by Dee McLachlan
I suppose I should feel grateful to the ABC for doing a rotten job on certain topics, as this helped inspire me to dream up an alternative news website, GumsheNews.com.
Among the topics about which we at Gumshoe have criticized “Aunty” are: bad coverage of 9/11 – in the person of Dr Karl and Jon Faine. And for parroting the MSM and the White House on war and various foreign policy issues. (Which is to say: the ABC would not be caught dead showing the Wesley Clark video, even though his is a US Army General.) Another example of the organisation reciting the scripted narrative is demonstrated by Leigh Sales’s JFK report on the lone gunman Oswald.
I was shocked when I looked back at how many articles had been written over the years about the ABC at Gumshoe, and how many times I had tried to communicate with them directly. Of course, they never respond. (For a selection of articles, link here.)
You may ask: Is there a legal method for fighting the ABC? They are taxpayer-funded and must be answerable in some way to the taxpayer.
I now show you below an abridged version of the agreement by which the ABC say they will follow a Code of Practice. Mary Maxwell says it lacks teeth. But she and I agree that we don’t try often enough to use the prescribed method of attack. All bolding is mine:
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I. Regulatory Framework
The ABC Board is required, under section 8(1)(e) of the ABC Act, to develop a code of practice relating to its television and radio programming, and to notify this code to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (“the ACMA”).
A complaint alleging the ABC has acted contrary to its Code of Practice in its television or radio programming may be made to the ABC. A complainant is entitled under section 150 of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (Cth) (“the BSA”) to take their complaint to the ACMA if, after 60 days, the ABC fails to respond to the complainant or the complainant considers the ABC’s response is inadequate.
Section 150 of the BSA empowers the ACMA to investigate a complaint alleging the ABC has, in providing a national broadcasting service, breached its Code of Practice. The ACMA can decline to investigate the complaint under section 151 of the BSA if it is satisfied that the complaint does not relate to the ABC Code of Practice, or that the complaint is frivolous or vexatious or was not made in good faith.
The ACMA’s jurisdiction under sections 150-151 does not encompass the ABC’s print content or content disseminated by the ABC over the internet or through mobile devices. However, the ACMA has separate jurisdiction under Schedule 7 of the BSA in relation to content hosted on websites or transmitted through mobile services where that content is either “prohibited content” or “age-restricted content”. The ACMA is empowered under Schedule 7 to require content service providers and content hosts to remove or prevent access to these types of content.
The ABC voluntarily complies with the Content Services Code developed by the Internet Industry Association and registered as an industry code with the ACMA under clause 85 of Schedule 7 of the BSA. The Content Services Code does not apply to content delivered through online or mobile services where that content has been previously transmitted on radio or television.
Except as expressly provided by the BSA, the regulatory regime established by the BSA does not apply to the ABC: section 13(5) of the BSA, and section 79 of the ABC Act.
1 Prohibited content essentially involves content “(RefusedClassification)”or X18+. This includes real depictions of actual sexual activity, child pornography, detailed instruction in crime, violence or drug use; and age-restricted content.
2 Age restricted content … must be subject to a restricted access system, i.e. measures put in place to protect children under the age of 15 from … strong depictions of nudity, implied sexual activity, drug use or violence, very frequent or very strong coarse language, and other material that is strong in impact.
II. Scope of the Code
The requirements of this Code are set out in the sections dealing with Interpretation and Standards in Part IV and the Associated Standard in Part V. The Standards in Part IV apply to radio and television programs broadcast by the ABC on its free-to-air television or radio broadcasting services. TheAssociatedStandardinPartVappliesonlytotelevision programs broadcast by the ABC on its domestic free-to-air television services.
This Code does not apply to any complaint which the ABC had decided not to investigate or, having accepted it for investigation, decided not to investigate further, where the ABC was satisfied that:
- the complaint concerns content which is or becomes the subject of legal proceedings;
- the complaint was frivolous or vexatious or not made in good faith;
- the complaint was lodged with the ABC more than six weeks after the date when the program was last broadcast by the ABC on its free-to-air radio or television services, unless the ABC accepted the complaint for investigation after being satisfied that it was appropriate to do so, having regard to:
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- – the interests of the complainant in the subject matter of the complaint;
- – the seriousness of the alleged breach;
- – the reason(s) for the delay;
- – the availability of the program content which is the subject of the complaint; and
- – any prejudice the delay may otherwise have on the ABC’s ability to investigate and determine the matter fairly; or
- the complainant does not have a sufficient interest in the subject matter of the
complaint, where the complaint alleges a breach of Fair and honest dealing (Standards 5.1-5.8) or Privacy (Standard 6.1).
To avoid any doubt, the ABC intends that any complaint falling within the terms of any one of the above categories is not relevant to the ABC Code of Practice, for the purposes of section 151(2)(b) of the BSA. In effect, this means that only complaints which the ABC has accepted for investigation in accordance with the above criteria are eligible under this Code to be reviewed and investigated by the ACMA.
III. Resolved Complaints
The ABC seeks to comply fully with the Code and to resolve complaints as soon as practicable.
A failure to comply will not be a breach of the Code if the ABC has, prior to the complaint being made to the ACMA, taken steps which were adequate and appropriate in all the circumstances to redress the cause of the complaint.
To illustrate, a failure to comply with Standards 2.1 or 2.2 (Accuracy) will not be taken to be a breach of the Code if a correction or clarification, which is adequate and appropriate in all the circumstances, is made prior to or within 30 days of the ABC receiving the complaint.
IV. Principles and Standards
- Interpretation
In this Code, the Standards must be interpreted and applied in accordance with the Principles applying in each Section. From time to time, the ABC publishes Guidance Notes which do not in themselves impose obligations on the ABC, but which may be relevant in interpreting and applying the Code.
The Standards in Parts IV and V are to be interpreted and applied with due regard for the nature of the content under consideration in particular cases. The ABC is conscious that its dual obligations – for accountability and for high quality – can in practice interact in complex ways. It can be a sign of strength not weakness that journalism enrages or art shocks. The Standards are to be applied in ways that maintain independence and integrity, preserve trust and do not unduly constrain journalistic enquiry or artistic expression.
- Accuracy
Principles: The ABC has a statutory duty to ensure that the gathering and presentation of news and information is accurate according to the recognised standards of objective journalism. Credibility depends heavily on factual accuracy.
Types of fact-based content include news and analysis of current events, documentaries, factual dramas and lifestyle programs. The ABC requires that reasonable efforts must be made to ensure accuracy in all fact-based content. The ABC gauges those efforts by reference to:
- the type, subject and nature of the content;
- the likely audience expectations of the content;
- the likely impact of reliance by the audience on the accuracy of the content; and
- the circumstances in which the content was made and presented.
The ABC accuracy standard applies to assertions of fact, not to expressions of opinion. An opinion, being a value judgement or conclusion, cannot be found to be accurate or inaccurate in the way facts can. Theaccuracystandardrequiresthatopinionsbeconveyed accurately, in the sense that quotes should be accurate and any editing should not distort the meaning of the opinion expressed.
The efforts reasonably required to ensure accuracy will depend on the circumstances. Sources with relevant expertise may be relied on more heavily than those without. Eyewitness testimony usually carries more weight than second-hand accounts. The passage of time or the inaccessibility of locations or sources can affect the standard of verification reasonably required.
The ABC should make reasonable efforts, appropriate in the context, to signal to audiences gradations in accuracy, for example by querying interviewees, qualifying bald assertions, supplementing the partly right and correcting the plainly wrong.
Standards:
- 2.1 Make reasonable efforts to ensure that material facts are accurate and presented in context.
- 2.2 Do not present factual content in a way that will materially mislead the audience. In some cases, this may require appropriate labels or other explanatory information.
- Corrections and clarifications
Principles: A commitment to accuracy includes a willingness to correct errors and clarify ambiguous or otherwise misleading information. Swift correction can reduce harmful reliance on inaccurate information, especially given content can be quickly, widely and permanently disseminated. Corrections and clarifications can contribute to achieving fairness and impartiality.
Standards:
3.1 Acknowledge and correct or clarify, in an appropriate manner as soon as reasonably practicable:
a. significant material errors that are readily apparent or have been demonstrated; or
b. information that is likely to significantly and materially mislead.
- Impartiality and diversity of perspectives
Principles: The ABC has a statutory duty to ensure that the gathering and presentation of news and information is impartial according to the recognised standards of objective journalism.
Aiming to equip audiences to make up their own minds is consistent with the public service character of the ABC. A democratic society depends on diverse sources of reliable information and contending opinions. A broadcaster operating under statute with public funds is legitimately expected to contribute in ways that may differ from commercial media, which are free to be partial to private interests.
Judgements about whether impartiality was achieved in any given circumstances can vary among individuals according to their personal and subjective view of any given matter of contention. Acknowledging this fact of life does not change the ABC’s obligation to apply its impartiality standard as objectively as possible. In doing so, the ABC is guided by these hallmarks of impartiality:
- a balance that follows the weight of evidence;
- fair treatment.
- open-mindedness; and
- opportunities over time for principal relevant perspectives on matters of contention
to be expressed
The ABC aims to present, over time, content that addresses a broad range of subjects from a diversity of perspectives reflecting a diversity of experiences, presented in a diversity of ways from a diversity of sources, including content created by ABC staff, generated by audiences and commissioned or acquired from external content-makers. Impartiality does not require that every perspective receives equal time, nor that every facet of every argument is presented. Assessing the impartiality due in given circumstances requires consideration in context of all relevant factors including:
- the type, subject and nature of the content;
- the circumstances in which the content is made and presented;
- the likely audience expectations of the content…
To read the sections regarding Fair and Honest Dealing, Privacy and Harm and Offence, link here.
Oh dear how much comedy can one stand
The ‘ hallmarks of impartiality ‘ line ….. oh really !
Well then , I await the ABC’s full expose’ on the 93% Islamic inspired rape & grooming gang phenomena in the UK
Complete with the likely one million rape victims in Britain
And will they dare to mention Tommy …. the gag order and so on …. I doubt it
What does rhe ABC?
Try this.
The respective ROYAL COMMISSIONS demonstrate that the children of Australia are owed justice, the theiving lying bankers owe their customers integrity and recompense.
The lying ABC owe Australia:
our freedoms and democracy returned,
Integrity,
honesty,
re-incarnarion of the millions they helped to kill,
Justice for the families of those they helped to kill,
compensation for the people of the countries they have helped to destroy,
Justice for the millions injured by the ABC’s silence,
Justice for the all the children they have helped to mame, being actions far more evil the worst paedophile,
justice for the victims of the world affected by government sanctioned killing and destruction by false flag killings and destruction, such as the mass murders on 911, the culprits being protected by the ABC.
COMPENSATION TO BE PAID TO ALL AUSTRALIANS FOR THE RIP-OFF OF A BILLION PER YEAR FROM THE PUBLIC PURSE FOR THE ABOVE AND MUCH MORE.
The ABC is anti-freedom, anti-truth, anti-democratic and a serial diabolical liar and manipulator.
Sell the ABC and SBS, both are just defacto controllers for the liars and psycho control freaks and merely mirror the msm mob run by the same psycho control freaks.
To repeat Ned’s comment:
“The ABC is anti-freedom, anti-truth, anti-democratic and a serial diabolical liar and manipulator. Sell the ABC and SBS, both are just defacto controllers for the liars and psycho control freaks and merely mirror the msm mob run by the same psycho control freaks.”
It clearly MIRRORS the MSM
“The ABC aims to present, over time, content that addresses a broad range of subjects … from a diversity of sources, including content created by ABC staff, generated by audiences and commissioned or acquired from external content-makers.”
Don’tcha love the “generated by audiences” bit?
Dee you could write to ABC and ask how many audience-generated items they have used in the last 6 months.
good idea
I think it reads more like a self-congratulatory press release than a policy statement or even less a “code of practice”.
Who gets to decide what is “fair and balanced” except the culprits who have been carefully groomed and selected for their ideological bias toward “New Age” and the “official MSM narratives”.
It’s a bit like selecting a “commission” of crooked cops to investigate police corruption… or a whole lot of other “investigations”, “Royal Commissions” that only turn up a few face-saving damage-control measures that make a bit of publicity but don’t change anything.
That’s certainly true of Royal Commissions but the one on pedos was an exception. Commissioner McClellan has referred hundreds of souls for prosecution.
He also made a recommendation that Catholic priests who hear of a crime-sin in the Confessional should report it.
I can’t agree there. Let’s render to Caesar only that which is Caesar’s.
Are we to expect, then, that there are currently “hundreds of souls” on remand awaiting prosecution? Ho hum!
My guess is that Georgie porgie puddeny Pell will get lots of publicity to create a smokescreen to make it seem that “something’s being done” and whether or not he is guilty or convicted there will be no mention of his ‘Masonic “friends” (as alleged by Fiona) and the whole lot will slide into oblivion.
As to breaking the seal of the Confessional, there are plenty of other ways that a confessor can expose an unrepentant pervert without tittle-tattle to the Magistrate. Pope Pius V issued a directive that clergy (and, presumably, religious) who are found guilty in a Church court of “sins against Nature” should be immediately “irregularised” (forbidden to act in the name of the Church) and be handed over to the secular authorities even if the penalty is death. The ‘Masonic infiltrators have got that one well and truly buried and out of sight or mind.
I don’t know what the “93% Islamic inspired whatever” refers to but there are other “cultural” groups that have institutionalised perversions in their “elites”.
“have institutionalized perversions in their elites”. This is very important, OlDavid. What do you think is the force behind such an odd thing?
Simple, Mary. “You shall be as gods knowing (deciding or determining) good and evil”. Or, more plainly, your pleasure and convenience will determine what’s good or evil. As Aleister Crowley summarised it: “Do what thou wilt is the whole of the law”. Or the ’60’s and ’70’s liberation from reality movement “If it feels good do it”.
More generally, “Evolutionary progress” demands that the strong (the “fittest”) subjugate and exploit the weak. The ideological narcissism of Kabbalah and their “useful idiot” dupes in ‘Masonry consider themselves “superior” and thus perfectly entitled to use “inferiors” (the profane) to their advantage or pleasure.
Upon reflection, I think that the allegation of Pell’s association with ‘Masons was made by one of Fiona’s interviewees and not by Fiona herself.
I want to hear about the 93% Islamic inspired whatever.
By chance I found this 2012 piece at truthseekersguide.blogspot.com which talks about a journalist named Richard D Hall:
On the screen appeared the face of Rupert Murdoch. “Do not be fooled by this man!” Richard firmly believes that the phone hacking scandal was an orchestrated farce, with attempts to pull at the heart strings of the public and create an unfounded outrage, resulting in the closure of “The News of the World” newspaper.
With the main event taking place over the 5th – 8th July 2011, it is interesting that Murdoch registered the domain name for “The Sun on Sunday” on the 5th of July.
Richard asks how he could have had fore-knowledge of the hacking stories / “NOTW” closure. It suggests he was involved in creating the scandal. There is also the date to consider. At this time, there was increased exposure about the true nature of 7/7 via the likes of Muad’Dib and Tony Farrell. — end quote
Repeating David above:
“The ideological narcissism of Kabbalah and their “useful idiot” dupes in Masonry consider themselves “superior” and thus perfectly entitled to use “inferiors” to their advantage or pleasure.”
Can the human brain really be that flexible?
Isn’t it better to have a conscience? I mean how much pleasure and advantage can be derived from the inferiors before you run out of lust?
And before you start to notice that the inferiors aren’t quite as thick as they are supposed to be. …
[quote MM] Can the human brain really be that flexible?
Isn’t it better to have a conscience? I mean how much pleasure and advantage can be derived from the inferiors before you run out of lust?
And before you start to notice that the inferiors aren’t quite as thick as they are supposed to be. …
[/quote]
I suggest you take that up with the victims of all sorts of exploitation, crime and corruption.
i am suggesting that they themselves are the victims, along with the rest of us. Have you ever met any of them that seem really happy? They have to block out a lot of normal emotional experience and relationships.
If you can’t control it you don’t own it.
The ABC is a government owned corporation. And a corporation acts in the interests of its shareholders, and no one else. And when the shareholder wants propaganda that’s what the corporation delivers. Of course with solemn news faces and the other brainwashing tools used to fool the gullible, Which despite our pretences is all of us. If we want the ABC to go away we have to stop giving it our energy by paying attention to it. As more and more people re-direct their energy the amplification effect will kick in and the government’s ABC will soon enough vanish into the ether. Tesla told us the universe is energy and frequency and Einstein told us about the relationship mass has with energy. So this is not airy fairy new age BS it’s universal force. And chances are there are people in this dimension aware of the force. And they are the ones who, under an oath of silence, run the media, religions, banks, corporations, battery operated cars etc for personal gain and not the greater good of humankind. They liken themselves to gods, or at least god’s faves, knowing good and evil because they can. Proving how well the propaganda works.
Absolutely agree
Anyone else noticed that, since the advent of on-line news services, broadcasts have become increasingly less rational and more frantic ? Doesn’t that suggest a steadily eroding power-base ?
Following the law of competition? They’re competing against talking dogs, and dancing cats on Youtube and new new platform of information
You’re right, Dee. This dog stuff is great. So much better than News!
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“I suppose I should feel grateful to the ABC for doing a rotten job on certain topics, as this helped inspire me to dream up an alternative news website, GumsheNews.com.”
GANDALF:
“Let us remember that a traitor may betray himself and do good that he dose not intend.”
Look, Berry, you can start a whole new career — watching cat vids.
This one has had eleven million hits.
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[…] What Does the ABC Owe the Australian Public? […]
I don’t mind ‘Gardening Australia’ on Fridays though.