Bridget Griffen-Foley is seeking information about the ‘Fairness Code for Broadcasters’ which was around in the 1970s for her upcming book Changing Stations: The story of Australian Commercial Radio.

She has two specific queries relating to the Fairness Code for Broadcasters, and the legal obligation to identify on-air talkback callers making political comment during election campaigns.

“I would be grateful for information about how these questions were ultimately resolved, and any thoughts about the broader issues at stake.

Firstly, in 1971, following criticisms of talkback radio and with the election of a Labor government a real possibility, FARB commenced work on a Fairness Code for Broadcasters. A clause in the one-page code despatched to stations in 1973 stated that reasonable opportunity would be provided for adequate presentation of responsible points of view on controversial public issues, and that individuals subjected to personal attack should be granted facilities to reply.

“Over the next few years the ‘right of reply’ was granted on several occasions, and the code was periodically reviewed. It is unclear what happened to the Fairness Code and its intent. Did the code simply fade away from misuse and, if so, when?”

In 1972-73 complaints about anonymous criticisms of the ALP made by talkback callers led to the discovery that the Commonwealth Electoral Act obliged stations to identify on-air callers during election campaigns. In 1974 a bill containing a clause overturning the requirement that callers be identified joined the queue of legislation blocked by the Senate. As a result, during the 1975 election campaign some stations banned all political comment from talkback shows, declaring that anonymity was the basis of such programs.

“I wonder when the clause requiring the identification of talkback callers was actually overturned?”

If you can help Bridget please click to her Forum posting below and send her an instant message via our instant messaging system.