UK: GB News Fined $129K For Show Featuring Rishi Sunak

Facts

• UK media regulator Ofcom has fined GB News £100K ($129K) for breaching its impartiality rules when hosting a show in February featuring then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.^[1]
• Ofcom concluded that the program 'failed to maintain due impartiality on a matter of major political controversy and a major matter of current public policy' and failed to 'preserve' due impartiality 'through clearly and timely programmes.'^[2]
• Ofcom continued by accusing the show, titled 'People's Forum: The Prime Minister,' of allowing Rishi Sunak a 'mostly uncontested platform to promote policies and performance' prior to the UK General Election.^[3][4]
• Ofcom first announced that the show breached its regulations in May after receiving 547 complaints. In March, the regulator found five episodes, presented by Conservative politicians such as Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, Esther McVey, and Philip Davies, had broken impartiality rules.^[5][6]
• GB News has been found to have breached the broadcasting code 12 times since March 2023, with Ofcom citing repeated violations as justification for the fine. Alongside the fine, GB News must also broadcast a statement on the regulator's findings pending a legal challenge granted by the UK's High Court.^[7]
• Earlier this month, GB News failed to temporarily stop Ofcom from completing its sanction process in the High Court, with Justice Chamberlain concluding that despite GB News' right to appeal, there was 'significant public interest' in allowing Ofcom to come to a decision over a sanction.^[8]

Sources: ^[1]BBC News, ^[2]www.ofcom.org.uk, ^[3]The Sun, ^[4]Guardian, ^[5]Ofcom, ^[6]Sky News, ^[7]Press Gazette and ^[8]standard.co.uk.

Narratives

• Left narrative, as provided by Guardian. For too long, Ofcom has allowed media outlets such as GB News to push uncontested right-wing ideology without consequences. GB News, like every other broadcaster, must adhere to Ofcom's impartiality rules, and to let their behavior go unpunished would set a dangerous precedent for the media industry.
• Right narrative, as provided by GB News. Ofcom's sanctions are a direct attempt to stifle freedom of journalism and freedom of speech. GB News' February show with Rishi Sunak was conducted in the interests of the British people to hear directly from the prime minister, and not to peddle Tory propaganda as the outlet is astonishingly accused of. This decision is illegal, and will now be settled in court.

Predictions