Johannesburg community radio station Mix 93.8 FM will now try to steer clear of airing controversial news‚ after the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa (BCCSA) rapped it over the knuckles for one its reports. In a ruling this month‚ the BCCSA found that the broadcaster had violated the broadcasting code when it ran an unverified “provocative” news report during a breakfast show in June and reprimanded it.Assistant programme manager Mayihlome Klaas has now said that the station will tread on eggshells where controversial stories are concerned and that its journalists have been warned.“If there's news that's classified as controversy we stay away and go for more bright news‚” he said. He added that when a controversial news report cannot be avoided‚ the station will verify its facts.The station's new found caution comes in the wake of the BCCSA's ruling and a complaint by Gwen Kreel.Kreel accused the station of irresponsible reporting when it aired a report saying that the South African branch of the Boycott‚ Divestment and Sanctions movement (BDS) claimed three South Africans had been arrested in Jerusalem‚ without verification from another source.“BDS International and South Africa are known to fabricate stories for sensational and obstructive effect.“We are living in very uncertain times‚ where there is ISIL/ISIS/Bokaram (sic) and other terrorist organisations creating mayhem in Europe. We do not need extremist behaviour from the likes of BDS and irresponsible reporting that will deliberately antagonise the Jewish and Muslim listeners.“Good quality reporting is usually verified by at least 2 to 3 independent sources. If‚ South Africans were arrested in Israel – especially Muslims – I am sure that our foreign minister would have intel or it would have made headline news‚” she said.Mix 93.8 FM said that its report did not represent the news as a fact‚ but rather as a claim by BDS.“The source of the news was News24‚ which is indeed a credible source‚” it said.The BCCSA agreed with Kreel‚ however‚ and upheld her complaint.It said that while the News24 report reflected that the facts of the story were unconfirmed by the Department of International Relations and Co-operation‚ Mix 93.8 FM's report did not.“One of the basic principles of good journalism is that news stories should be verified. Proper verification shows the journalist's respect for the audience. It allows the audience to judge the validity of the information‚ the process by which it was secured and the potential motives or biases of the source‚” it said.While Mix 93.8 FM said it will ease up on reporting controversial news‚ BDS spokesperson in South Africa Kwara Kekana criticised the BCCSA's decision.“BDS SA finds this decision regrettable and hopes that it will be challenged. Members of the media‚ more than anyone‚ know how ruthless the Israeli lobby and its supporters are in trying to shut down debate‚ reporting and coverage of the Palestinian plight against Israeli Apartheid.“Both BDS SA and the media house in question did not assert the media reports as fact. Instead both made sure to mention that they were exactly that - reports. The Israeli-Palestine issue is one of the most topical human rights issues of the 21st century and to label it as ‘controversial’ seeks to discourage not only members of the media but members of the public to speak openly without fear‚” she said...