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DonViejo

(60,536 posts) Mon Nov 6, 2017, 02:51 PM Nov 2017

UK Regulator Finds Fox News' Hannity, Carlson Breached Impartiality Standards

Source: Talking Points Memo

By CAITLIN MACNEAL Published NOVEMBER 6, 2017 1:23 PM

The British government’s communications regulator ruled on Monday that the Fox News programs anchored by Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson breached the UK’s impartiality rules in segments that aired earlier this year.

The regulator, Ofcom, found that the segments did not provide adequate view points even as opinion programs and therefore broke “due impartiality” standards.

The ruling comes as the British government considers 21st Century Fox’s — the parent company of Fox News — bid to buy British outlet Sky News. Fox has faced significant scrutiny from British regulators after top officials at Fox resigned amid sexual harassment allegations and Fox News faced a lawsuit alleging that the network worked with members of the Trump administration to push a conspiracy theory about a murder DNC staffer.

In September, Ofcom found that “alleged behaviors” at 21st Century Fox were “concerning,” but said that their findings did not warrant additional review. Ofcom also reviewed programs like “Hannity” and “Tucker Carlson Tonight” due to complaints about the programs, but found that the shows did not have to meet a “due accuracy requirement” since they are not news programs. The British competition watchdog is now reviewing the proposed merger.

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/british-regulator-hannity-carlson-fox-breached-impartiality-rules

13 replies

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UK Regulator Finds Fox News' Hannity, Carlson Breached Impartiality Standards (Original Post) DonViejo Nov 2017 OP

Why am I not surprised? ProudMNDemocrat Nov 2017 #1

Well well well well well. At last it's official. Fox News is Fake News. nt Honeycombe8 Nov 2017 #2

That took long enough sandensea Nov 2017 #3

We need the Fairness Doctrine restored in the US - matter of life & death!!!! diva77 Nov 2017 #4

Fairness Doctrine always applied only to broadcast. Dave Starsky Nov 2017 #6

I didn't realize cable wasn't covered by the defunct Fairness Doctrine - thanks for the info. diva77 Nov 2017 #7

The law could be changed to reflect the present reality. Good luck with that. olegramps Nov 2017 #8

I knew if I kept reading that Reagan's name would appear. BASTARD!!!!!! BigmanPigman Nov 2017 #11

surprise surprise riversedge Nov 2017 #5

As the article mentions, they are not news programs. They don't have to be "impartial" 7962 Nov 2017 #9

Not the same rules as here. Evidently, the Brits have a say in these matters. Amazing! n/t crosinski Nov 2017 #12

But it says they're not violating anything since they're not news 7962 Nov 2017 #13

Ya Think? ebbie15644 Nov 2017 #10

ProudMNDemocrat

(16,786 posts)

1. Why am I not surprised?

Reply to DonViejo (Original post)

Mon Nov 6, 2017, 02:55 PM

Nov 2017

Sean Hannity and others on FOX noise have an agenda to NOT be fair and balanced.

Honeycombe8

(37,648 posts)

2. Well well well well well. At last it's official. Fox News is Fake News. nt

Reply to DonViejo (Original post)

Mon Nov 6, 2017, 02:58 PM

Nov 2017

sandensea

(21,636 posts)

3. That took long enough

Reply to DonViejo (Original post)

Mon Nov 6, 2017, 03:02 PM

Nov 2017

They've only been outdoing Goebbels for 20 years - and for close to 40 years in the U.K.

Better late than never I guess.

diva77

(7,643 posts)

4. We need the Fairness Doctrine restored in the US - matter of life & death!!!!

Reply to DonViejo (Original post)

Mon Nov 6, 2017, 03:23 PM

Nov 2017

Dave Starsky

(5,914 posts)

6. Fairness Doctrine always applied only to broadcast.

Reply to diva77 (Reply #4)

Mon Nov 6, 2017, 04:17 PM

Nov 2017

Since the over-the-air radio/TV spectrum theoretically belongs to the people (at least, the part of the spectrum set aside by the FCC for public broadcasts, which is getting smaller and smaller).

Since Hannity and company are delivered over cable, which private interests pay for, those clowns can say, and have said, anything they want.

If the Fairness Doctrine were brought back, we might only hope that it would curtail radio goons like The Savage Weiner and Rush Limbaugh, as well as make the broadcast channels (ABC, CBS, FOX entertainment) more honest.

The FCC under the Reagan administration devastated the quality and usefulness of TV and radio in this country. Infomercials didn't exist prior to the mid-80s. Now they seem to be 70% or more of what anyone sees or listens to. The changes they made also opened the door to another present plague on society: prescription pharmaceutical ads. These ads were approved by the FDA under Bill Clinton in 1997. Now your nightly network evening newscast is sponsored by multinational companies who are literally pushing drugs.