Ofcom has opened a further investigation into GB News after it received a complaint about the broadcaster’s recently launched Don’t Kill Cash campaign.
GB News says it wants to protect “vulnerable Britons” who rely on cash. “The Covid pandemic set about a march towards a cashless society, as shops, cafes and pubs have continued to only accept card payments.”
However, Rule 5.4 of the Ofcom Broadcasting Code requires all broadcasters to ensure that their programmes – whatever their genre – exclude all expressions of the views and opinions of the person providing the service on matters of political and industrial controversy or current public policy.
Ofcom guidance explains the “person providing the service” is the licensee, the company officers and persons with an editorial responsibility for the service – rather than the individual presenters or guests that appear in the broadcaster’s programming. In other words, this “newspaper style” campaign is not something the broadcaster itself should be running.
Ofcom says the investigation doesn’t meaning it’s questioning the merits of the campaign itself.
A petition organised by GB News has so far attracted 150,000 signatures.
