S/BS回复华人社会的批评与投诉 态度诚恳
6月24日，S/BS广播电台在一档听众来电节目中，一位赵姓听众屡次使用“武汉病毒”一词，引发广大华人的不满。
当晚，笔者就在华人评论网站【辣评网】撰文狠批，批评对象包括S/BS电台及当值节目主持人。同时，有华人也在25日写投诉信，发至SBS官方邮箱。
据悉，6月29日s/bs负责人回信确认收到投诉，延至7月8日sbs负责人要求投诉者提供一个地址，负责人并告知投诉进入正式的调查流程，调查周期为六十天。
30多天过去，投诉人认为SBS有拖延之意，这么简单的事情，要调查两个月吗？于是在8月18日再发邮件跟进。终于在8月20日收到SBS负责投诉的高层Sally Begbie书面回复，确认S/BS使用“武汉病毒”一词违反了S/BS公司内部相关法规Code 1.3 (Prejudice, Racism & Discrimination) of the SBS Codes of Practice，并通报SBS全公司。
笔者早前也曾听到当事节目主持人在S/BS官方回复投诉前，已经为此道歉并承诺不让同类事情再度发生，指应该使用联合国官方指定的病毒名称。态度诚恳。
至此，该事情告一段落。
经过敢言的【辣评网】及华人的努力，让正义得到了声张。
题外话：该赵姓听众多年前曾在电台叫嚣“杀guang中国人”，导致节目主持人被炒鱿鱼。这次又令S/BS节目主持人道歉，可谓主持人“克星”，谁碰谁倒霉。
撰文：蕭十一狼
以下是SBS官方回复投诉的邮件全文：
Date: 20/08/2020
Dear Mr XX:
Re: Mandarin Language Program, 24/06/2020 – Reference Number: 2620
I have completed an investigation of the talkback segment on the Mandarin Language Program which was
broadcast on 24 June 2020. The program was assessed against Code 1.3 (Prejudice, Racism & Discrimination)
of the SBS Codes of Practice, in light of your complaint that “this racism and misinformation term (Wuhan
Virus) has sparked angry responses from many listeners”.
For the reasons detailed below, the program was found to have breached the code.
Code 1.3 (Prejudice, Racism and Discrimination) states:
SBS seeks to counter attitudes of prejudice against any person or group on the basis of their race, colour,
ethnicity, nationality, sex, age, sexual preference, gender identity, religion, disability, mental illness, or
marital, parental or occupational status.
While remaining consistent with its mandate to portray diversity, SBS will avoid content which clearly
condones, tolerates, or encourages discrimination on these grounds, taking into account the context in which
the material is presented and the impression created by the schedule over time.
SBS does not condone or support the use of the term “Wuhan virus” as it is considered to be discriminatory.
A transcript of the program shows that the broadcaster did not endorse or support this view and did not use
the term himself. It was used by a caller to the talkback program who was expressing views that may be
considered to be anti-Chinese Communist Party.
Such views can be expressed on the Mandarin talkback program, just as views in support of the Chinese
Communist Party can also be expressed. An SBS talkback program is expected to facilitate the expression of
a range of views from listeners, be they positive, negative, or even neutral in relation to the topic under
discussion.
The opinions expressed by callers during talkback on the Mandarin Language Program are not supported or
endorsed by SBS. They are made available so that listeners to the program can form their own opinion about
the material under discussion. The greater the range of opinions presented the more successful the talkback
program.
However, SBS’s also has an obligation under Code 1.3 to “seek to counter attitudes of prejudice” and this
required that a relevant correction of the term “Wuhan virus” be made as quickly as possible by the
broadcaster during the talkback segment of the Mandarin Language Program of 24 June 2020.
This did not occur on 24 June and therefore a breach of Code 1.3 occurred.
The Director of Radio, Mandi Wicks, has reminded staff that SBS considers use the term “Wuhan virus” to
be discriminatory.
Following the talkback program of 24 June, the Mandarin Language Program immediately introduced a new
rule for talkback segments on the Mandarin Language Program. Listeners have been informed that:
As the use of terms to address the pandemic other than COVID-19 always drives the show away from the topic,
or even provokes personal attacks against individuals, I would like to set up a house rule of allowing the use of
COVID-19 only to address the pandemic, as defined by WHO, and don’t make comments on others if you
disagree, considering the 3 minutes you are given for your speech is quite limited. I believe everyone is capable
of demonstrating your points by not denying or even attacking others. So please make good use of the 3
minutes you are given, and I will step in to dump any calls who break this house rule.
If you consider this response to be inadequate you are entitled to take your concerns to the Australian
Communications and Media Authority. SBS appreciates you taking the time to make your concerns known to
us and is pleased to have had the opportunity to respond to them.
Yours sincerely
Sally Begbie
SBS Ombudsman
