FG Imposes Fine On Ray Power, Clamps Down On ‘Political Platform’

RayPower

DAAR Communications Plc(owner of AIT/Raypower) has been fined N500,000 by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), for persistent violation of the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.

NBC’s Head of Public Affair, Mrs. Maimuna Jimada, via a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja, said comments made on Raypower’s programme “Political Platform” was against the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.

Mrs Jimada disclosed that the organisation was sanctioned due to “provocative, inflammatory and divisive comments” by anchors of the political platform.

She revealed that the Commission on May 2, 2017, Aug. 15, 2017 and February 7, 2018, held meetings with staff of DAAR Communications to caution them on unprofessional manner of anchors of the programme.

Read also: Broadcast Stations To Be Fined N500,000 For Callers' Hate Speeches - NBC

She further disclosed that the Commission had on several occasions, charged the team handling the programme to be fair, and balance their reportage.

According to her, during the Feb. 7 meeting, the Commission stressed the need to comply with the broadcasting code to avoid sanctions.

Jimada said, “The Political Platform episode on July 24, was marked by sensational and heated expression of opinion by its anchors, who went on to make unproven and inciting allegations.

“For avoidance of doubt, the Director-General drew the attention of DAAR Communications to the following provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code: (1) Section 1.9.3:

“A presenter/anchor shall not express his or her personal opinion in a programme.”

“Also Section 5.2.7: ‘A broadcaster shall, in using political material for news, avoid taking inflammatory and divisive matter in its provocative form and Section 5.2.5 stated that political broadcasts shall be in decent language,’’ she said.

Mrs Jimada therefore, reiterated that all broadcasting stations should ensure that anchors of their programmes were properly educated and trained on the ethics of the profession as well as the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.

Related Topics: #NBC, #DAARCommunications, #News

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