Broadcasting Authority of Ireland

Abortion: Broadcasters have ‘no obligation’ to give equal air time
Regulator advises against ‘mechanistic’ coverage of referendums ahead of abortion vote

March 13, 2018
Fiach Kelly

Broadcasters do not have to adhere to a strict 50:50 split in airtime between both sides in a referendum debate, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) has said.

The BAI, which regulates the coverage of referendum and election campaigns across broadcast media, says radio and television stations often wrongly feel they have to evenly divide time between both sides of a debate.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/abortion-broadcasters-have-no-obligation-to-give-equal-air-time-1.3425366

21st December 2016, Amnesty International

Reports that the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland has upheld a complaint against The Ray Darcy Show on RTE Radio One and will issue the programme with a warning are deeply concerning, said Amnesty International Ireland today. The complaint was made in response to an interview with Gaye and Gerry Edwards who appeared on the show to share their personal experience of an abortion following a fatal foetal impairment diagnosis.

“The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland has a responsibility to ensure that broadcasting serves the public interest, including people’s right to seek information. Decisions like what has been reported today do not serve that function, and are deeply unhelpful,” said Colm O’Gorman, Executive Director of Amnesty International Ireland.

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Source: Amnesty International

Broadcasting Authority of Ireland

Ireland: Abortion: Broadcasters have ‘no obligation’ to give equal air time

Ireland: Amnesty International “deeply concerned” at BAI ruling on abortion discussion