04-04-2023, 09:12 AM
(03-04-2023, 07:20 PM)Stockland Hillman Wrote:(03-04-2023, 04:20 PM)JMT1985 Wrote: It is becoming clear to me now that "news" on GB News is simply the short 5 minute hourly news summaries they provide. Everything else gets a pass by Ofcom, which is a disgrace in my opinion.Why is it a disgrace?
GB News runs news bulletins in the usual regulated manner, and has topical shows that talk about news, the same as other licences in its legal class.
The law and Broadcasting Code has been more of less the same since Ofcoms inception. It has the same licence class as Sky News, they just choose to run more regulated News content, but have run non regulated news shows such as the Pledge and the Climate Show - was that a disgrace too?
Confused as to the issue
Are you really comparing the Pledge with 5 panelists, who clearly state their views and opinions from the outset, and where panelists with differing views are selected on purpose so they can challenge each other and therefore create a "natural" balance, with two Tory MPs interviewing the Tory chancellor entirely avoiding any uncomfortable questions?
Add to that the fact that Ofcom's accepted definition of a current affairs programme is:
"A programme which contains explanation and analysis of current events and ideas, including material dealing with political or industrial controversy or with public policy."
I don't know if you've actually watched the show in question but neither did it explain nor did it analyse the budget. It was, for all intents and purposes, a party political broadcast presenting the budget proposals as the best thing since sliced bread. Nothing was challenged apart from issues which upset some Tory backbenchers and even those questions ended with Hunt giving responses to placate the backbenchers and to portray a party and government in harmony and unity.
Had he been interviewed by Peston or Kuenssberg then questions based on opposition criticism, opposition proposals; and uncomfortable questions about freezing the income tax thresholds would have been asked, among other things.
So as it stands, we were subjected to a party political broadcast on a channel which has NEWS as part of its name all the while the Treasury was promoting the interview all over social media.
The Sky News Climate show (not sure why you would even bring that up), has always allowed climate change deniers' views, as ridiculous as they are.
Ask yourself this - would E&P do an interview in the same format with Starmer or Yousaf without challenging them and simply letting them portray they views, plans and proposals? Or for that matter, would GB News allow it? I'd say it's pretty clear that the answer is no to both.