The ABC’s ‘ambiguous’ code on impartiality in media regulator’s spotlight

The media regulator has written to the ABC’s David Anderson amid concerns about the rules that ensure it provides all perspectives when presenting content.

The ACMA said it hoped to work with the ABC in the future to improve its Code of Practice. Ppicture: AFP

The media regulator has written to the ABC’s managing director David Anderson, voicing serious concerns about the ambiguity of the rules the broadcaster abides by to ensure its content has “all relevant perspectives”.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority recently completed an investigation into the climate program Fight for Planet A: Our Climate Challenge, hosted by Craig Reucassel, which aired in August last year.

The focus of the investigation was the final one-hour episode in the three-part series, which had attracted a complaint that it “unfairly and inaccurately depicted Australian cattle producers and the beef industry.”

“The complaint raised multiple allegations that referenced the accuracy and impartiality provisions in the ABC code,” according to the report into the matter.

“The complaint about the accuracy of the segment on land clearing, focused on an unfair depiction of the beef industry by the inclusion of out-of-date data provided by environmental organisations to the exclusion of data provided by beef industry advocates.”

The episode looked at how carbon emissions could be reduced including the carbon footprint of what Australians eat, focusing on beef.

The ACMA investigation concluded that there were no breaches of the broadcaster’s code in ensuring the ABC upheld impartiality standards, but despite this, an ACMA spokesman said the broadcaster’s code continues to present problems.

Craig Reucassel, host of Fight for Planet A: Our Climate Challenge. Picture: AAP

“The ACMA has advised the ABC that its ABC Code of Practice is ambiguous as to what constitutes an appropriate time-frame for the provision of all perspectives,” he said.

“Further, it would be beneficial for the ABC code to set out what role that factors such as whether the issue is contentious play in assessing whether due impartiality has been achieved.”

Under the ABC code, all relevant perspectives and arguments don’t have to be presented in a single program.

The ACMA said it hoped to work with the ABC in the future to improve its Code of Practice.

“ACMA would welcome the opportunity to work further with the ABC to ensure that its Code of Practice best services the broadcasting co-regulatory system and the ABC audiences,” a spokesman said.

The ABC writes its own Code of Practice for broadcasting.

The corporation also has its own internal disputes department to address external complaints and if the complainant is not satisfied with their response, they can then go to ACMA.

The ABC declined to comment.