The regulator says it is “required by law” to take into account broadcasters’ editorial freedom and their viewers’ and listeners’ right to freedom of expression, including through the availability of a wide range of voices.
But, given the rise in the number of current affairs programs presented by sitting politicians, the regulator is running new research on current audience attitudes towards the practice. It will be published this year.
Steve Barnett, a Westminster University media professor and a GB News critic, is more scathing of Ofcom.
“What they’re doing is letting GB News get away with an awful lot of right-wing propaganda on issues like climate change, for example, without any proper balancing opinion,” he says.
“We’ve got essentially nine months of a lead up to the election, where GB news will be wanting to push the debate to the right, to its own particular brand of conservatism and right-wing thinking,” he adds.
“You only have to look at what happened with Fox News and the insurrection on January 6, 2021. Fox News was instrumental in promoting Trump, and promoting the conspiracy theories, promoting the idea that he won the election and it was stolen from him.”
“I think it is potentially dangerous. I’m not saying that’s where we are now. But I think there are real potential dangers. And America and Fox News has shown us where it can go if it’s not properly scrutinized.”
This article was updated to correct an inaccurate date.
