Jacob Rees-Mogg at GB News Studios Photo: Stéphane Russo/PA Wire
Ofcom is ready to revise the rules allowing MPs to present news programs amid growing concerns: practice “imposes” duties on broadcasters regarding impartiality.
Media watchdogs are considering whether to tighten their guidance after receiving hundreds of complaints against politicians covering current events.< /p>
Writing for The Telegraph, its chief executive, Melanie Dawes, said there was a need to “ensure our rules remain effective” in the changing television landscape. Her remarks come after Ofcom announced on Monday that it launched two investigations into feature news programs submitted by senior political figures.
Media investigates whether Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg's show on GB News violated rules which prohibit politicians from acting as newsreaders. In addition, a separate investigation was launched into a program presented by Alex Salmond on TalkTV that may have violated due impartiality guidelines.
Dame Dawes said Ofcom is now asking viewers' opinions about whether the regulator should restrict MPs and colleagues acting as broadcasters. “Our rules have always allowed hosts to express their opinions on controversial political issues live, as long as other points of view are taken into account,” she wrote.
“One area that has sparked a lot of debate lately — and that some argue is pushing the principle of due impartiality to the limit — is the elevation of the politician as a leader.
“We also have a duty to make sure our rules remain in force, and if necessary, we conduct reviews of our code. Given the rise in the number of current affairs programs presented by politicians and the recent public interest in this issue, we have launched a new study to get a complete picture of audience attitudes towards these programs.”
Ofcom data shows that over the past four months, more than 300 people have sent objections to politicians hosting shows on GB News and Talk TV. He also received 94 specific complaints regarding 28 separate programs broadcast by two stations that were broadcast by political figures.
These include 40 complaints about the May 9 episode of The Sir Jacob Show in which he read breaking news about Donald Trump. A New York jury found that Mr. Trump raped E. Jean Carroll, a journalist, in a department store locker room in the 1990s.
“Editorially justified”
Ofcom's rules state that political anchors may not act as newsreaders except in “exceptional” circumstances that may be “justified by the editorial.”
Earlier this year, Sir Jacob, former business secretary, began hosting a primetime show called State of the Nation four nights a week. Media Watch said its investigation into Mr. Salmond's show focused on whether the SNP was “holding back the independence course.”
He has received two complaints and is investigating whether the program “violated our rules that require news and current events to be presented with due impartiality.”
Other politicians who now host regular TV shows include Nigel Farage, a former Brexit Party leader and Conservative MPs Esther McVeigh and Philip Davis.
Lee Anderson, Vice Chairman of the Tory, recently signed a £100,000 a year deal to host the Friday night program on GB News. Nadine Dorris, former Minister of Culture, presents the show on TalkTV the same day.
We have an obligation to respect alternative views, but they must adhere to the rules
Dame Melanie Dawes, Chief Executive of Ofcom
Despite what Euripides' advice to support informed public discourse says about one of the main principles underlying Ofcom's regulation of broadcast news and current events today – the existence and strength of an alternative perspective.
In Ofcom's 20 years of existence, we have seen many innovative changes in the way audiences receive news. The public appetite for diverse points of view has fueled the recent emergence of new TV channels seeking to leave their own editorial imprint on the UK news landscape. Traditional news outlets have diversified their online offering. Along with newer services like Tortoise, Bellingcat and Medium, this means a varied news diet for one in seven British adults now accessing news only online.
Social media platforms can also act as gatekeepers to the news, helping people learn important news and providing a forum for even more divisive and polarized debate. Indeed, the wide range of news sources available to modern audiences can be overwhelming as reliable news content has to compete for our attention alongside unreliable clickbait.
But in all of these changes and transformations, Ofcom has played a critical role in keeping the integrity of its broadcast news and current affairs programming – by maintaining standards of due impartiality and proper accuracy – intact.
These two pillars of our broadcasting code, reflecting the responsibilities entrusted to Ofcom by Parliament, are designed to protect audiences from harm and provide a counterbalance to other, more partisan news sources. They give television and radio viewers the confidence to rely on the facts as well as “hear the other side” through a range of alternative viewpoints so they can judge for themselves.
It is important to note that our rules of due impartiality respect the freedom of broadcasters to make editorial and creative choices, as well as the rights of viewers and listeners to receive a variety of information and ideas. This includes controversial opinions that challenge the mainstream or the status quo. The principle of freedom of speech is highly valued by the audience and is extremely important for our democracy.
But important as they are, our rules of due impartiality are sometimes misunderstood. A common misconception is that due impartiality means “neutrality”. Or that it's a mathematical construct that all sides of a debate should be given equal airtime. Not this way. That little word “should” is extremely important. It means “adequate or appropriate to the subject and nature of the program”. Therefore, when we apply our rules, we take into account the context, including the nature of the subject, the type of program and channel, and the likely expectations of the audience.
In addition to news programs, our rules have always allowed hosts to express their opinions on controversial political issues live, provided they reflect other points of view. However, one area that has recently sparked heated debate, and which some argue pushes the principle of due impartiality to the extreme, is the elevation of the politician as a leader.
The Broadcasting Code clearly states that employees of politicians cannot be newsreaders, interviewers or reporters on any news program, except for exceptional editorial reasons. And in these exceptional cases, their political loyalty must be made clear to the public. News programming typically features newsreaders speaking directly to the audience and may include reporter packs or live coverage with a mix of reporter videos and footage.
Outside news programs – such as current events formats , which usually contain more in-depth discussion, analysis, interviews, and detailed video reports – there is no Ofcom rule that prohibits an incumbent politician or political candidate from hosting – provided that they are not running for election.
When we have a reason to question broadcasters' adherence to our rules, we intervene in the investigation – as we did this week with two programs, one on GB News and one on Talk TV.
We also have an obligation to ensure that our the rules remained in effect. efficiently, and we check our code when necessary. Given the rise in the number of current affairs programs presented by politicians and the recent public interest in this issue, we have launched a new study to get a complete picture of the audience's attitude towards these programs. Stay tuned for our results later this year.
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