Ofcom has recently delivered a significant judgement against GB News, finding the network in breach on multiple occasions due to the controversial issue of politicians acting as news presenters. This ruling puts GB News “on notice that any repeated breaches of Rules 5.1 and 5.3 may result in the imposition of a statutory sanction,” potentially including a fine.
The shows that were found to have been in breach include two episodes of Jacob Rees-Mogg’s State of the Nation, two episodes of Friday Morning with Esther and Phil, and one episode of Saturday Morning with Esther and Phil, which were broadcast during May and June 2023. These episodes violated the part of the Ofcom code that emphasizes presenting news with due impartiality and restricting the use of politicians as newsreaders, interviewers, or reporters unless editorially justified.
This issue has sparked concerns among viewers and opposition parties, as many of GB News’ news programs are hosted by members of the ruling Conservative Party. Conservative MPs Jacob Rees-Mogg, Esther McVey, and Phillip Davies host the shows in question, where they engage in topical discussions on current affairs. Ofcom highlighted that politicians inherently have a partial role in society, which can influence the perceived bias in news content presented by them.
Ofcom conducted a detailed analysis of the content aired on these programs and considered representations from GB News. The regulatory body determined that the host politicians acted as newsreaders, interviewers, or reporters without exceptional justification, leading to news not being presented with due impartiality. Ofcom stressed that audiences are likely to view news content presented by politicians through the lens of perceived bias due to their inherent partial role in society.
In response to the ruling, GB News expressed concerns about the ambiguity surrounding the area of the Code it had violated. The network highlighted the broader public debate on politicians presenting programs and referenced Ofcom’s acknowledgment of the evolving broadcasting landscape. GB News also pointed to Ofcom’s audience research into attitudes towards politicians presenting programs and the challenges of distinguishing between ‘news’ and ‘other’ content.
GB News has faced previous reprimands from Ofcom, including a recent incident involving Laurence Fox’s misogynistic comments about a female journalist, which led to his dismissal from the station and presenter Dan Wootton’s departure. Ofcom has called GB News for a meeting at its offices to address this particular breach and ensure compliance with broadcasting regulations.
The Ofcom ruling against GB News for breaches related to politicians acting as news presenters underscores the importance of upholding journalistic standards and impartiality in news programming. As the regulatory body continues to monitor the network’s compliance with broadcasting regulations, GB News must carefully assess its practices to avoid future breaches and maintain credibility among its audience.