Now I generally don't watch commercial television and today I am reminded of why.
Hey Hey, It's Saturday was a TV family variety show that aired on Australian TV for 27 years. Recently there have been some reunion shows, their first since the show was cancelled in 1999. As youthful nostalgia to many Australians the reunions have rated very well.
One of the segments on "Hey Hey" was a "Gong Show" style talent segment called Red Faces. Supposedly as part of the reunion they re-enacted a Red Faces skit from 1985 called "Jackson Jive” featuring men in black and white face. It’s bad enough that such items were allowed to go to air in 1985, I like to think in 24 years we have evolved somewhat, apparently not. Sadly it took a foreign judge of the segment to express his disgust before an apology was given, and now a significant proportion of the Australian population are sadly saying he should “lighten up.” I also think in light of Jackson’s recent passing that even without racial overtones the piece was in extremely poor taste.
Given that I don’t watch such programs I’ve not seen the piece and I am loathe to give it attention by watching it online. However!
Social media is an important tool for dissemination of information and the motivation of people to act. It is not however an effective tool against media giants such as the Nine Network and the Packer family. If you have seen the piece in question and are genuinely offended as many appear to be I implore you make a complaint to the relevant authorities and not just the blogosphere.
Read on for methods of complaint regarding television content in Australia
Media Watch take tips off and are sure to run a piece on the matter at their earliest possible convenience. You can add to comments to them via the ABC website or via the following means
Email:
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Mail:
Media Watch
GPO Box 9994
In your Capital City
Telephone:
02 8333 4454
Fax:
02 8333 4962
FreeTV Australia is the online presence for the Federation of Australian Commercial Television Stations. The Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice is held on their website.
According to the code of conduct you should contact the station of any channel whose content you are complaining about. They provide a convenient form for faxing or mailing on their viewer feedback page. The code of conduct recommends the station to respond to you within 30 days, if you have not received a reply within 60 days you should raise the matter to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).
How to contact Channel Nine
For general inquiries about television shows or broadcasting you can contact Channel Nine directly:
By phone:
Channel Nine Sydney (02) 9906-9999
Channel Nine Melbourne (03) 9420-3111
Channel Nine Brisbane (07) 3214-9999
Channel Nine Adelaide (08) 8267 0111
Channel Nine Perth (08) 9449 9999
or by writing to:
NSW Viewers: PO Box 27 Willoughby, NSW 2068
Vic Viewers: PO Box 100 Richmond, Vic 3121
QLD Viewers: PO Box 72 Brisbane, QLD 4001
If you are unhappy with the response from Channel 9 and you choose to take the matter up with ACMA. They offer a complaints form on their site for TV content complaints.
You may also contact ACMA directly for further information; note that this is a regulatory board and consumers should not waste their time the expectation is that you have attempted to contact the station in question prior to contacting ACMA.
Contacting ACMA
Canberra
Purple Building, Benjamin Offices, Chan Street, Belconnen ACT 2617
PO Box 78, Belconnen ACT 2616
Tel: 02 6219 5555
Fax: 02 6219 5353
Melbourne
Level 44 Melbourne Central Tower, 360 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne Vic. 3000
PO Box 13112 Law Courts, Melbourne Vic 8010
Tel: 03 9963 6800
Fax: 03 9963 6899
TTY: 03 9963 6948
Sydney
Level 15, Tower 1 Darling Park, 201 Sussex Street, Sydney NSW 2000
PO Box Q500, Queen Victoria Building NSW 1230
Tel: 02 9334 7700
Fax 02 9334 7799
