OTTAWA — An April 2021 news report broadcast on CJON-DT (NTV in Newfoundland and Labrador) containing inaccurate dates regarding a murder and sentencing breached the Canadian Association of Broadcasters’ (CAB) Code of Ethics and the Radio Television Digital News Association of Canada’s (RTDNA) Code of Journalistic Ethics, according to a decision released today by the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC).
The report titled “Parole Revoked”, which aired April 26, 2021 during the 6 p.m. NTV Evening Newshour broadcast, concerned a man whose day parole had been revoked due to his failing to disclose a personal relationship. It explained the man had been convicted of second-degree murder in the death of a woman.
The report said the murder occurred in 1994 and the man had been sentenced in 2002, which a member of the victim’s family complained about as being inaccurate as the murder had actually occurred in 1991 and the sentencing in 2003.
“In letters to the complainant and the CBSC, NTV acknowledged the errors and apologized. It explained that incorrect information had been included due to a rush to get the story to air,” reads a CBSC press release announcing its decision against NTV.
“The CBSC’s English-Language Panel examined the complaint under the News provision of the CAB Code of Ethics and the Accuracy provision of the RTDNA Code of Journalistic Ethics. While the Panel recognized that the errors were not intentional and did not demonstrate bias, the report nevertheless included inaccurate information which was material to the story. NTV therefore breached both code articles,” the release says.
NTV is now required to announce the CBSC’s decision in audio and video format, once during prime time within three days following the release of this decision and once more within seven days following the release of this decision during the time period in which NTV Evening Newshour was broadcast, but not on the same day as the first mandated announcement.
It must also, within 14 days following the broadcasts of the announcements, provide written confirmation of the airing of the statement to the complainant who filed the ruling request and at that time, provide the CBSC with a copy of that written confirmation and with air check copies of the broadcasts of the two announcements.
