7News Spotlight in ACMA breach

7News Spotlight has found itself in the spotlight again after a promotion was deemed inaccurate by media watchdog the Australian Communications and Media Authority.

A November 2023 episode on the dangers of vaping, “Killers in the Mist” inaccurately portrayed a participant as a representative of the tobacco industry.

But an ACMA report found, “The Participant is a medical doctor with a special interest in smoking cessation” and “has never received funding from any electronic cigarette or tobacco company. His vaping advocacy is entirely self-funded.”

ACMA concluded the suggestion that the Participant is a representative of the tobacco industry was not accurate, and breached the accuracy rules in the Commercial TV Code of Practice.

Seven objected to the finding:

“The Licensee disagrees that the Program Promotion conveyed to the ordinary reasonable viewer that [the Participant] is a representative of the tobacco industry or represented the views of the tobacco industry. The precise nature of the [Participant’s] links to the tobacco industry were never included in the Program Promotion because: it was not material to the Program Promotion…”

But ACMA disagreed with the context conveyed by the audio and video of the promotion.

ACMA Chair Nerida O’Loughlin said promotions for news and current affairs programs are subject to the same rules in the code of practice as the programs themselves.

“The brevity of program promotions do not exempt them from the broadcast rules,” Ms O’Loughlin said.

“Special care must be taken around the accurate portrayal of program participants, including in broadcasts of a shorter format.”

Following the ACMA’s investigation and breach finding, Seven has agreed to delete the promotions from its website and social media channels, and not rebroadcast them. Seven has also reminded its promotions team of its obligations around accuracy under the code of practice.

The breach follows 7News Spotlight finding itself in the headlines after its high-profile interviews with Bruce Lehrmann last year which led to key staffing changes.