60 Minutes unfairly identified school

On 10 May 2009, Channel 9 on its 60 Minutes program broadcast an item called 'Class Act', which revolved around a number of Aboriginal students from country NSW who had gained scholarships to some elite private schools.

During the broadcast, one school, Bowraville Central School was clearly identified and inferred that the school had been segregated on racial lines by fences.

After unsuccessfully complaining to Channel 9, Federation pursued a complaint with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). ACMA has found that TCN Channel Nine breached the Commercial television Code of Practice (2004).

On 4 March 2010, ACMA issued a Media Release, which says:

"60 Minutes unfairly identified a NSW public school, Bowraville Central School, during a segment about racial segregation title "Class Act", the Australian Communications and Media Authority has found.

The ACMA concluded TCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd (TCN) breached the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice (2004) by broadcasting the 60 Minutes segment in May last year.

'This case highlights broadcasters need to take care that the footage they use accurately illustrates the issue they are referring to, so viewers are not misled' said Chris Chapman, Chairman of the ACMA.

The segment focused on a number of Aboriginal students from country New South Wales, in particular the northern NSW town of Bowraville, who had won scholarships to some of Sydney's elite non-government schools.

The ACMA found the 60 Minutes segment had unfairly inferred Bowraville Central School had been physically segregated on racial lines.

In the segment TCN showed only footage of Bowraville Central School while its reporter said: "It wasn't so long ago that fences separated black and white students at Bowraville Central School". The ACMA found a viewer would have assumed that Bowraville Central School has been segregated on racial lines by fences.

No evidence was received from TCN to suggest that at any time in the recent past "fences separated black and white students" at Bowraville Central School. Other evidence from former teachers and students was submitted refuting the claim children had been segregated at Bowraville Central School, although evidence was received by the ACMA stating that segregation had occurred at other schools in the area.

This breached a provision of the code requiring broadcasters not to unfairly identify a single person or business when commenting on the behaviour of a group of persons or businesses. "

• Full media release [pdf]
• Full report [pdf]

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Last Modified: 09 Mar 2010