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The UK Government has responded positively to the Cairncross Review, which was published in February 2019 (see IRIS 2019-4:1/21), concerning the necessary steps to be taken in order to secure independent journalism in the wake of a shift from traditional media outlets to digital media and the proliferation of content that spreads disinformation. Eight of the nine Cairncross proposals have been accepted. Furthermore, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said that the government would consider the Cairncross proposals in the context of other initiatives, including...

On 16 January 2020, the Ministry of Justice announced plans to allow for the first time in England and Wales recordings and broadcasts from the Crown Court with the aim of increasing public engagement with the justice system. Filming is already permitted in the Supreme Court and has been since it was set up in 2009 (although this is carried out by the court itself) and the television broadcasting of Court of Appeal proceedings has been possible in specified circumstances since 2013 under the Court of Appeal (Recording and Broadcasting) Order 2013. The Crown Court (Recording and Broadcasting)...

Sky UK Limited was held to have breached Ofcom rules 1.14 and 2.3 for the broadcast of offensive language during their cricket coverage on their temporary Sky Sports Ashes channel during the summer of 2019. There were three incidents of which two Sky was held in breach, but the third matter was deemed resolved by the regulator given the circumstances and Sky’s broadcast of an immediate apology. Ofcom’s Code of Conduct Rule 1.14 states that in the case of television ”the most offensive language must not be broadcast between the watershed [...]” Rule 2.3 of the Code...

ITV’s “Good Morning Britain” programme has been held in breach of Ofcom’s Rules 9.4 and 9.5 owing to an interviewee giving undue prominence to the services of a travel company with whom she had a commercial relationship. ITV Broadcasting Limited (ITV) is responsible for compliance with Ofcom’s Code of Conduct on behalf of the licensee, ITV Breakfast Broadcasting Limited. Rule 9.4 states: “Products, services and trade marks must not be promoted in programming.” Rule 9.5 states: “No undue prominence may be given in programming to a product, service...

On 16 December 2019, Ofcom, the United Kingdom's communications regulator, found that Radio Caroline had breached Section Two of its Code, which outlines standards for broadcast content so as to provide members of the public with adequate protection from harmful and offensive material. Radio Caroline, which was founded in 1964 and broadcast from international waters, had been rendered an illegal (pirate) station by the Marine Broadcasting Offences Act 1967, but 50 years later, in June 2017, Caroline was granted a community radio licence by Ofcom. Community radio services are provided on...