CASE NO: 23/2006 – FAULL VS etv – NEWS – SCENES OF BODIES

The Registrar received a complaint from a viewer that a news item, broadcast on the 22:0 news was too explicit in dealing with the bodies of victims of crime. The matter was referred for argument before a Tribunal of the Commission. The manner in which news deals with crime is most important. Firstly, the seriousness of what had taken place must not be underplayed and the public has a right to be informed of what had happened. Secondly, the message must be brought home that crime is evil. Thirdly, children should be protected against scenes which are likely to disturb them or which are likely to be harmful to their upbringing. Fourthly, sensitive viewers should be warned of scenes which might disturb them emotionally. Fifthly, a broadcaster has the right to offend within reasonable limits. In showing bodies care must, however, be taken not to gratuitously invade the respect for death and the dignity and privacy of persons related to the deceased. The Tribunal viewed the insert twice and came to the conclusion that the respondent broadcaster did not contravene the Broadcasting Code. The scenes did not gratuitously deal with death and the news was also broadcast at 22:00, well beyond the watershed. The scenes were also not so explicit that the respondent should have warned sensitive viewers that such scenes would be portrayed. The complaint was not upheld.