New Zealand public radio station RNZ has threatened to quit Twitter, the social media platform, due to the “toxic” environment and excessive abuse that its staff have been subjected to over the years. RNZ Chief Executive, Paul Thompson, has called on the Twitter management to take firmer action against online harassment and hate speech, warning that the station is considering leaving the platform altogether, unless things improve. This article will explore the reasons behind RNZ’s threat and delve into the wider issue of online abuse and its impact on individuals and organizations.
The recent labeling of news organizations as “government-funded media” on Twitter has caused uproar among some major broadcasters, with several threatening to quit the platform altogether.
New Zealand public radio was the first organization to voice opposition to the labels, stating that they were considering leaving the platform altogether if the labeling continued. In a statement released by the organization, NZ Public Radio’s CEO, Paul Thompson, called the labeling a “crude attempt to discredit news organizations that are critical of the government”.
The labeling was first implemented by Twitter in August of 2021 and was designed to provide users with more transparency about where their news was coming from. However, the move has drawn criticism from many news organizations who view it as an attempt to undermine their credibility.
Australia’s ABC news and SBS were among the first organizations to be labeled “government-funded media” on Twitter, leading to an outcry from journalists and editors who saw it as a political move to discredit them. The Guardian reported on the backlash, highlighting the concerns of journalists who felt the move was an attack on press freedom.
As the controversy continued to escalate, ABC News branded themselves with the same label on Twitter, hoping to take control of the situation and deflect criticism. In a strongly-worded statement, the organization said that it was proud to be a “government-funded media” outlet and that they would continue to report on issues critical to the Australian people, regardless of political pressure.
The issue also reached the United States, where NPR became the latest organization to leave Twitter over the labeling controversy. In a statement, the broadcaster said that it was “disappointed” with Twitter’s decision to label them and other news organizations, and that the move had damaged their credibility.
PBS also announced that it would no longer be using Twitter due to the labeling controversy, with the organization’s president stating that “labels like ‘government-funded media’ do not accurately represent the work we do, nor the values we uphold”.
The labeling controversy has shed light on a growing trend of media organizations being targeted by politicians and other groups seeking to influence the news. Despite the criticism, Twitter has stated that it will continue to use the labels as a way to provide greater transparency to its users and to combat the spread of misinformation.
In the end, the labeling controversy may have far-reaching implications for the future of journalism, with news organizations scrambling to defend their credibility in the face of political pressure. As technology continues to evolve and social media plays an ever-increasing role in the dissemination of news, the fight for press freedom may be more important now than ever before.
