Radio New Zealand became the latest broadcaster to threaten to leave Twitter on Monday after the social media platform labeled the public broadcaster “government-funded.” The organization tweeted out its objection to the label this afternoon, suggesting the tag would imply government interference in its editorial content.
Head of Content Megan Whelan said editorial independence is enshrined in RNZ’s charter and editorial policy.
Twitter’s policy defines government-funded media as cases where the government ‘may have varying degrees of government involvement over editorial content’, which does not apply to RNZ. Not only is our editorial independence protected by the law, we guard it vigorously.”
Megan Whelan said.
Twitter’s decision to begin labeling publicly funded media in Western democracies as government-funded” or “state-affiliated” has provoked concern from some in the industry. The labels are traditionally reserved for media organizations that have editorial content influenced by a country’s government, and are often called “state propaganda outlets.”
Russia’s RT and Sputnik, China’s Xinhua News Agency, and Iran’s Press TV are four notable examples.
However, earlier this month Twitter began labeling Western public media as ‘government-funded media’. The BBC was the first organization to receive the tag. A BBC spokesperson said the organization is, and always has been, independent. We are funded by the British public through the license fee, BBC said.
Some organizations that have received the label have gone as far as to quit Twitter.
American public media organizations NPR and PBS – National Public Radio and Public Broadcasting Service respectively – have stopped using their Twitter feeds after they decried the labels.
NPR, a non-profit organization, was initially labeled “state-affiliated media”, however, Twitter walked back the tag.
We are not putting our journalism on platforms that have demonstrated an interest in undermining our credibility and the public’s understanding of our editorial independence.”
An NPR spokesperson said.
Both organizations do receive US government funding, however, a majority of their income comes from pledge drives and philanthropy.
RNZ’s Whelan said the organization will be considering its options over the next few days.
Including talking to Twitter to have the label removed or revised, or as other public media around the world have done, leave the platform, RNZ SAID.
