ITN's Prescott Watch
09/05/06 09:46 Media
issues
Broadcast news should be different from newspaper
journalism in one key area. The law says that
broadcast news, because of its ubiquity, must be
impartial. There are no such constraints on
newspapers, hence the fact that MPs regularly moan
about the BBC and never about the Daily Mail.
So I was surprised when last night the ITV News launched its Prescott Watch campaign, in which it plans to scrutinise the newly-disempowered DPM's activities and see whether they merit public money.
It might be an important issue. It might be worth investigating. But it's a vendetta against one individual and a pretty clear attack on the one party. Which isn't what ITN is supposed to be doing.
So I've decided to mount an occasional ITN Watch. Anyone with examples of non-news from ITN is more than welcome to comment or mail me.
So I was surprised when last night the ITV News launched its Prescott Watch campaign, in which it plans to scrutinise the newly-disempowered DPM's activities and see whether they merit public money.
It might be an important issue. It might be worth investigating. But it's a vendetta against one individual and a pretty clear attack on the one party. Which isn't what ITN is supposed to be doing.
So I've decided to mount an occasional ITN Watch. Anyone with examples of non-news from ITN is more than welcome to comment or mail me.
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