GB News Placed “On Notice” By Ofcom After Five Code Breaches Regarding Politicians Acting As News Presenters
18.03.2024 - 10:55
/ deadline.com
Ofcom has delivered its biggest GB News judgement yet, finding the network in breach on five different occasions over the thorny issue of politicians acting as news presenters.
Ofcom said GB News is now “on notice that any repeated breaches of Rules 5.1 and 5.3 may result in the imposition of a statutory sanction” that could include a fine.
The shows found to have been in breach are two episodes of Jacob Rees-Mogg’s State of the Nation, two episodes of Friday Morning with Esther and Phil, and one episode of Saturday Morning with Esther and Phil, broadcast during May and June 2023. These episodes broke the part of the Ofcom code that says, “News, in whatever form, must be… presented with due impartiality” and “No politician may be used as a newsreader, interviewer or reporter in any news programmes unless, exceptionally, it is editorially justified.” A sixth incident in Jacob Rees Mogg’s State of the Nation was not pursued – again over due impartiality – and escaped punishment.
The issue has been a thorny one in recent months as frustrated viewers and opposition parties have repeatedly raised how many of GB News’ news shows are hosted by members of the ruling Conservative Party.
The shows in question are presented by Conservative MPs Jacob Rees-Mogg, Esther McVey and Phillip Davies, and include topical discussions around the issues of the day.
Ofcom said it had taken “careful consideration of the facts in each case – including forensic analysis of the content and detailed representations from GB News.”
“All five programmes in question contained a mix of news and current affairs content,” said Ofcom. “We found that host politicians acted as newsreaders, news interviewers or news reporters in sequences which clearly
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