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COMPLAINT PROCEDURE
Any complaints? While the Media council exists to preserve the freedom of the press and broadcast media within the Country, it also functions as a forum to which anyone may put a complaint against the media. Its authority rests in the willingness of publishers, editors arid broadcasters to respect the Council's views, accept its rulings and publicly admit mistakes. The Media Council has revised the Council’s complaint procedure. The revised procedure will simplify the lodging of complaints and this in turn will lead to speedier resolutions. 1. If you wish to lodge a complaint against a media organisation, print, radio or television you may contact the Secretary of the Media Council advising of the grounds for your complaint. You can contact the Secretary by mail, PO. Box 11852 Suva, by phone 3450484: by fax 3317055: or by email mediac@connect.com.fj. 2. The Secretary will contact the media organisation concerned, if they accept that they were at fault and offer to make a correction the complainant will be advised accordingly. If the organisation does not accept that they were at fault and the Secretary is unable to resolve the matter the complaint will be referred to the Chairman of the Complaint Committee. 3. The Chairman will decide whether or not the matter comes within the jurisdiction of the Complaint Committee. If it does and he considers an immediate settlement possible, he may take the matter up with the media organisation concerned. Alternatively he will ask you to sign a document waiving any legal rights before proceeding further. 4. If your complaint is accepted and you have signed a legal waiver, the Chairman will refer the complaint to the Complaint Committee for adjudication. 5. The adjudication procedure is at the Chairman’s discretion. He may (a) Invite the parties to appear before the Committee, or (b) consider the complaint on the basis of written submissions. If the parties appear before the committee, the names and official positions of the nominated persons should be stated. Legal Council may not represent either party. The hearing will take the form of a discussion not a trial. The Committee will uphold or dismiss a complaint, or simply express an opinion on the matter. It has no power to penalise or issue orders of compliance with its findings. 6. A copy of the committee’s adjudication will be sent to both parties. The organisation against which a complaint was made is expected to publish the adjudication. If it does not do so within one week, copies of the adjudication may be released to other media organisations for publication. The committee reserves the right to restrict the publication in special circumstances. Secretary |
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