Ofcom Clarifies Rules: Politicians Can Present News in 'Exceptional Circumstances'
Ofcom has issued new guidance to broadcasters regarding politicians presenting news programmes. The updated rules aim to balance audience protection with freedom of expression, reflecting the modern news landscape and recent legal guidance.
The revised guidance clarifies the relationship between Ofcom's rules on due accuracy and impartiality in news (Rule 5.1) and the ban on politicians presenting news programmes (Rule 5.3). It also updates the definition of 'politician' to include 'members of the House of Lords' and 'representatives' of political parties, providing greater clarity.
The updated Guidance to Rule 5.3 offers further clarification on 'exceptional circumstances', expecting such situations to be rare. Search results will no longer include specific names of political persons classified under the new guideline. The wording of Rule 5.3 remains unchanged, but amended Guidance makes it more relevant to the current news environment.
The new guidance reflects Ofcom's consultation on the issue and recent High Court guidance. It sets guardrails for broadcasters using politicians as presenters in programmes that include news, aiming to provide the right protection for audiences while safeguarding freedom of expression. The updated rules ensure that news content meets the higher standards enshrined in law.
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