I think National’s election campaign this year is a particularly deceptive one, and this is another complaint. This time it’s about a mail-out, which parties ought to take particular care with. National claimed that “Labour’s capital gains tax would
Steven Price
Steven Price is a publisher known for detailed analysis and commentary on media law, defamation, and regulatory issues related to broadcasting and journalism. The content often explores legal decisions, media council rulings, and the interplay between media standards and public interest. Posts typically examine case law, regulatory frameworks, and controversies involving media accuracy, corrections, and complaints. The publisher provides insights into the responsibilities of media organizations, the legal defenses available in defamation cases, and the challenges in media regulation, especially concerning new media platforms and broadcasting standards.
Another problem with the ASA’s election complaint process
By Steven
Here’s a complaint against a National Party Facebook and Instagram ad, again falsely implying that Labour is proposing nine new taxes (though to be fair it doesn’t seem to explicitly mention Labour). The ASA chair decided there were grounds to…
A few notes on the OIA scandal
By Steven
A Ministry of Education official has been caught on video telling staff not to write down their feedback from the Minister’s office because it is “OIA-able”.
It’s not good. It looks like an attempt to create a misleading impression that…
Stuff gagged – wrongly?
By Steven
The High Court has granted an injunction against Stuff Ltd preventing it publishing a report into potential conflicts of interest at a law firm receiving legal aid money.
It seems the law firm was referring work to a firm that…
Interesting Media Council splits
By Steven
The Media Council (formerly the Press Council) hears complaints against print or text based media, alleging unethical conduct such as inaccuracy or lack of fairness or balance, or invasion of privacy. The complaints board comprises a combination of journalist and…
BSA cop out?
By Steven
I’ve just accused (below) the Advertising Standards Authority of copping out by refusing to uphold a complaint by finding that an assertion of fact is a statement of opinion. I think the BSA sometimes does the same thing. But at…
ASA cops out again
By Steven
Looks like the Advertising Standards Authority is doing its usual thing in letting political parties get away with blatantly misleading ads by pretending that they are opinions. It’s a bit difficult to tell, because the ASA’s website’s new display…
De-Platformed
By Steven
The BSA has upheld the complaint against Sean Plunket’s internet broadcasting outfit, The Platform. (Of course, the bigger issue here is whether they had jurisdiction at all, but I’ve covered that elsewhere).
I had confidently predicted they wouldn’t uphold the…
Is the Media Council’s legal waiver requirement lawful?
By Steven
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BSA PS
By Steven
Just a reminder of what’s at stake here. As I wrote earlier this year:
If The Platform and any other internet-based TV or radio platform are not subject to the Broadcasting Act, then they are not subject to broadcasting standards,…