OTTAWA — The broadcast of a private individual’s Covid-19 vaccination status during The Lockerroom morning show on CKEA-FM (95.7 Cruz FM in Edmonton) violated 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).
During the Feb. 10, 2022 broadcast on 95.7 Cruz FM, which is owned by Harvard Media, The Lockerroom’s hosts discussed their reactions to the removal of Covid-related restrictions, with one of the hosts saying he was reluctant to attend an event where he knew one of his unvaccinated friends would be, explains a CBSC press release.
The host “first mentioned the person by last name and, later in the conversation, referred to the person by his nickname which includes his full first name. The hosts also joked that this person is a good friend to have because he would help you bury a body and gave tips on how to burn a car,” the release reads.
The host’s friend filed a complaint about the broadcast with the CBSC, saying he “objected to the revelation of his vaccination status on air and to linking him with criminal activity,” according to the release.
“He stated that he had not consented to this information being broadcast and had even told the host in the past not to talk about him on air.”
In CKEA-FM’s response to the complaint, the broadcaster “noted that the host shares personal anecdotes during the program and apologized for this incident,” the release says.
The CBSC’s English-Language Panel examined the complaint under the CAB Code of Ethics, which requires commentary be presented in a full, fair and proper manner and under article 5.5 of RTDNA’s Code of Journalistic Ethics regarding privacy.
“The Panel unanimously concluded that the broadcast of the man’s identity along with his COVID vaccination status without his consent breached both code provisions because medical information is confidential and the revelation of his full name was unnecessary for the discussion. The majority of the Panel also found that it was also inappropriate to suggest that the identified person would engage in criminal activity, even if these comments were made in jest.”
CKEA-FM is now required to announce the CBSC’s decision regarding The Lockerroom’s breach of the CAB and RTDNA codes “once during peak listening hours 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 The Lockeroom was broadcast, but not on the same day as the first mandated announcement,” reads the CBSC’s decision.
In addition, within 14 days following the broadcasts of the announcements, CKEA-FM is required “to provide written confirmation of the airing of the statement to the complainant who filed the Ruling Request” and “to provide the CBSC with a copy of that written confirmation and with air check copies of the broadcasts of the two announcements which much be made by CKEA-FM”, the decision says.
