GB News investigated for possible impartiality breach with Sunak Q&A
GuardianMar 06
UK: GB News Fined $129K For Show Featuring Rishi Sunak
Above: Rishi Sunak, then-UK prime minister, campaigns at a Conservative Party general election campaign event at the National Army Museum in London, UK, on Tuesday, July 2, 2024. Image copyright: Chris J. Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The 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.
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."
The Spin
Left narrative
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
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.