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Seven fails to throw out breach of Code by Today Tonight

Federal Court rules against Seven after ACMA finds a story on botched beauty clinic laser treatment breached the Code of Practice.

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2014-08-27_1403Channel Seven has failed to have the Federal Court throw out a ruling by the media watchdog which found a Today Tonight story breached the Code of Practice.

A 2011 “Burnt Beauty” story on Adelaide’s Today Tonight reported on a beauty clinic that conducted Intense Pulsed Light Laser treatment on a patient that allegedly resulted in permanent skin damage.

The main thrust of the story involved allegations of ‘botched’ procedures being conducted by untrained individuals, and sought to highlight the lack of regulation in South Australia.

But ACMA found that the segment breached code of practice requirements for factual accuracy and for failing to correct significant errors of fact.

In September 2012, Seven commenced Federal Court proceedings against ACMA’s findings. A hearing was held in February 2013 and the judgment, handed down in June 2014, ruled that the findings were not affected by legal error as alleged by Seven.

Seven has recently appealed against other Code of Practice breaches by Seven News and Sunday Night.

“The ACMA takes its obligations to investigate breaches of the Code seriously and, in doing so, takes great care to see that they are conducted fairly and in accordance with law. We naturally welcome the Court’s findings,” said ACMA Chairman, Chris Chapman.

3 Responses

  1. this is the part that concerns me most
    “hearing was held in February 2013 and the judgment, handed down in June 2014”

    16 months for a decision? how serious are these breaches taken?

    1. That’s a question for the Federal Court not ACMA and they would be looking at a question of law, not broadcasting regulations. Given the length of time involved, I felt it was important to detail the stages.

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