Press Release
MARCH 29, 2018
The GNBA has announced that some broadcasters continue Serious Breaches of the Broadcasting Act and its 2017 Amendment on a daily basis.
GNBA has announced that its Monitoring and Compliance Department has observed and recorded a steady flow of serious breaches to the Broadcasting Act 2011 and its 2017 Amendment for the first three months of 2018.
These breaches fall within the categories of the ‘potential to mislead’, ‘promote negative behaviours and ‘offend public sensibilities’.
Common examples include: sensational content highlighting visible suffering and distress; close-up video footage of undignified images of the dead or those seriously injured; prime-time programmes (6.00h -20.00h ) which promote the use of alcohol ; dangerous and self-harming behaviour; violence and crime; offensive language; sexually explicit material; indecent language and nudity.
The Authority also notes inaccuracies or imbalance in the presentation of political or industrial controversies; interpretation of current public policy; news and current affairs; and, the use of personal views and opinions as if they were facts.
On average, the Monitoring and Compliance Department records a total of 27 Red lined (most serious) infractions within a one-month period.
Broadcasters are reminded that such infractions have significant and far reaching implications and can lead to severe penalties.
The Authority therefore requests that broadcasters take more care in ensuring the following:
- content is diligently screened before airing , especially music and movies;
- immediate action is taken during live programmes to correct, caution or disconnect callers who are abusive or who spew misinformation and disparaging remarks on others
- that callers’ IDs be displayed and a delayed broadcasting mechanism be introduced in their stations, so that information may be edited before screening and malicious callers with unsavory intentions be avoided.
As the GNBA continues to exercise its core mandate to regulate, supervise and develop the broadcasting sector, we encourage broadcasters and the general public to visit our website at gnba.gov.gy for any information and guidance necessary, in keeping with the Broadcasting laws and Guidelines. GNBA welcomes all feedback from broadcasters and the Guyanese listening and viewing public on these matters.
