The Islam Channel has been fined £30,000 by Ofcom, the media regulator, for breaking the UK's broadcasting code.
Ofcom said the channel had been wrong to allow presenters who were standing in an election to use their own television shows to promote their campaigns.
It also said that the channel had often failed to provide balance in its reporting - citing one example where a report on Jerusalem's disputed status contained only Palestinian points of view.
Ofcom said the channel was "seriously negligent" and "had shown a reckless disregard for the important rules of the code with respect to ensuring fairness in the conduct of elections and for compliance generally".
Given that the Islam Channel's presenters have included people like Yvonne Ridley and Inayat Bunglawala, it's unlikely that the channel's owners will be too troubled by the accusations of being distinctly partial.
Comments (2)
If we are moving to an editorial form of broadcasting ( as we are ) , then let us get on with it. Freedom of speech is the only way to destroy the media subversion currently on offer from Islamic Fundamentalists. These "folks" have trouble with facts, and it is time that passive news-viewers were made aware of the hidden/obscured/& minimised ideological battles currently "fought" by our liberal media. Lets get some true free speech TV out there for those that believe in Civilisation!
Posted by anthony norman | August 6, 2007 3:09 AM
Posted on August 6, 2007 03:09
Whilst it is right and proper that they got fined for not being impartial, I think that the broadcasting code is wrong in this matter- broadcasters should be able to be partisan and partial if they so choose, as long as it is obvious enough.
After all, the Press aren't impartial, each has their slant.
Posted by Ian Grey | August 2, 2007 8:27 PM
Posted on August 2, 2007 20:27