrage over some of the information being televised, including by state-owned Russian broadcaster Russia Today, which broadcasts live from Moscow and provides news in English, Arabic, Spanish and German.
The channel, which was airing in Australia on Foxtel and SBS, was stripped from the platforms in February after concerns were raised that Kremlin propaganda was being aired on the channels.
SBS also removed NTV Moscow from its services after receiving multiple complaints from the Russian-speaking community in Australia.
Originally published as Media regulator ACMA warns media about coverage of war in Ukraine
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