Radio Corrections
Monday, December 22 2008
Crime report
PM
On December 7, 2007, in a PM story titled "Corby drug links revealed: crime report", the last line of the script refers to “drug run”. This should have been written as “alleged drug run”.Weir bursts
AM
On November 24, 2008, an AM story regarding the search for a girl in Blackwater, Queensland, after a wier burst quoted a Police spokesman, saying that the volume of water lost was the equivalent of 6000 swimming pools. As the volume of an Olympic swimming pool is generally put at 2.5 megalitres, the volume of water lost was closer to 2400 swimming pools rather than the 6000 quoted in the story.Caesarean rates surge
AM
In a PM story broadcast on December 9, 2008, the last line of the link to the story was accidentally changed. On air, the story said "Obstetricians say the big increase has a lot to do with vanity". The ABC should have said "Obstetricians say the big increase does not have a lot to do with vanity".Tuesday, December 16 2008
UK Christmas discounting
AM
On November 21, 2008, in a report about Christmas retail sales in London, the ABC correspondent incorrectly reported that London was a city of 20 million people. The population of greater London is closer to 8-9 million people.Thursday, December 11 2008
Bermagui forests
PM and ABC TV News, News South Wales
On November 6, 2008, the ABC reported on conservationists’ calls for the State Government to stop cutting down native forests near Bermagui in NSW. The ABC acknowledges that although a balancing comment was gathered from the NSW Environment Minister, Carmel Tebbutt, a representative of the logging industry should have been included to cover all aspects of the story.Tuesday, December 9 2008
School chaplains
ABC local radio, News Online
On October 19, 2008, ABC news reported on a survey regarding the role of school chaplains in Queensland schools. The story should have been more specific that the survey was done by the Scripture Union.Middle East protest
On October 16, 2008, an online story reported that there were moves by Jews and Christians around the world to have Iran’s president, Mahmoud Ahmedinejad charged with inciting genocide against Israel. The story mentioned the International Christian Embassy of Jerusalem, but following a complaint, it was found that the story should have clarified that the group is the world’s largest Christian Zionist organisation.Friday, December 5 2008
Domestic violence on teens
AM, ABC News Online, 7pm TV News
On Monday November 17, 2008 ABC News carried stories reporting the findings of a study into the impact of violence on young people. The study was commissioned by the White Ribbon Foundation. It reported, in part, that “one in every three boys believe it is not a big deal to hit a girl". The author of the report, Dr Michael Flood, has advised the ABC that this finding was in fact wrong. Dr Flood's team transposed information in compilation of that part of the report. The original report by the National Crime Prevention 2001 study upon which much of the White Ribbon report was is based made no reference to "boys hitting girls" In fact the report referred to "girls hitting boys".As references to this incorrect information formed a significant part of the our online news story, as well as an interview conducted for the AM program. The online news story has been amended accordingly. The AM transcript has been edited and the story audio removed.
Friday, November 28 2008
Holden production
AM
On November 19, 2008, a story incorrectly reported that Holden will halt production for three months at the start of the new year. In fact twenty five days production will be lost over a period of three months. There was an on-air correction on the program November 28, 2008 and an editor's note has been attached to the story.Thursday, November 20 2008
Pension bungle
PM
On September 22, 2008, a story incorrectly referred to the Opposition being embarrassed by the lack of a seconder on a Senate motion. Senate motions do not need a seconder. There was an on-air correction on the program the next night and an editor's note has been attached to the story.Tuesday, November 18 2008
Howard years
Saturday AM
On November 15, 2008, a story incorrectly identified Chris Barrie as head of the defence force at the time of the Iraq war when in fact he retired some months earlier. The transcript has been amended and an editor's note added.Murder conviction
Correspondents Report
On November 9, 2008, a reporter incorrectly stated that the murderers of British tourist Peter Rushton were never found. In fact, two men were charged and convicted of the crime. The transcript has been amended and an editor’s note added.Monday, November 10 2008
Newman inquiry
The World Today
On October 8 and 9, 2008 The World Today carried reports on the inquiry into the murder of NSW MP John Newman in 1994. The introductions to these stories incorrectly referred to the man jailed for plotting Australia's first political assassination Phuong Ngo as being found guilty of murder. In fact he was convicted of conspiracy to murder. An editor's note has been added to the transcript.Coorong report
PM
On October 10, 2008 in a story broadcast on the PM program dealing with the findings of a Senate inquiry into the Coorong, the reporter mistakenly referred to "gigabytes" instead of "gigalitres." The reporter also referred to Greg Hunt as the Opposition Minister , not Shadow Minister. The transcript has been amended and Editor’s notes added.Inappropriate description
On September 30, 2008, The World Today broadcast a story which used the term “illegal immigrants” to describe a group of boat people picked up by the Australian Navy near Ashmore Reef, off Australia's north-west coast. In fact their status had not then been ascertained at the time of the report. The script of this story has been amended and the term replaced with “asylum seekers”. An editor’s note has been added to the script.Crackdown on cartels
AM program
On October 28, 2008, the AM program broadcast a story on proposed legislation to criminalise cartel behaviour. The reporter quoted a figure of $700 million made by Visy and Amcor from a price fixing cartel. However the reporter did not attribute the figure to the lawyers bringing a class action against the company, Visy. We acknowledge that figure is an estimate only and is not a proven fact. A clarification was broadcast on AM the following day and an editor’s note added to the transcript.Euthanasia debate
The World Today
On September 15, 2008, The World Today radio current affairs program broadcast a story on the push for voluntary euthanasia laws in Australia. As a result of a review of this story it was found that the story breached the ABC's requirements for balance by not presenting a counter anti-euthanasia view. The review found the story portrayed just one side of this particular aspect of the debate. An editor's note has been added to the story.Tuesday, October 28 2008
Rape story details
ABC Radio News and News Online
On October 14, 2008 ABC radio news bulletins and ABC News Online reported that two men had appeared in Wollongong District Court accused of a rape outside a Wollongong tavern last year. The ABC acknowledges that some information contained in the reports was graphic and may have shocked and offended some members of the audience. The reporter was seeking to convey the horrific nature of the attack but the ABC agrees that greater caution should have been applied to the reporting of the case.Tuesday, October 21 2008
Aircraft emergency
ABC News Online and Radio News
On September 16, 2008 ABC News Online and some radio news services reported that an “Air Force helicopter” had been forced to make an emergency landing at the Richmond Airbase in Sydney's north-west after experiencing nose-wheel problems. The story was incorrect on a number of counts. The RAAF does not operate helicopters. In any event, the incident involved a Hercules transport aircraft which experienced nose-wheel problems. The story also reported that the pilot had issued a “mayday” call. The ABC accepts that it was very unlikely that the pilot had issued a mayday in such circumstances.Tuesday, October 14 2008
Magpie research
The World Today
On August 21, 2008, The World Today, broadcast a story dealing with a study conducted overseas which looked at the intelligence of magpies. A number of listeners noted that the report referred to Australian magpies although the birds that were studied were European magpies which are a different species. It cannot be assumed therefore that the German research findings apply locally. An editor's note has been added to the relevant transcript.Friday, September 19 2008
Karadzic report
Correspondents Report
On July 27, 2008, Correspondents Report carried a story in which the reporter attributed responsibility for “ordering the rape, torture and destruction of entire villages” to Radovan Karadzic without qualification and before his trial. At the time of broadcast Karadzic had been arrested but not transferred to The Hague.Friday, September 12 2008
Education funding
ABC News Online and Radio News
On June 16, 2008 ABC News Online and radio news in Victoria carried a story which reported a federal funding gap between private schools and public schools which favoured private schools to the tune of $2 billion each year. The story should have acknolwdged that the report, commissioned by the Australian Education Union, found that the current annual capital investment gap between private and public schools was $2 billion. As the funding disparity related to the amount spent on capital investment rather than overall funding received, ABC News acknowledges that it was inaccurate to report that Australian private schools were receiving $2 billion more than public schools in federal funding each year. The report was also found to lack balance as it contained only one perspective.Tuesday, September 9 2008
Climate refugee quotas
Radio current affairs
On July 14, 2008 , the AM radio current affairs program broadcast a story about rising sea levels in the South Pacific, and calls by aid groups for Australia to do more to assist Pacific island nations. The opening line of the story should have attributed a statement about the sinking of the islands to the organisation making the claim, Make Poverty History. The transcript of this story has since been amended.Governor-General swearing-in
Radio current affairs
On September 5, 2008, the radio current affairs program PM broadcast a story reporting the swearing-in of Australia's first female Governor-General, Quentin Bryce. The transcript has been corrected to note that Chief Justice Robert French, rather than Justice Murray Gleeson, invited Quentin Bryce to take the Oath of Allegiance.Incorrect description
Correspondents Report
On August 17, 2008, the radio current affairs program Correspondents Report carried a story about a shrine to truck drivers in America's south. On air, the presenter inadvertently described Chattanooga as being “ in the southern city of Tennessee” instead of the “south of Tennessee”Monday, August 25 2008
Incorrect back-announcement
Saturday AM
On August 16, 2008, the Saturday edition of the AM program, in a back-announcement at the end of the story, incorrectly named the last talent as Ross Henderson instead of Arthur McBride . The transcript of this story has been amended to correctly identify Arthur McBride.Hydrogen fuel cells
The World Today
On August 1, 2008, The World Today radio current affairs program broadcast a story about hydrogen fuel cells that may in future power hybrid cars. A listener pointed out that hydrogen fuel cells are not yet in production other than in prototypes and that they are not currently used in hybrid production cars as stated. The transcript was amended to make it clear such fuel cells are still in a developmental stage and do not power any production hybrid vehicles. The amendment also corrects a reference to platinum “trapping” carbon instead of “converting” to less dangerous gases.Whitsunday town plan
ABC News Online and Radio News
On July 17, 2008, ABC News Online and ABC Radio News carried stories reporting calls by developers for the release of the Whitsunday town plan. As a result of a complaint made to the ABC, it was determined that comments made by the CEO of the Whitsunday Development Corporation were incorrectly paraphrased in both the radio report and the subsequent online report. The story has since been amended.Qantas profit increase
The World Today
On August 21, 2008, The World Today radio current affairs program carried a story reporting a 35 per cent profit increase announced by Qantas. The profit calculation of 35% was made by reporters on the basis of Qantas's previously published accounts. However, there was a change in accounting procedures during the year which had the effect of increasing the percentage change in profit. An editor's note explaining the impact of the changes has been added to the story.APRA reference
PM program
On Thursday, August 14, 2008 in a story broadcast on the PM program, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority was incorrectly referred to as an industry body instead of a regulatory body. The transcript was amended on August 20 and acknowledged in an editor’s note. An apology has been issued to APRA.Friday, August 15 2008
ICRP ruling
ABC News Online and Radio news
On August 29, 2006 ABC News Online and ABC radio news services in northern Tasmania carried a story reporting developments in an investigation into the murder of John Thorn. The story referred to his previous conviction on drugs charges. This story was subsequently the subject of a complaint to the ABC's Independent Complaints Review Panel. The panel found the story had breached the ABC's Editorial Policies. The ICRP's full findings can be viewed at: http://abc.net.au/corp/pubs/documents/icrp_report_abc_news_tas_290806.pdfMonday, August 11 2008
Compulsory superannuation
ABC News Online and Radio News
In a report published on July 28, 2008 dealing with the big annual losses for Australian superannuation funds, reference was made to compulsory superannuation having started 26 years ago. This was a typographical error contained in the original radio news report. Compulsory superannuation started 16 years ago. The story has since been correctedThursday, August 7 2008
Jewish Sabbath:
Correspondents Report
On June 8, 2008, the Correspondents Report broadcast on Radio National carried a report about the strict observance of the Sabbath in Jerusalem. The story reported that hotel lifts stopped at all floors on Saturdays, but a listener has pointed out that other lifts are available that operate normally so that people have a choice. ABC News agrees that the report did not provide full context regarding the operation of lifts during the Sabbath and should have noted that there were other lifts available for non-adherents.
