tv3 vindicated over Lenihan cancer report

Slideshowbob

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0326/breaking67.html

The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) has rejected complaints against TV3's controversial St Stephen's Day broadcast about the Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan's cancer diagnosis.

The BAI's compliance committee rejected 14 complaints from 88 which were submitted to it in the immediate aftermath of the broadcast of news about Mr Lenihan's pancreatic cancer which caused a storm of protest against TV3.

In a detailed ruling, the compliance committee said the broadcast by the station's political editor Ursula Halligan was "factual and accurate".

Ms Halligan's reference to Mr Lenihan in the past tense, which caused offence to many people, was "simply human error". The committee noted that she appeared "personally upset by the news".

There was no evidence of editorial bias or content which could be deemed unfair or subjective. Just because a pancreatic cancer diagnosis was "shocking and sad" did not preclude the broadcaster from reporting on the matter, the committee stated.

It also held that Professor John Crown's contribution in which he spoke in general of treatment for pancreatic cancer was a "general and factual expert opinion on the type of illness with which the Minister had been diagnosed", was not intended to be an opinion on the diagnosis for Mr Lenihan.

"In this context, it was considered editorially justified," it said.

The committee said the broadcast was in the public interest given Mr Lenihan's pivotal role in Government.

It also stated that the timing of the broadcast, which caused the most controversy, would only be an issue for the BAI had it received a complaint from the Minister himself or somebody close to him, which it had not done.

Had it taken a stance on the timing of the broadcasting, it would "in effect be editorialising".

In a statement TV3 said: "TV3 notes today's adjudication by the BAI which accepted the legitimacy of the station's news bulletin broadcast on December 26th, 2009. At the same time, TV3 wishes to acknowledge and express its regret at the real upset caused by this broadcast."

The Department of Finance had no comment. However, a source close to the Minister told The Irish Times he wished to "draw a line under the issue and move on".

smythwicks

Irish time will be reported for reporting that....vicious circle!

Nemanja91

They may not respect him as a person but they could have at least respected his health, family and privacy.

Bonito

Is it just me or does that report say they got away scott free with it?

Liam Byrne

Nemanja91 wrote: »

They may not respect him as a person but they could have at least respected his health, family and privacy.

There's a massive difference between a lack of respect "as a person" and a deserved lack of respect as a politician.

Slideshowbob

Apparently so.

How could they not have gotten away with it.

All they did was report news which turned out to be true.

Given the state the economy is in it was certainly in the national interest.

Bonito

I don't see a man's health problems as national news. No matter what his position in the country is. At the end of the day he has to go home and look after stuff like anyone else. Merely giving people something else to gossip about, that's all they were doing in my opinion.

Slideshowbob

Well you are continuing the gossip here by replying to this thread!

This topic was thrashed out already on boards at the time

The news yesterday was the the BCI didnt see anything wrong with the report - fact!

Bonito

Slideshowbob wrote: »

Well you are continuing the gossip here by replying to this thread!

This topic was thrashed out already on boards at the time

The news yesterday was the the BCI didnt see anything wrong with the report - fact!

Hardly. I'm not prancing round to the neighbours for a cuppa screeching "Oh mary did ye hear that TV3 crowd got away with tellin' everyone that polition had cancer"

I'm discussing the topic which is TV3 being patted on the back for what they done. The topic that was thrashed out was actually about the story of when it was revealed Mr. Lenihan has cancer.

brianthebard

Bonito wrote: »

I don't see a man's health problems as national news. No matter what his position in the country is.

except his health has national implications.

Bonito

brianthebard wrote: »

except his health has national implications.

And I'm sure, in time, he would have told the public.

expectationlost

i continue to find this very strange, john crowne got slated for being wrong, the gov put it out that tv3 got it _wrong_ that night, that lenihan had less bad prepancreatic cancer rather then pancreatic cancer if thats the case how could the BAI deem it factual and accurate, surprising, when we still don't know what type of cancer it is? lenihan never confirmed it himself.

Bonito

Bonito wrote: »

And I'm sure, in time, he would have told the public.

In fairness, if a TV station can beat you to it, you're taking your time.

The Aussie

tv3 = Television for 3 year olds

brianthebard

expectationlost wrote: »

i continue to find this very strange, john crowne got slated for being wrong, the gov put it out that tv3 got it _wrong_ that night, that lenihan had less bad prepancreatic cancer rather then pancreatic cancer if thats the case how could the BAI deem it factual and accurate, surprising, when we still don't know what type of cancer it is? lenihan never confirmed it himself.

The govt is obviously lying to us yet again. The old adage 'if their lips are moving, they are lying' works well whenever you think about the government....