Broadcasting: Political Impartiality
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to protect media plurality and ensure that a wide range of political viewpoints are represented in UK broadcasting.
Answered by Ian Murray
The Government is strongly committed to supporting a free, sustainable, and plural media landscape. Newspapers, news magazines and broadcasters play a unique role in providing accurate news and information, and are a key part of our democracy.
Through the public interest media mergers regime set out in the Enterprise Act 2002, the Secretary of State is able to intervene in acquisitions if she believes public interest considerations may be relevant. These include plurality of views for newspapers and plurality of persons with control for newspapers and broadcasters.
In addition, Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code includes rules to ensure due impartiality is preserved on matters of political or industrial controversy, and matters relating to current public policy. In dealing with these matters an appropriately wide range of significant views must be included and given due weight in each programme, or in clearly linked and timely programmes.
Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →