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TEN News apologises after story invades man’s privacy

TEN News apologises for inferring that a man who chose not to give DNA in an assault investigation, may have been a suspect.

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TEN has apologised to a man after breached for a TEN Eyewitness News report inferring that a man who did not provide DNA in an assault, may have been a suspect.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority found TEN breached both accuracy and privacy provisions in the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice after its segment aired on April 15th.

The report concerned the bashing of an elderly woman, and police requests to men living in the neighbouring area to voluntarily provide DNA samples. But it included vision of one man who had chosen not to provide a DNA sample.

“One neighbour chose not to give a sample, saying he was on his way to visit someone in hospital,” said TEN’s reporter, while footage included clear visuals of him being questioned by reporters and followed to his car.

ACMA ruled that the story could have been inferred that he was a suspect. But the information was not in the public domain and consent wasn’t given for it to be broadcast. It determined there was no public interest reason which justified the broadcast of personal information that was both sensitive and inaccurate.

ACMA ruled TEN in breach on two counts, of both accuracy and privacy.

TEN agreed it misrepresented the man and has published an apology and correction on its website, with a link to ACMA’s report. It will also use the ACMA’s findings in training sessions and redistribute guidelines to staff.

6 Responses

  1. That showed ch10! They will think twice before they break the law. Journalists are not allowed to harass anyone just because they are journalists. As for ACMA, I can think of a way to save millions off the national budget.

    1. They didn’t break the law, they violated the Free TV code of conduct. The privacy provisions (along with M and alcohol ads) of which have been watered down in the current version the networks are trying to get approved.

      1. I do despair however at the constant times we hear staff will be reminded of guidelines. Why is this always after the event and not before? Let’s sit down all news and current affairs staff for a training overhaul so that they are fully versed on their obligations and thus we can reduce these happening in the first place. In any case a news director should be alert to these issues before allowing them to air.

      2. Correct the code of practice has no bearing on the law. It’s basically a joke! The journalist did however harass this person and therefore is against the law.

  2. David, please insert my standard comment about a limp lettuce leaf in response to a TV network’s standard response to provide some staff training in response to a news/caff program yet again being found guilty of breaching guidelines regarding accuracy and/or privacy.

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