Watchdog warns 98FM over putting minors on air

The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) has issued Dublin radio station 98FM with a warning notice after a 13-year-old girl was interviewed live about young people sending inappropriate pictures of themselves via text message and social networks.

The girl phoned into the station’s Dublin Talks programme on April 1 and was put on air. In the complaint, the child’s mother said she was unaware of what was happening until she heard the broadcast live.

When the station was subsequently contacted and told the girl’s age a researcher apologised.