WIN News report ruled inaccurate

A 2008 regional news report on WIN Television has been found to have breached the Code of Practice for failing to present factual material accurately.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority found that WIN Television VIC (VTV) reported on a Victorian County Court’s acquittal of a man accused of sexually assaulting a young girl.

The report stated the girl ‘lied about the assaults.’

But the jury did not give reasons for its verdict when it found the defendant ‘not guilty.’ ACMA ruled WIN News inaccurate for inferring that from the ‘not guilty’ verdict that the young girl ‘had lied.’

WIN has advised ACMA that it has now made immediate revisions to its reporting of news and in particular the use of specific words in scripts. The findings will also form part of its staff training.

Source: ACMA