More questions are being asked about the impartiality of Ofcom. Fresh from slapping GB News with a £100,000 fine for allowing then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to be quizzed by an audience of its viewers, as Guido has noted previously, it appears other broadcasters are attracting significantly less attention. Ofcom is supposed to enforce all of its rules equally and proportionally…
Broadcasting industry sources note that Islam Channel, a UK-based TV station, is running a campaign under the banner of fighting ‘unfair media bias’. Its adverts claim that the “mainstream media” is “justifying genocide in Gaza” and asks for donations to fund “independent Muslim journalism”. In a free media environment, Guido feels that Islam Channel is perfectly justified to do so. But how does that sit when similar issue-led ‘campaigns’ have caused Ofcom to launch a furious clampdown on broadcasters like GB News?
Ofcom rules require UK broadcasters to ensure their programmes exclude all expressions of views or opinions of the persons providing the service, which includes persons with editorial responsibility. This requirement has seen GB News and Greatest Hits Radio face Ofcom investigations over their respective ‘don’t kill cash’ and ‘face the family’ series. Ofcom seems a little inconsistent to say the least…
Sarah Pochin at Reform Scotland’s manifesto launch event: “I really wanted to come on in a Reform tartan burka, but apparently I wasn’t allowed… One day let’s do one of these events not live-streamed. We’ll do all the naughty stuff…”