U.K. Broadcasters Warned to Maintain Impartiality in Election Year by Media Regulator
24.04.2024 - 07:03
/ variety.com
Naman Ramachandran U.K. media regulator Ofcom has said it is “sounding a warning to broadcasters” to maintain “the highest level of due impartiality” ahead of a general election that is likely due later this year. Ofcom has enhanced rules that apply during election periods.
Any breaches of election programming rules will be treated as serious and will result in Ofcom considering the imposition of statutory sanctions. The regulator has reminded broadcasters that its Broadcasting Code prohibits candidates in U.K. elections from acting as news presenters, interviewers or presenters of any type of program during the election period.
Politicians who are not standing as candidates in a U.K. election can present non-news programs – including current affairs – during election periods, provided that program complies with all relevant code rules. The warning is in the wake of Ofcom finding last month that that five programs on the GB News channel featuring politicians as news presenters broke broadcasting due impartiality rules.
The investigation, which was launched last year, concluded that two episodes of “Jacob Rees-Mogg’s State of the Nation,” hosted by the titular politician; two episodes of “Friday Morning With Esther and Phil,” featuring Esther McVey and Philip Davies; and one episode of “Saturday Morning With Esther and Phil,” broadcast during May and June 2023, failed to comply with Rules 5.1 and 5.3 of the Broadcasting Code. All three politicians are members of parliament representing the ruling Conservative party. The timing of the warning is apt as it comes ahead of the May 2 polling day that will see local government and mayoral elections take place.
The general election must take place before Jan. 25, 2025. Ofcom
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