WADE TO AGAINST NEWSHUB
Case Number: 3187
Council Meeting: JANUARY 2022
Decision: No Grounds to Proceed
Publication: Newshub TV3
Principle:
Accuracy, Fairness and Balance
Comment and Fact
Subterfuge
Conflicts of Interest
Corrections
Ruling Categories:
Accuracy
Balance, Lack Of
Comment and Fact
Conflict of Interest
Apology and Correction Sought
Unfair Coverage
Covid
Overview
CASE NO: 3187
RULING OF THE NEW ZEALAND MEDIA COUNCIL OF THE COMPLAINT OF WADE TO AGAINST NEWSHUB
FINDING: INSUFFICIENT GROUNDS TO PROCEED
DATE: JANUARY 2022
Newshub ran an article on December 16, 2021, headlined Lower turnout at anti-vaccine mandate protest at Parliament with no politicians.
Wade To complained that Newshub had breached Media Council Principles relating to accuracy, fairness and balance; comment and fact; conflicts of interest; corrections and subterfuge.
He said the reporting was one-sided, aimed at painting a section of society in a bad light, misrepresented the peaceful tone of the protest, failed to report it was attended by 10 to 15,000 people and did not fairly represent that Parliament was meant to be sitting that day.
He also said a conflict of interest should have been declared.
No evidence was offered to the Media Council to support the points made in this complaint or sustain an argument that any Media Council principles were breached. Unsupported assertions such as this cannot establish inaccuracy.
There were insufficient grounds to proceed.