The BAI is to write to Communicorp following the company banning journalists from the Irish Times to appear on its radio stations.
The Authority will now consider the matter at its next meeting, scheduled to take place next week on the 19th October, and confirms that Communicorp Group did not contact them ahead of the decision to implement the ban.
In a statement released today the BAI says: “As the regulator for the broadcasting sector, the BAI is committed to the facilitation of a mix of voices, opinions and sources of news and current affairs.
“In line with its legislative remit, the BAI does not have a role in the individual editorial decisions of broadcasters. However, as the statement issued by Communicorp Group (as reported) relates to the group of services that it owns, the BAI will now write to Communicorp Group to clarify a number of matters in respect of editorial independence and the contractual commitments of individual services.”
Through its subsidiaries, Communicorp Group holds contracts for five sound broadcasting services with the BAI: two national services, Newstalk FM and Today FM; two music-based services operating in Dublin city and county, 98FM and Spin 1038; and, a regional, music-driven service for the south-west, Spin South West.