Life Network Foundation complains to BA about 'biased' euthanasia ads on TVM
NGO asks regulator to ensure impartiality in public information about sensitive topic
A pro-life group has written to the Broadcasting Authority to complain about what it believes is biased information being provided in government adverts about talks to legalise voluntary assisted euthanasia.
The Life Network Foundation says the ads, which are being aired on various TV channels including public broadcaster TVM, are one-sided and intended to promote the government’s positive view of its legislative proposal.
In a letter dated June 27 and sent to the Broadcasting Authority by lawyer Paul Borg Olivier, the NGO argued that the subject matter is subject to constitutional protections that require the authority to ensure “due impartiality” in coverage concerning “matters of political or industrial controversy or relating to current public policy.”
The Life Network Foundation says that is not being done, as the government adverts are being broadcast as public service announcements with no space provided for adverts presenting the opposing view.
In its letter, the NGO said it had written to Public Broadcasting Services on June 23 to flag the issue but had not received a satisfactory response. The NGO also noted that when it launched its anti-euthanasia campaign ‘Kill my pain, not me’ on June 10, PBS had reported that launch on its website but not during its TV news bulletin.
PBS has a legal obligation to ensure impartiality in this public debate, the NGO argued to the regulator as it asked for the complaint to be considered with urgency.