By Kyra Gillespie
Seven Network has been left red-faced after its segment on alleged bullying at Pakenham Secondary College was found to have breached the Commercial Television Code of Practice in broadcasts.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (AMCA) found the segment, which aired on Seven News and Sunday Night on 5 July and 5 August 2018, invaded the privacy of several children.
It followed the story of three former Pakenham Secondary College students who were allegedly involved in schoolyard fights that drew hundreds of views after they were uploaded onto social media.
The footage, aired on national television, showed a now former student being punched from behind by another student. It also showed another “playground ambush” as described by Seven in the story, between a number of students.
According to the ACMA investigation, the broadcasts containing mobile phone footage of alleged schoolyard bullying was ‘inappropriate’.
“Public interest issues, including school bullying, can, and indeed should, be explored on news and current affairs programs. In this case it was inappropriate to disclose children’s personal information,” said ACMA Chair Nerida O’Loughlin.
In a report released by ACMA, the watchdog found Seven News exercised some care by not naming the children and attempting to blur their faces, however the footage was highly sensitive as it identified children engaged in anti-social and violent behaviour.
“Broadcasters must exercise special care when dealing with children. It is not good enough for broadcasters to assume that footage is in the public domain and can be broadcast just because it is on social media,’ said Ms O’Loughlin.
The ACMA has requested Seven remove copies of the mobile phone footage from its website and social media pages. Seven will also bring the breach to the attention of its staff and include it in future code training.
This is the second breach of the Commercial Television Code of Practice Seven has been found to have committed in the last week, with Sunday Night’s ‘African Gangs’ segment also found to have breached the code.
Seven declined to comment further on the matter.
