CASE NUMBER: 17/2006 – ALLEN VS SABC RADIO – SAFM – BALANCE

A complaint was lodged that the Vuyo Mbuli Talk Show on HIV and AIDS was one-sided.  There was one guest on this phone-in programme, representing the National Institute for Communicable Diseases. During this programme the public was invited to volunteer for vaccine testing. Clause 36 of the Code requires that there should be balance in programmes in which controversial issues of public importance are discussed.  It is the Tribunal’s view that balance cannot be assessed with mathematical precision. What is important is that ”unjustified opinion should rather be left for the market place of ideas to counter it”.  A talk show or phone-in programme is such a market place of ideas. Even though a talk show usually has only one guest at a time, the fact that listeners may phone in to air their views, is sufficient to prepare the table for balanced discussion. Although a  broadcaster has no control over the viewpoints expressed by callers, this does not detract from the principle that the attainment of balance is inherent in this type of programme. However, the broadcaster must ensure that guests with different viewpoints are invited. No contravention was found in this case and the complaint is dismissed.