GB News broke rules with politicos as news presenters: Ofcom

A recent series of investigations conducted by UK regulator Ofcom has found that five programmes aired on GB News, featuring politicians in the role of news presenters, have breached broadcasting due impartiality rules.

According to the Broadcasting Code, news content must be presented with due impartiality, and the involvement of politicians as newsreaders, interviewers, or reporters is subject to exceptional justification.

After a meticulous examination of the facts, including content analysis and detailed input from GB News, Ofcom found that 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," aired between May and June 2023, failed to comply with Rules 5.1 and 5.3 of the Broadcasting Code.

These programmes, which featured a blend of news and current affairs content, saw host politicians engaging in roles that constituted news reporting without adequate justification, thus compromising due impartiality.

Ofcom emphasizes the inherently partial role politicians hold in society, which can influence audience perception of news content. The use of politicians as news presenters risks undermining the credibility and integrity of regulated broadcast news.

Of particular note, Ofcom is publishing its rationale for not investigating a sixth programme, a separate episode of "Jacob Rees-Mogg’s State of the Nation," which featured the politician as an eye-witness news reporter during an unforeseen security incident at Buckingham Palace. This instance serves as an example of exceptional editorial justification under Rule 5.3.

These findings mark the first recorded breaches of Rules 5.1 and 5.3 against GB News. While there has been only one additional programme prompting investigation under these rules since, GB News is cautioned that repeated breaches may result in further action.