BCC sanctiones Jurnal FM with public warning for an episode of the “X Loves You” show

The Broadcasting Coordinating Council (BCC) sanctioned the radio station Jurnal FM with a warning for violating several provisions of the Broadcasting Code in an episode of the “X Loves You” show broadcast on 29 June. At the same time, the BCC decided to monitor the show in September through the Monitoring Department.

The BCC found several violations in the above-mentioned show, including the violation of Article 6 of the Broadcasting Code, according to which broadcasters are prohibited to air programs containing any form of incitement to hatred and the ones that may affect the development of minors. Also, the members of the BCC found some deviations from the Code of Conduct and from the Council decisions concerning the respect of privacy and family life and non-discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.

The representatives of Jurnal FM were absent at the BCC meeting and at the meeting of the Press Council. They sent a letter to the Council, claiming that they had no possibility to prepare their defense, since they were given only ten “working” hours. The director of Jurnal FM, Victor Gindea, asked for rejection of the complaint received by the Press Council, as it was allegedly submitted by a person that was not authorized to represent the institution.

In response, the members of the BCC said that the radio station had enough time to prepare its defense: it had first been notified on 23 August, when the non-governmental organization Gender-Doc M submitted a complaint to the Press Council. That decision of the Press Council included the recommendation that Jurnal FM apply sanctions to the host of the show for violation of the norms of journalist ethics.

In August, the Press Council asked the BCC to verify observance of legal norms in the show hosted by Anatol Melnic and requested the station to be sanctioned. The BCC findings showed that on 29 June the host approached the sexual orientation of an interviewee without mentioning that it was a trick or that it was on air. At the same time, the host presented enough information to identify the man, thus violating his right to privacy, and asked him discriminating questions. Subsequently, the show was uploaded to YouTube, where offending comments were allowed, instigating at hatred and physical violence.