New media means new challenges

The cornerstone principles that allow these objectives to be met are that all material shown on Australian television must be classified and that classification zones have been established "based on the majority audience normally viewing at that time, with particular regard to the child component of the audience".

But news and current affairs have been granted special exemption with the code stating "news, commentary on current events, and serious presentations of moral or social issues are permitted in lower classification zones, but must be presented with appropriate sensitivity to the classification zone".

There can be no doubt that this exemption is both sensible and necessary. News can demand immediacy to serve public interest, public benefit and in some cases public safety. But it is questionable whether the safeguards built into the classification system to protect children in these instances can be fully met.

The code says news material broadcast in the G classification zone outside regular bulletins must be compiled with special care. It adds that news and current affairs may contain material that is likely to distress audiences if there is "an identifiable public interest" and provided "an adequate prior warning is given".

There is no way that broadcasters could guarantee to meet those obligations when taking live feeds from overseas networks or when broadcasting live from potentially volatile news events.

Thus broadcasters should regain control of the images that go to air during "live" feeds from obviously volatile situations by building in short delays in G classification zones.

The concept is not new. Radio broadcasters have long adopted such a system instituting 10-second delays when taking calls from the public to prevent unsuitable material from being broadcast. Television broadcasters should do the same.

For too long broadcasters have been able to simply argue that the responsibility for protecting children from unsuitable news material should rest with parents. Parents, for their part, are not trying to shirk this responsibility but with unscheduled broadcasts and news updates in children’s zones nothing short of a complete television ban could fully achieve this.

The job will be made all the harder as the amount of violent material being captured and screened in the age of the citizen journalist increases. Restraint on the part of broadcasters together with sensible regulations and application of digital technology can help tip the balance back in favour of parents.

The time to act is now.