The Tribune

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Staff Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

THE public’s failure to formally file grievances presents a considerable challenge for broadcasting regulators, according to URCA’s Director of Policy and Regulation Stephen Bereaux. 

Mr Bereaux confirmed that less than 20 complaints have been filed with the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) for the year.

“We have people calling about things that we investigate on our own accord, but it’s barely into double figures in terms of actual complaints and that’s really not enough,” Mr Bereaux said. 

“We always stress the importance of people complaining. It is economically impossible to listen to all radio programs at all times – we don’t do that so we do count on people reporting problems.”

He added: “People need to call us and tell us. I need the station, and I need the time. Our first action is to require the station to produce a recording of what happened so we can assess. We need details.”

Mr Bereaux’s comments follow calls for greater accountability and responsibility among broadcasters after false reports of a shooting at a private primary school caused mass panic among parents on Wednesday.

Popular radio talk-show host Ortland H Bodie Jr apologized yesterday to Lisa and Branville McCartney after erroneously reporting on air that a shooting had occurred at the Meridian School, which is run by Mrs McCartney on John F Kennedy Drive.

Mr Bodie, who hosts the call-in programme “Real Talk Live” from 10am to noon, told his listening audience that a security officer at the school had been shot, and that parents or guardians should go and collect their children immediately.

Speaking exclusively with The Tribune, Mr Bodie admitted that he did not verify the information that he had received, which ultimately resulted in “pandemonium” at the school.

Mr Bodie said he was informed about the shooting by a reliable source, adding that he would have ordinarily checked the facts.

“The code of practice for content regulation covers activities of broadcasters on air,” said Mr Bereaux. “It covers the issue of broadcasters having the responsibility to ensure statements made on the air are accurate, and what they should be doing is verifying before making the statement on air.

“We would investigate normally upon receipt of a complaint from the public. If we find that Mr Bodie hadn’t taken appropriate steps to verify information before making the statement, we can address that through the code in terms of penalties.”

Mr Bereaux explained that for a first time breach, the penalty would be for the broadcaster to retract the statement and issue an apology, adding that the regulator has its own database to keep track of breaches.

Mr Bereaux confirmed that the regulator would now look into the matter, which had not been reported.

He said: “What’s supposed to happen is people should complain to the station first, and then complain to URCA. You give the station an opportunity to rectify the problem, then if the station fails to fix problem then complain to URCA.

“Mistakes happen in any business,” Mr Bereaux added.