15-03-2023, 01:15 PM
(15-03-2023, 12:49 PM)Brekkie Wrote:It's not a 'technicality' it's the actual words in a legally binding code.(14-03-2023, 07:59 PM)London Lite Wrote: I think that issue with the Chancellor interview would count as a discussion show, so they're not under the rules of due impartiality for that show.
It's not something I'd feel comfortable watching, but that's the way it is.
At best that is a technicality, and even if a discussion show surely it's a "news discussion" show, and hence news programming. I can't see how it is justified at all to have an MP (of any party) interviewing the Chancellor ahead of his budget. It would only really work if you had two opposing MPs and a non-politically affiliated presenter acting as an independent moderator.
There has been much discussion in recent days about the neutrality of BBC News, but that has historically applied to ITN and Sky News too. Indeed I wonder whether staff are permitted to belong to any party political party?
This might help, as it's a report from a respected journalism trade journal:
pressgazette.co.uk
There is no such thing as a news discussion programme in broadcast law; it's simply 'news' which is mainly regulated PSB content (ie where a licence requires x minutes of news per day on TV or Radio) that content claimed is news must adhere to the news part of the code.
The interesting thing that GB News and Talk TV have shown is the code isn't that clearly applicable to content that's not in that licenced content quota. Here Ofcom are using the general signposting/separation guidelines - the way sponsored sport and weather work.
On GB News, the bulletin open and close and use of a separate presenter establish what is news content subject to news rules. EVERYTHING else is entertainment, subject to due impartiality, fairness and general standards rules - like Loose Woman or This Morning so no need for independent moderators etc
If confused just compare GB News with LBC rather than trying to apply PSB traditions and ruled to these channels.