TV and Radio Compliance Consultant
A month ago Piers Morgan gave the thumbs up to Ofcom’s high profile ruling clearing him of breaching the Broadcasting Code over his comments about Meghan Markle on ITV’s Good Morning Britain. He acclaimed it as a ringing endorsement of… Continue
The vile racist online abuse directed at penalty takers Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka after England’s defeat in the Euros final has focussed much needed attention again on the government’s Online Safety Bill, published on 12 May. Most… Continue
Ofcom no longer has a place to hide. It must soon take sides in the increasingly divisive “culture wars” in the UK. This is because the regulator must shortly take a decision on the high profile complaint by Meghan Markle,… Continue
This Christmas all British broadcasters can breathe a sigh of relief. Ofcom finally published (18 December 2020) their new rules placing new obligations on TV and radio channels to look after adults in their programmes – like tragic Steve Dymond… Continue
If broadcasters needed yet another stern warning about the grave dangers of transmitting ‘confessions’ by individuals without carrying out reasonable checks first, then Ofcom has provided it. The regulator has upheld a complaint by a Qatari intelligence officer, Hamad Al-Hammadi… Continue
Last week EU Commission President, Ursula Van Der Leyen, made her most optimistic comments yet on the Brexit trade talks. But as her mask, and the covid lockdowns being imposed across Europe, underline the preeminent focus of European governments is… Continue
Ofcom’s decision (Bulletin 406) to find China’s state TV station broke fairness and privacy rules by broadcasting the ‘forced confession’ of British former journalist Peter Humphrey (pictured) has thrust the regulator onto the sharp horns of a high profile sanctions… Continue
Ofcom’s decision to find that China’s UK broadcasting channel CGTN breached the impartiality rules on five occasions, and impose a sanction, could not be more timely. It is published (Bulletin 403) when some Western sentiment has turned against Peking in… Continue
Congratulations to Alison Marsden on being appointed today to take over from Tony Close (who suddenly resigned on 22 April and moved to a senior job at Facebook) as Ofcom’s new Director of Content Standards. As I know from working… Continue