"Radio New Zealand's CEO, Paul Thompson, wrote to the UN to say there was indeed no apology for any racism, imbalance or inaccuracy."
REWARD FOR LYING TO THE UN: Khaiyum gives MIDA $300,000 of taxpayers money in his 2015 National Budget
Updated at 9:28 am on 20 November 2014
The Fiji media watchdog has changed its racism allegations put to the United Nations Human Rights Council.
The Chairman of the Media Industry Development Authority, Ashwin Raj, recently told the UN both Al Jazeera and Radio New Zealand had apologised for and retracted stories about the Fiji election he said were racist, unbalanced and inaccurate.
Alex Perrottet reports the accusation of racism has now changed.
"Radio New Zealand's CEO, Paul Thompson, wrote to the UN to say there was indeed no apology for any racism, imbalance or inaccuracy. Mr Raj has now told Radio New Zealand that it was not racist in its reports, but that Al Jazeera was. He has not responded to questions on whether he could have been more accurate in his reporting to the United Nations. During the election week, RNZI made minor changes to some stories, but editors stress the content removed was factual and done to appease the authority, following threats over its journalists' accreditation. One story was on the Fiji public broadcaster's apparent breach of electoral laws, an issue that has still not prompted any official comment from Mr Raj."
Updated at 3:03 pm on 30 October 2014
Fiji's Media Industry Development Authority has accused Al Jazeera and Radio New Zealand of racism in their reporting of last month's election in Fiji.
Al-Jazeera and Radio New Zealand were among several foreign media organisations covering the event.
The allegation of racism was made by the head of MIDA, Ashwin Raj, in an address to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.
"During the elections MIDA called for and received retractions and apologies from Radio New Zealand and Al Jazeera in relation to stories about Fiji which were racist, unbalanced and inaccurate."
Ashwin Raj gave no details of the alleged racism or imbalance.
Radio New Zealand International has rejected the allegations.
Fiji's Media Industry Development Authority has accused Al Jazeera and Radio New Zealand of racism in their reporting of last month's election in Fiji.
Al-Jazeera and Radio New Zealand were among several foreign media organisations covering the event.
The allegation of racism was made by the head of MIDA, Ashwin Raj, in an address to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.
"During the elections MIDA called for and received retractions and apologies from Radio New Zealand and Al Jazeera in relation to stories about Fiji which were racist, unbalanced and inaccurate."
Ashwin Raj gave no details of the alleged racism or imbalance.
Radio New Zealand International has rejected the allegations.
