RTÉ Statement: RTÉ Editorial Standards Board
By RTÉ
“The RTÉ Editorial Standards Board is reviewing the segment of the New Year’s Eve programme, which many viewers found offensive. RTÉ has received a significant number of complaints regarding this item and, in advance of issuing formal responses to those complaints, the RTÉ Editorial Standards Board is reviewing the broadcast with regard to compliance with RTÉ’s Journalism & Content Guidelines 2020, as well as RTÉ’s statutory and regulatory obligations under the Broadcasting Act 2009 and the relevant codes of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.
RTÉ expects the RTÉ Editorial Standards Board to make its recommendations by Friday 8th January.
A decision regarding the availability of the segment on the RTÉ Player will be dependent on the recommendations of the Editorial Standards Board.”
ENDS
About the RTÉ Editorial Standards Board:
The RTÉ Editorial Standards Board is established under the RTÉ Journalism & Content Guidelines 2020, is independent of existing editorial lines and is convened by RTÉ’s Head of Editorial Standards & Compliance.
The RTÉ Editorial Standards Board comprises: RTÉ’s Head of Editorial Standards & Compliance (Chair); Deputy Director of RTÉ News & Current Affairs; Head of RTÉ Radio 1; RTÉ Head of Regulatory (Solicitor); RTÉ’s Commissioning Editor (Specialist Factual); Head of RTÉ Online.
Section 2.2 of the Guidelines states:
The second core function of the Editorial Standards Board is the assessment and analysis of RTÉ programmes, selected post-transmission, and the review of complaints concerning RTÉ programmes. The outcome of programme reviews will be reported to the relevant Director of News & Current Affairs and Director of Content. Where, in the opinion of the Board, shortcomings are identified, the Board will propose appropriate training and/or other measures to address these concerns.
The Guidelines are available at https://about.rte.ie/reports-and-policies/policies-and-guidelines/