OFCOM LAUNCH SECOND INVESTIGATION INTO GB NEWS
Ofcom has opened an investigation into GB News following a complaint relating to its recently launched "Don’t Kill Cash" campaign.
Ofcom explain: "Rule 5.4 of the Ofcom Broadcasting Code requires all broadcasters to ensure that their programmes - whatever their genre - exclude all expressions of the views and opinions of the person providing the service on matters of political and industrial controversy or current public policy. This reflects the statutory requirements in the Communications Act 2003 as set by Parliament.
Ofcom guidance explains the “person providing the service” is the licensee, the company officers and persons with an editorial responsibility for the service – rather than the individual presenters or guests that appear in the broadcaster’s programming.
Our investigation does not seek to question the merits of the campaign itself."
Earlier this week, Ofcom announced they have launched an investigation into shows on GB News and Talk TV. The first will look at whether an episode of Jacob Rees'Mogg's State of the Nation on GB News, which aired on 9th May, complied with Ofcom rules.
Ofcom said in a statement: "We received 40 complaints about this programme, presented by Jacob Rees-Mogg MP, which covered a breaking news story about a civil trial verdict involving former US President Donald Trump...
"Our investigation will look at the programme’s compliance with our rules which prevent politicians from acting as newsreaders in any news programmes, unless exceptionally, it is editorially justified.
"The second will investigate whether Richard Tice on Talk TV, presented by Alex Salmond on 2 April, broke our rules requiring news and current affairs to be presented with due impartiality. We received two complaints about this programme, specifically in relation to a discussion on the SNP.
"Our investigation into Saturday Morning with Esther and Philip broadcast on GB News on 11 March 2023, remains ongoing. This also relates to our rules outlined above."