ABC's Catalyst 'Wi-Fi' episode under review, found to have breached editorial standards
The ABC is set to issue an apology to its viewers and also review its popular program Catalyst following a report airing on the health effects of Wi-Fi was determined to be in breach of the broadcaster’s editorial standards.
The findings were discovered in an independent investigation and Catalyst reporter Dr Maryanne Demasi will also be suspended from on-air reporting for the next few months according to Fairfax.
Numerous scientists accused the ‘Wi-Fried?’ episode of sensationalism and not taking a scientific approach when linking Wi-Fi networks to brain tumours.
One of the outspoken critics of the broadcast was Professor of Public Health Psychology at the University of Wollongong, Rodney Croft, who told Fairfax the report was “a fringe position that is not supported by science".
"Given that radiofrequency emissions are one of the most heavily researched agents that science has ever assessed, and given that (contrary to Catalyst's claims) no substantiated health effects have emerged, we can be very confident that the emissions are indeed safe," Professor Croft said at the time the program aired.
Other prominent scientists who critised the February program have labelled the episode as scare-mongering.
A through investigation by the ABC's Audience and Consumer Affairs Unit has found it breached the broadcaster's standards.
"While accepting the importance of investigating public health issues relating to safety of technology, A&CA concluded that the episode breached the ABC's editorial policies standards on accuracy and impartiality," ABC director of television Richard Finlayson has since stated.
"The ABC accepts the findings and acknowledges that errors were made in the preparation and ultimate approval of the program."
In documents released in the review showed, "a number of inaccuracies within the program that had favoured the unorthodox view that mobile phones and Wi-Fi caused health impacts including brain tumours".
Finlayson also said ABC would do the following:
• Make an announcement about the findings on Tuesday night's Catalyst.
• Remove the episode, titled Wi-Fried?, from the Catalyst website.
• Publish information about the findings on the Catalyst website and ABC Corrections page.
He also asserted that the broadcaster would review the ‘strategy and direction’ for the popular program.
This review comes two years after a similar investigation critised another Catalyst episode for questioning the use of cholesterol-reducing medications.
In 2013, ABC health specialist Norman Swan launched an extraordinary attack the program, saying two broadcasts on cholesterol and heart attacks might cause people to die if they went off their medications.
As with the earlier program on cholesterol, the Wi-Fi episode will be removed from the broadcasters website.
News break – July 6
