TV and Radio Compliance Consultant
Lord Terry Burns (whose appointment as the new Ofcom chairman was formally announced on 14 December 2017) will be Ofcom’s fourth chair – after Lord David Currie, Colette Bowe and Dame Patricia Hodgson. What difference (if any) might his appointment… Continue
There is another clear example in Ofcom’s latest Bulletin (published 4 December 2017) of why the 9pm watershed is just that – a watershed and not a waterfall. This time is was Sky1 which fell foul of Rule 1.6 (“the… Continue
It is easy to ignore or overlook Ofcom’s research on the media. On 29 November 2017 for example the regulator published Children and Parents: Media Use and Attitudes 2017 report. This is an annual report but it provides detailed evidence on media… Continue
Rushanara Ali, Labour MP for Bethnal Green and Bow (see photo), featured in this Bulletin. Ms Ali was the subject of a four and half minute report broadcast on 29 April 2017 on Bangla TV, which referred to her in… Continue
Ofcom’s two breach decisions against Fox News published today (6 November) will no doubt be studied by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) with some interest. One of them found that a Tucker Carlson Tonight show (Tucker Carlson pictured) discussing the… Continue
When dealing with an Ofcom issue many broadcasters just read the Code, other published documents and consult any relevant formal guidance. If there is an investigation they deal with Ofcom only through formal correspondence. My tip is do not neglect… Continue
Ofcom’s decision that Channel 5 breached television privacy rules in Can’t Pay? We’ll Take It Away is one of the most significant determinations of the regulator in this area in recent years. All lawyers interested in privacy, and people involved with… Continue
It is crucial for broadcasters to get appropriate consent from people being filmed. In a sensible and well-reasoned not in breach privacy decision on Channel 5’s Fatal Fog: Winter Road Rescue (pictured), Ofcom sets out the sort of factors it… Continue
This issue was highlighted by the recent Ofcom decision to order Channel 4 News to broadcast a summary of its determination that the programme had seriously breached Rule 5.1 of the Broadcasting Code (lack of due accuracy in news).