- factual inaccuracies
- lack of substantive comment from the Israeli side
- lack of balance (bias)
Dear Dr Sam
I refer to your emails of 8 and 12 November regarding the AM report “Palestinians struggle with surge in drug use” broadcast on 7 November. Once again, I apologise for the delay in responding to your concerns.
...Our investigation has concluded that the report contained three factual inaccuracies, in breach of the standards outlined in clause 3.2 of the Code. We have found that these inaccuracies, together with the lack of substantive comment from the Israeli authorities, has resulted in a broadcast that does not meet the requirement for balance outlined inclause 3.5 of the Code...
.... it is the view of ACA that every reasonable effort should have been made by the reporter to seek substantive comment or an interview with the relevant Israeli authorities. If the Israeli authorities declined an interview, this should have been clearly indicated in the report. ....
.... the ABC’s complaint handling standards have been breached because you did not receive a substantive response within 60 days of submitting your complaint.
I would like to assure you that these breaches of editorial standards have been brought to the attention of ABC News management and will be reported to the ABC Board. The AM online transcript has been amended to correct the factual inaccuracies identified, the audio of the report has been removed from the website and an Editor’s Note has been appended to the transcript which states: “Parts of this story have been amended or omitted and the audio removed to address issues of factual correctness. The story was also found to have lacked balance because there was insufficient opportunity for Israeli authorities to respond. The ABC apologises for these instances of inaccuracy and lack of balance.”
Further, AM will broadcast an on air apology at the end of the program this Thursday morning (28 February) acknowledging the inaccuracies and lack of balance, and listeners will be directed to the corrected transcript of 7 November 2007....
.... ABC News advise that Mr Hardaker acknowledges that this statement is incorrect: “The drug dealers are nearly always Israelis, sometimes working with Palestinians.” The statement should have said “The drug dealers are nearly always ARAB Israelis, sometimes working with Palestinians.”
This is a breach of our editorial guidelines for accuracy, and we acknowledge that the omission of the descriptor “Arab” was a significant oversight and changed the emphasis of this segment of the report....
....Additionally, this statement is incorrect: “The research backs up what Imad Schweiki says. Young Palestinians are getting their drugs in areas where they’re in contact with Israelis, either in Jerusalem itself or around the giant wall, known as the separation barrier, between Israel and the West bank.” The PCBS report identified the suburbs with the highest number of drug users, but it did not identify those drug users as Palestinians, Arab Israeli or Jewish Israeli.....
.... The opinion expressed by Hosni Shahin that; ”… So the occupation, if he can keeps the youth calming down all thetime, the occupation will be, avoid a lot of problems, they will avoid it.” …” was given some context by the preceding statement by David Hardaker, who explained: “Israeli authorities have flatly denied using drugs as a tool of occupation. Drug workers on the ground can’t prove it, but they are convinced that the inaction of Israeli police is deliberate and that it’s aimed at pacifying angry young Palestinians.” However, as stated above, the inclusion of such allegations required that the Israeli position be explained more prominently in the report.....
While I believe the further seven points raised in your correspondencehave been largely addressed, for the sake of clarity, I have responded to each matter below:
1. The ABC acknowledges that the claims made in the report should have been countered by those of an appropriate Israeli agency. ....
2. The ABC has identified and acknowledges three inaccuracies in the broadcast.
3. Some of the claims made by those interviewed in the report are very critical of the Israeli administration...Hosni Shahin asserts that drug addicts sell their houses to those in the Jewish community to fund their addiction.
4. This report contained views that were highly critical of the Israeli administration, and every reasonable effort should have been made by thereporter to provide a more substantive response. Through the lack of balance, the broadcast gives undue emphasis to the Palestinian viewpoint, however, the ABC does not agree that this constitutes vilification of the Jewish people, or that the report is anti-Semitic.....
5. The ABC acknowledges that the report did not meet its editorials tandards for balance.
6. It is not the role of ACA to review “the research or due diligence”of David Hardaker. Rather, as outlined in section 13 of the Editorial Policies, it is our role to assess the compliance of program contentwhich is the subject of complaint against our editorial standards.
7. It is not the role of ACA to determine whether a party has been defamed. If you wish to pursue any allegation of defamation, you willneed to provide full details of your claim to ABC Legal Services (attention Jonathan Duhs / Megan Edwards).
In conclusion, the ABC apologises for the serious deficiencies in this report, and once again I regret the delay in providing you with a substantive response to your complaint....
Yours sincerely
Denise MustoAudience & Consumer Affairs
1 comment:
The journalist concerned now works for the government of Dubai in PR.
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