12-21-2022, 08:55 AM
The ABC breached its own code of practice after a two-part Four Corners program about Fox News was found to have “omitted relevant information in a way that materially misled the audience”.
According to the results of an investigation by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) into the series “Fox and the Big Lie”, Four Corners reported that two Fox presenters appeared at a 2018 Donald Trump rally.
However, the broadcaster failed to include the fact that Fox had issued a public censure of the two presenters, which would have led viewers to potentially conclude that Fox either endorsed or did not object to their journalists appearing on stage with Trump.
“By omitting key information, the ABC did not give its audience the opportunity to make up their own minds about Fox News,” ACMA Chair Nerida O’Loughlin said.
“Both audiences and participants are entitled to the full picture. In this case, by omitting information the ABC did not do justice to the story or provide all relevant facts to its audience.”
ACMA also found that Four Corners violated the ABC code when it approached a Fox News host but did not adequately inform her about what the interview entailed.
“Current affairs programs such as Four Corners are not precluded from presenting a particular perspective on an issue or reaching a particular conclusion.
“But that needs to be balanced against requirements to gather and present information with due impartiality.
“The ACMA considers that ABC could have taken greater care in striking that balance in this program to avoid perceptions of partiality,” Ms O’Loughlin said.
This is not the first time that Four Corners has fallen foul of ACMA rules.
In 2019, it was found to have breached impartiality rules in an investigation into the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, when it “fell short” of requirements to “present and report on issues in an impartial manner”.
A spokesman for Fox said, “FOX News Media is pleased with the findings of the Australian Communications and Media Authority that the ABC engaged in multiple breaches of its own Code of Practice relating to accuracy and fair and honest dealing.
“Today’s ruling confirms FOX News Media’s view that the central premise of the Four Corners two-part program was built on a foundation of patent bias and lack of impartiality and was then laden with basic factual errors, uncorrected even after FOX News Media presented contradictory evidence.”
However, the ABC disputed ACMA’s findings, saying it was “deeply concerned” at the findings and accused ACMA of misinterpreting the ABC’s Code of Practice.
In a statement the broadcaster said: “The ABC has considered the findings and has serious concerns that the ACMA’s interpretation of the ABC’s Code of Practice will have negative consequences for the future production of strong public interest journalism.
According to the results of an investigation by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) into the series “Fox and the Big Lie”, Four Corners reported that two Fox presenters appeared at a 2018 Donald Trump rally.
However, the broadcaster failed to include the fact that Fox had issued a public censure of the two presenters, which would have led viewers to potentially conclude that Fox either endorsed or did not object to their journalists appearing on stage with Trump.
“By omitting key information, the ABC did not give its audience the opportunity to make up their own minds about Fox News,” ACMA Chair Nerida O’Loughlin said.
“Both audiences and participants are entitled to the full picture. In this case, by omitting information the ABC did not do justice to the story or provide all relevant facts to its audience.”
ACMA also found that Four Corners violated the ABC code when it approached a Fox News host but did not adequately inform her about what the interview entailed.
“Current affairs programs such as Four Corners are not precluded from presenting a particular perspective on an issue or reaching a particular conclusion.
“But that needs to be balanced against requirements to gather and present information with due impartiality.
“The ACMA considers that ABC could have taken greater care in striking that balance in this program to avoid perceptions of partiality,” Ms O’Loughlin said.
This is not the first time that Four Corners has fallen foul of ACMA rules.
In 2019, it was found to have breached impartiality rules in an investigation into the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, when it “fell short” of requirements to “present and report on issues in an impartial manner”.
A spokesman for Fox said, “FOX News Media is pleased with the findings of the Australian Communications and Media Authority that the ABC engaged in multiple breaches of its own Code of Practice relating to accuracy and fair and honest dealing.
“Today’s ruling confirms FOX News Media’s view that the central premise of the Four Corners two-part program was built on a foundation of patent bias and lack of impartiality and was then laden with basic factual errors, uncorrected even after FOX News Media presented contradictory evidence.”
However, the ABC disputed ACMA’s findings, saying it was “deeply concerned” at the findings and accused ACMA of misinterpreting the ABC’s Code of Practice.
In a statement the broadcaster said: “The ABC has considered the findings and has serious concerns that the ACMA’s interpretation of the ABC’s Code of Practice will have negative consequences for the future production of strong public interest journalism.
2012 HAPPENED!!!!!!!