War of words over NUJ stance on Mooney complaint
Dublin City University Professor Colum Kenny wrote to the NUJ yesterday asking it to withdraw its previous statement on the BAI determination.
Prof Kenny argued the BAI was not “singling out” same-sex marriage for special treatment and that the requirement for “fairness, objectivity and balance” in broadcasting has never been confined to referendum campaigns.
He refuted the union’s argument that the BAI decision “effectively seeks to ensure that discussions take place in an adversarial environment, with programme makers forced to seek out alternative spokespersons to preserve the concept of ‘balance’ normally associated with electoral and referendum coverage”.
Referring to the Section 39 of the 2009 Broadcasting Act, Prof Kenny said that such balance has been required since RTÉ was first established.
Speaking in a personal capacity, Prof Kenny also argued that the Mooney Show discussion did not take place “in a manner somehow removed from the fact of a planned referendum”.
“The programme participants did not seem to share the NUJ’s degree of uncertainty about the planned poll or about its central question, and had a view on how people ought to vote. Mr Mooney himself expressed his opinion in the matter, “he said.
Prof Kenny also accused the NUJ of “unwittingly” lining up with those “who would like to dismantle the legal requirement for fairness in broadcasting”.
Last night, NUJ General Secretary, Michelle Stanistreet said the union would not be withdrawing its statement.
“We are happy to publish Professor Kenny’s statement, but we do not accept that our statement was inappropriate. It was issued after consideration and reflected the genuine concerns of members at the implications, in particular, of the guidance note from the chief executive of the BAI,” she said.
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