Media Triumph

Declan McKenna writes of the lessons from the Cuba Support Group’s recent victory at the Broadcasting Complaints Commission over RTE’s coverage of Cuba.

Making a complaint about programme content to RTE is relatively simple - just phone, state the nature of the complaint and that’s it. However, if you are not satisfied with the response or if you decide to pursue the matter further then life becomes very difficult.

Morning Ireland coverage of the shooting down of two light aircraft over Cuban airspace prompted a number of complaints about the tone, content and outright bias of the two reports. Bob Dole, then a presidential candidate, called for the overthrow of the Cuban Government, Clinton announced a tightening of the blockade and Cubans living in Miami were interviewed at length. Eventually, a spokesman for the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs got a few words in edgeways.

Having complained about the coverage we asked RTE to provide us with either a tape or a transcript of the two reports to allow us to determine if there was reasonable cause for complaint. RTE refused absolutely to provide either. Following an official written complaint and notification that we intended to refer the matter to the Broadcasting Complaints Commission Morning Ireland contacted me at work and played a copy of the offending reports to me over the telephone!

We presented a detailed file to the Commission and RTE defended its position. Eventually, almost one year after our initial contact with RTE the Commission concluded that RTE had not covered the incident "in an objective and impartial manner" and upheld the complaint from Cuba Support Group.

The most surprising aspect of our experience has been the conduct of RTE. Initially our phone calls were not returned and our requests for information were not even acknowledged. Even after we lodged a formal complaint the only response was to play the tape over the telephone. We believe that there was a deliberate policy of stone-walling in the hope that we would loose interest or give up in frustration. However, when the issue was referred to the Commission, RTE had no option but to cooperate.

Despite winning our case, RTE did not have to (and did not) correct the mistake it made or apologise for the mistake. Nevertheless, RTE or Morning Ireland will never again be able to claim that they had no access to information on Cuba. And, no doubt, they will approach issues related to Cuba with more caution and professionalism in future! This alone made the exercise worthwhile.

When broadcasters misrepresent - deliberately or otherwise - challenge them. If you do not get satisfaction prepare for the long battle but do not just let it pass. And if necessary call in the experts!

The Broadcasting Complaints Commission can be contacted at PO Box 913, Dublin 2.