BBC Radio 4’s Today presenter Nick Robinson feels the broadcasting goalposts for impartiality have been moved and thinks Ofcom should be regulating the rules better.
The 59-year-old, a stalwart of the Beeb, claims “highly partisan views are now routinely broadcast” on new and emerging right-wing channels such as GB News and TalkTV, to the extent that impartiality has gone out of the window for many broadcasters.
In an interview with the Press Gazette, while admitting “competition is good” when asked about GB News, he then went on to say that the UK had “moved very quickly, without much public conversation, it seems to me, from a model of broadcasting impartiality to a completely different, much broader definition of what impartiality really is”.
He continued: “Presenters tell viewers and listeners what they think.
“Serving politicians host their own shows and interview their own party colleagues, even during election campaigns.
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“None of this, we’re told, is a breach of the rules.
“If so, the rules I’ve operated under, both at the BBC and ITV for more than 30 years, have been changed without anyone being told, let alone asked if they agree.”
Ofcom issued a statement in response to Robinson’s comments, saying: “Our rules – which make clear that news and current affairs must be presented with due impartiality – came into force in 2005 following public consultation, and reflect the duties set for Ofcom by Parliament in this area.
“Our code makes clear that the approach to due impartiality may vary according to the nature of the subject, the type of programme and channel, and the likely expectation of the audience. We take into account all these important contextual factors in deciding whether or not a programme is duly impartial.
“Our rules are also clear that serving politicians cannot, in general, be a newsreader, interviewer or reporter in any news programme.
“And during an election period, candidates cannot present any type of programme.”
Conservative MPs Esther McVey and husband Phillip Davies have been hosting the GB News programme Saturday Morning and are being investigated by Ofcom, who added: “We are currently investigating an episode against our due impartiality rules.
“We are working to conclude this investigation as quickly as possible and will publish our decision on our website.”
