The ABC will issue an apology and a reporter will be suspended after its science program Catalyst after a report on the health effects of Wi-Fi breached editorial standards.
Catalyst reporter Dr Maryanne Demasi will not return to on-air assignments until at least September for the ‘Wi-Fried?’ segment that aired earlier this year.
In the episode, there were links to Wi-Fi networks and brain tumours, which a number of scientists found to be unscientific and sensationalised.
Rodney Croft, professor of public health psychology at the University of Wollongong, said at the time of the episode: “Given that radiofrequency emissions are one of the most heavily researched agents that science has ever assessed, and given that (contrary to Catalyst’s claims) no substantiated health effects have emerged, we can be very confident that the emissions are indeed safe.”
A review by ABC’s Audience and Consumer Affairs Unit (A&CA) looked into the case and found that it had breached the broadcaster’s editorial standards, finding many inaccuracies.
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“While accepting the importance of investigating public health issues relating to safety of technology, A&CA concluded that the episode breached the ABC’s editorial policies standards on accuracy and impartiality,” ABC Director of Television Richard Finlayson said.
The episode (which has now been removed from the internet) favoured the view that mobile phones and Wi-Fi cause health problems, including brain tumours.
