A senior academic and member of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland has criticised a National Union of Journalists statement on balance in coverage of current affairs.

Colum Kenny, Professor of Communications at DCU, said that the NUJ’s criticism of the BAI over their decision to uphold a complaint over an unbalanced discussion of same-sex marriage on RTE Radio 1’s ‘Mooney’ show was “misleading.” “The union went wild on Mooney” he said.

In a lettter to the NUJ, Prof Kenny wrote:

“The NUJ thinks that ‘the requirement of fairness, objectivity and balance has now been interpreted to mean that broadcasters are required to seek out alternative views in a range of programme settings.’ In fact, assuming that alternative views are voiced, any member of the NUJ involved in broadcasting should know that this has been required ever since RTE was founded more than half a century ago. Guidelines that RTE and other broadcasters issue to their employees have long cited that law (most recently enshrined in S.39 of the Broadcasting Act 2009).

The legal requirement has never been confined to referendum campaigns.”

Speaking in a personal capacity, Prof Kenny said that “as a long-standing member of the NUJ” he regretted that the union had “rushed out a statement.”

“In issuing its criticism of the BCC (Broadcasting Complaints Comittee), the NUJ has unwittingly lined up with those who would like to dismantle the legal requirement for fairness in broadcasting” he said.

“In the USA forces that included right-wing Republicans and big business succeeded in having the Federal Communications Commission’s “Fairness Doctrine” overturned. Among the fruits of their efforts have been shock-jocks and the kind of reporting that one sees on FOX NEWS. Those who want “cranks” and others whom they regard as “unreasonable” excluded from the airwaves ought to bear in mind that they themselves might be regarded as “nutters” next time around.

The NUJ Code of Conduct rightly states, ‘A journalist strives to ensure that information disseminated is honestly conveyed, accurate and fair.” And fair is fair.’”

Last night, NUJ General Secretary Michelle Stanistreet told the Irish Independent that the union would not be withdrawing its statement.

“We are happy to publish Professor Kenny’s statement, but we do not accept that our statement was inappropriate. It was issued after consideration and reflected the genuine concerns of members at the implications, in particular, of the guidance note from the chief executive of the BAI,” she said.