Subscribe

FPB slams Naked News

Jacob Nthoiwa
By Jacob Nthoiwa, ITWeb journalist.
Johannesburg, 07 May 2010

The Film and Publication Board (FPB) has condemned Naked News, a locally produced news service debuting in SA today, whose presenters strip naked while reading the news headlines. It calls it a serious risk to children, due to the high possibility of premature exposure to adult content.

The subscription-based service, which is available online and on cellphones at R10 per week, is set to unveil its first locally produced news clip today, presented by a lady with the pseudonym 'Murphy'.

“At a mere R10 subscription fee per week via cellphones and online, children can access the material distributed through Naked News,” FPB points out. The authority says it is outraged at the level of ease at which Naked News has made it possible for children to be able to consume this material.

According to Yoliswa Makhasi, CEO of FPB, recent media reports have indicated that online platforms such as MXit and YouTube are joining the fight against posting of indecent and illicit materials on their platforms. “This is therefore an abomination of the inroads being made in the protection of children from all forms of abuse and exploitation,” she adds.

Makhasi says Section 24 of the Films and Publications Act states that owners and operators of all telecommunication channels, targeted at and used by children, must be responsible for the content created and distributed within those mediums. “They (owners and operators) are required to take the necessary steps to ensure that children are not exposed to indecent content.

“We therefore call upon all telecommunications operators, including broadcasters, to examine and ensure that all reasonable protective measures are implemented in accordance with the law.”

Naked truth

Naked News, which originated in Canada in 2000, and bills itself as 'the programme with nothing to hide', is a subscription Web site featuring a real television newscast. The show runs daily, with six 25-minute episodes per week. The female anchors read the news fully nude or strip as they present their news segments.

Currently, Naked News has over six million unique users from 18 countries around the world," Naked News media spokesperson, Craig John, told local media. "Users SMS the word 'News' to 31910 and they can visit as often as they like and sample the different versions," says Naked News.

A local newspaper reported that Naked News Africa might approach a South African television channel in the long run, if research shows the market is big enough. It was reported that Naked News has already spoken to etv, which has a late-night soft porn slot, but nothing has been formalised.

This comes shortly after an uproar about the possible inclusion of adult content on the DSTV platform, during which FPB made a number of interventions together with various stakeholders - including state institutions and civil society groups. However, Naked News believes the time is right to unveil the service because South Africans “have become quite liberal in their thinking”.

Monitoring activity

The FPB says it finds the claims of Naked News contradictory and unsatisfactory. “The programme as reported is not pornographic, but will be hosted by presenters who 'strip' naked while reading the headlines. We find this highly inappropriate and a ploy to expose children to pornography so as to increase subscriber base,” the organisation says.

It argues Naked News' claim that South Africans “have become liberal in their thinking” so as to justify this initiative is contradictory and illogical, considering it comes hardly a month after DSTV reported a significant number of its subscribers were opposed to the establishment of an adult channel.

The FPB urges parents and care givers to monitor their children's activities on the Internet and cellphones. It also asks the public to report any child pornography activities to the police or the FPB on 0800 148 148. In addition, the Web site is available for online reporting of any accidentally discovered sexual abuse images.

Share