The UK media regulator Ofcom has issued a warning to broadcasters to maintain the highest level of impartiality in their coverage ahead of upcoming elections. This warning comes in the wake of five programs on the GB News channel featuring politicians as news presenters being found to have violated impartiality rules.
Ofcom has reminded broadcasters of their obligation to prevent candidates in UK elections from acting in any on-air capacity during election periods. The regulator has also commissioned research to assess viewers’ understanding of impartiality and expectations of politicians presenting news and current affairs content. The results of this research indicate that while audiences value impartiality, they struggle to classify content as news or current affairs, especially when it contains elements of both.
Ofcom expects broadcasters to pay close attention to the research and ensure strict adherence to impartiality rules, particularly as elections approach.
Ofcom’s broadcasting and media group director, Cristina Nicolotti Squires, said: “There are a number of important lessons here for broadcasters. We expect them to pay close attention to what their viewers and listeners are telling them through the research, our published decisions involving politicians as presenters, and to our strengthened guidance on how we expect the rules to apply in practice.”
“As we approach the local elections and edge ever nearer to a general election, we’re also sending a clear warning to broadcasters – and particularly those that use politicians as presenters – that nothing short of the highest standards of compliance with the heightened impartiality rules during this period will be acceptable. Should any broadcaster fall short, we’ll move swiftly to enforce those rules.”
