Media watchdog: Accuracy and fairness rules could be simplified, but not classifications
ACMA chair Chris Chapman
Media watchdog the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) says it willing to look at the rules around accuracy, impartiality and fairness in the Codes of Practice following the release of a new report yesterday.
Research conducted in the Contemporary community safeguards inquiry looked at community attitudes to the broadcast rules in a number of areas including balance and fairness, classifications and advertising.
The new report also coincides with a review of media regulation by Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull where a number of broadcasters have argued that they are increasingly financially “squeezed” and argued for a reduction their the licencing fees. The watchdog commissioned PWC to dig into the finances of networks, and discovered despite the complaints “the profitability of commercial television broadcasters has been steady over the past decade.”
