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BBC journalists' social media use 'cause for concern' says DG as new rules to come into force

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The new BBC director general has said journalists’ use of social media is a cause for concern when it comes to impartiality, which he said was a “bedrock” for the corporation.

Tim Davie, who took over as head of the corporation this summer, confirmed that new social media guidelines would be issued across the BBC in the coming weeks, with a specific set of stronger rules for journalists.

“I do think the bar is higher for current affairs and news,” Davie said.

He said he would not ban BBC journalists from using social media, but that the new guidelines would be about “making sure what people are doing on social media is helping us” in terms of maintaining impartiality.

The corporation’s impartiality is highly prized and is seen as crucial in maintaining levels of trust in the era of fake news.

The BBC is the most trusted news organisation in the UK and the US, according to surveys carried this year by the Reuters Institute and Ipsos Mori.

But it has come under fire over its failure to call the result of the 2016 EU Referendum and a Tory landslide at the general election in December last year. Its Brexit coverage has been criticised by both sides of the debate.

Press Gazette asked if Davie considered journalists’ use of social media to be a cause for concern at the moment as regards BBC impartiality.

He replied: “Yeah, it is a cause for concern because impartiality is the bedrock for the BBC.

“It is utterly critical that looking forward people have total trust for the BBC and it is not seen as an organisation that is any way biased.” Davie said bias was not just about the political left or right.

He added: “When you join the BBC you leave your party politics at the door.”

The BBC’s complaints unit recently found a tweet by Europe editor Katya Adler and an opening on-air monologue by Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis breached its impartiality rules.

Picture: Reuters/Kacper Pempel/Illustration/File Photo

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New research finds dearth of women and BAME voices on front pages and in prime time news coverage

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The UK’s 11 biggest newspapers failed to feature a single bylined black journalist on their front pages across one week in July, according to new research.

Women in Journalism also discovered that just six of 174 bylines were for a journalist of BAME (black, Asian or minority ethnic) background – these were on the Daily Express, Daily Star, Guardian and Financial Times.

Meanwhile only one in four front-page bylines across the 11 papers went to women, despite the fact more than a third of UK national newspapers are now edited by women. (Daily and Sunday sister titles were counted together for this study).

The Daily Mail, Metro and Daily Star had no bylined female journalists between 13 and 19 July on the front page, according to the report.

And of 111 experts quoted across the front pages, just one was a black woman and 16% were women overall.

Women in Journalism chair Eleanor Mills, former Sunday Times editorial director, said: “The media becomes a distorting lens not a reflective mirror when the media teams who cover stories do not reflect the diverse make-up of our society. It is time for decisive change.”

The week surveyed featured stories like the erection of a Black Lives Matter statue in Bristol to replace the one of slave trader Edward Colston that had been pulled down and a ruling that would allow ISIS bride Shamima Begum to return to the UK to appeal over her citizenship being revoked.

The Women in Journalism research also looked at on-air representation for prime time radio and TV news and current affairs programmes.

It found that BBC Two’s Newsnight failed to feature any non-white expert guests while Sky News’ 6pm bulletin did the worst for gender diversity with 81% male guests.

Although about 30% of primetime TV news presenters came from a BAME background, only 12% of reporters did so.

Women in Journalism graph showing diversity of TV news programming between 13-19 July 2020. Picture: Women in Journalism

Across primetime programming on BBC radio, LBC and Times Radio the report claimed that 68% of 816 expert guests featured were men.

And of 723 primetime radio reporter appearances across the radio news monitored, just four (0.6%) were black women.

Of the subject matter BAME expert guests on radio and TV were asked to talk about, the report said more than half were in the context of coverage either directly related to race or during coverage of black and BAME communities.

Amal Warsame, a 22-year-old journalist who helped lead the research, said she was “really shocked” by the scale of the lack of diversity despite already believing “the media was white”.

A previous study by Women in Journalism found that 25% of stories on national newspaper front pages between 5 June and 22 July 2017 were written by women.

And journalist Monisha Rajesh, for the New Statesman, took a look at front pages in 2014 and concluded there were “few ethnic minority writers covering broad topics”.

Women in Journalism reported hearing from a senior BAME writer who said: “Newspapers have shown no desire to change in the 20 years I have been in them because they don’t have to. No one holds them to account.”

None of the media organisations quizzed by Women in Journalism for the report shared any figures on their BAME staffing and contributor levels.

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BBC News director: Newsrooms must 'shrug off' cancel culture and 'social media bullies'

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The BBC’s director of news Fran Unsworth has admitted the corporation often suffers from “a confusion of identity” as she reflected on the impact of online culture wars on its output.

Unsworth (pictured) said news organisations like the BBC should not assume “the revolutionaries speak for all the people” yet still know when to listen and be sensitive to a cultural movement.

Delivering the annual BBC Lecture at the Prix Italia conference on Thursday, Unsworth warned that “if we don’t analyse the dangers these cultural issues pose to public service broadcasters” catastrophe could be near.

She said that although specialist interest groups have always sought to persuade the BBC to reflect their own agendas, there are more of these groups than ever and they are better organised and more visible through social media.

Unsworth admitted they “appear to be able to capture the zeitgeist or societal undercurrents more quickly than institutions, however finely attuned our journalism might be”.

But, she said: “We must all decide for ourselves what is right.

“In the middle of the maelstrom, we have to keep thinking clearly. We need to talk to each other and not get carried by social media bullies… Ultimately, editors edit – not interest groups.”

Unsworth added: “I think this issue has a wider resonance. I think it’s really important, not just for us and our organisations but for democracy.

“The problem for all of us here is to see how thin the line can be between resisting pressure to protect our independence, and being remote from how the world is moving.

“If our journalism is not in touch with its roots, we will fail to recognize that members of the audience, or readers, or staff, have genuine grievances or thoughts about the world that they wish us to reflect.

“But we also need to recognise the danger posed by the rise of interest groups that may have no truck with views that do not match their own.”

Unsworth pointed to New York Times opinion editor Bari Weiss who criticised culture wars within the newspaper when she resigned in July, saying the paper is now effectively edited by Twitter.

Unsworth also gave the example of last month’s row over whether the Last Night of the Proms had to end with the singing of Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory, saying the BBC was “caught in the middle” of a debate over whether it was tradition or jingoism.

Recent months have also seen the BBC embroiled in rows over the uncensored use of the N-word in a news report and an opening Newsnight monologue by Emily Maitlis about Dominic Cummings’ breach of lockdown guidelines that received more than 23,000 complaints.

Unsworth criticised the fact it is no longer “enough to have a civilised discussion” and condemned abuse sent to some BBC journalists, such as specialist disinformation reporter Marianna Spring who recently marked some of the recent messages she received out of ten to highlight the issue.

One called Spring a “paedophile worshipper” and said they hoped she gets “what’s coming to you”, while another told her to “watch when you’re seen in public”.

It chimes with a survey carried out by Newsquest’s Oxfordshire group editor Samantha Harman which revealed more than 80% of regional journalists thought online abuse had got “significantly worse” since the start of their career – with many saying they had experienced anxiety or depression because of it.

Some 89% said they had received abuse on Facebook, 80% on their own news sites and 67% on Twitter. Harman said: “Constructive criticism is welcomed by our profession — but that’s not what we’re talking about here.

“It’s a constant barrage of abuse, most notably on social media.”

Unsworth advocated “newsrooms which can decide on the right editorial way forward and the right language to deploy, in a clear, calm, considered fashion” instead of putting too much weight on the vocal minority.

“And which, when challenged, can explain their decisions quickly and responsively to both the outside world and to our own staff,” she went on.

“That can shrug off social media pressure and the cancel culture, and parry the unfair attacks on our honesty and intentions

“More than anything, we need newsroom leaders who are ready to reflect a broad range of thinking, who don’t always go down the same narrow, well-trodden path because it is the one they have always followed.”

Picture: Kirsty O’Connor/PA Wire

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Talkradio's Jamie East quits after fellow presenter cut up face mask on air

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Talkradio presenter Jamie East has left the station after one of his colleagues cut up a face mask live on air.

East, who presented a Sunday afternoon slot on the News UK station for the past two years, said yesterday’s show had been his last.

His resignation was apparently triggered by Friday drivetime presenter and stand-up comedian Mark Dolan’s viral stunt earlier this month in which he protested against the wearing of face masks to stop the spread of Covid-19.

Dolan told listeners: “If you want to save lives and get the country back on track, the only option is to get back to normal – and the first step to achieving that is to get rid of these wretched, godawful, damned, blinking, uncomfortable, scientifically empty, useless masks.”

Ofcom received 36 complaints about Dolan’s programme on 4 September, the majority of which related to “irresponsible comments made on the use of face masks”.

The broadcast regulator is assessing the complaints against its broadcasting rules as it decides whether or not to launch a full investigation.

A video from the official Talkradio Twitter account showing Dolan cutting up a mask has been viewed almost 2m times.

Sharing the video clip, East said today: “It’s clear that Talkradio has a clearly defined idea of where it’s heading, sadly not many of those ideals were a great fit.”

The presenter, who previously worked on sister station Virgin Radio before moving over to Talkradio, said his time at the company “didn’t work out, but it was (mostly) a laugh”.

East has launched a news podcast called The Smart 7 in April which aims to tell people what they need to know each day in under seven minutes.

Talkradio programme director Dennie Morris said in a statement: “Jamie is a great broadcaster and has been a pleasure to work with. We wish him all the very best.”

Ofcom is prioritising complaints connected to Covid-19 that contain any potentially harmful health claims or medical advice or misleading information about the coronavirus or public policy surrounding it.

News UK is currently gearing up to launch its first TV channel, which is also expected to be right-leaning in the style of Fox News in the US. It will have competition from GB News, a rival planned station now headed up by Andrew Neil.

Picture: Talkradio/Youtube

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New BBC director-general threatens to suspend staff Twitter accounts if not impartial enough

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The BBC’s new director-general has said the corporation could force its talent to leave Twitter if they are not sufficiently politically impartial when using the social media platform.

Tim Davie said BBC staff could be asked to suspend their Twitter accounts if they do not meet standards in “imminent” new social media guidelines due to be published within the next few weeks.

Speaking to MPs at the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee this morning, Davie said the guidelines will contain “very clear” enforcement policies.

“Where we are able to take disciplinary action, where we are able to take people off Twitter,” he said. “I know people want to see hard action on this.”

Asked for clarification on what taking people “off” Twitter means, Davie said that “if they want to work for the BBC” staff could be told to suspend their accounts.

Davie also said he was “prepared to take the appropriate disciplinary action all the way to termination” for those who breach impartiality rules.

On the other end of the scale, sometimes someone “just needs a talking to”, he said.

Davie said news and current affairs would have a “high bar” for impartiality but that there would be a certain standard expected of all BBC staff.

He later added: “I don’t think this is about banning people on social media, by the way. We must be out there.

“I passionately believe that impartial reporting can be flavoursome. The idea that it’s dull is wrong. Actually the pursuit of truth and looking at evidence – you don’t have to be a partial voice.

“It may not get you immediately as many followers but I think over time that’s what the BBC must do and it will be more distinctive for it.”

Davie told MPs he had been prompted to clamp down on social media use as the media is a “tough environment” for anyone who cares about impartiality right now.

“Everyone’s got views,” he said. “The quickest way to get followers is to do something controversial and I think the pressure on everyone and journalists and people in the public eye to go for the extreme and push partial views is very real.

“You can see that across the media landscape. That’s clearly something that Ofcom needs to think about in terms of navigating the course here…

“I don’t want to speak for the staff but I think this is well supported across the BBC and I think that what I needed to do was say that we have had a few tweets and a few incidents where people frankly just by virtue of things like retweeting or just what they’ve said in my mind have not furthered the BBC’s reputation for impartiality.”

In his inaugural speech to BBC staff earlier this month, Davie set out firm expectations for them to appear to be free from political bias.

He said: “If you want to be an opinionated columnist or a partisan campaigner on social media then that is a valid choice, but you should not be working at the BBC.”

Picture: PA Wire/PA Images/Andrew Milligan

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Sale of regional radio station to Bauer could pave way for Oldham Chronicle print return

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The sale of a regional radio station to Bauer Media could pave the way for the return of the 166-year-old Oldham Evening Chronicle in print.

Credible Media sold Revolution 96.2, which has been broadcasting in Oldham since 1999, to Bauer which intends to turn it into part of its networked Greatest Hits Radio network by the end of the year.

Credible said it will now concentrate on the publishing business and that it is considering whether it can return the Oldham Chronicle, established in 1854, to print after three years online-only.

Credible’s managing director Matt Ramsbottom (pictured) said: “Media is a tricky business at the moment, this deal will help us focus on the Oldham Evening Chronicle brand and its digital development plans for the future.”

Credible bought the Chronicle in 2017 after it closed suddenly when then publisher Hirst, Kidd and Rennie went into administration, making most of its 49 staff redundant.

It originally hoped to get the newspaper back on newsstands “as soon as possible” but after a number of rival titles sprang up in its absence, plans were delayed in favour of developing the digital proposition.

Ramsbottom said: “The radio station has been an exciting experience and is a viable business going forward, as evidenced by previous interest from buyers.

“This deal will allow us to concentrate all our considerable resources into the publishing business. We have exciting plans for the Oldham Evening Chronicle and our magazines, as well as developing our digital platforms further.

“We will remain at our headquarters here in Oldham and invest in securing the future of the Oldham Chronicle brand.”

Revolution 96.2, which was named for Oldham’s role in the industrial revolution, had been owned by Credible Media since January 2014 when it bought the business and broadcasting licence from broadcaster and owner Steve Penk.

Bauer Radio’s group managing director Dee Ford said Revolution 96.2 had “has served and entertained their community valiantly over the years” and said Greater Manchester was a competitive market space, meaning “we’re delighted to be able to take this important step in ensuring our listeners have greater access to this growing brand, as well as creating scale for advertisers”.

Picture: Revolution

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BBC says Inside Out cancellation part of 'long overdue' changes to regional current affairs output

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The BBC’s director of policy has said the refresh of its regional current affairs programming which is resulting in the cancellation of Inside Out is “long overdue”.

Clare Sumner told Ofcom that Inside Out, which was cancelled with the loss of 29 jobs this year as part of plans to save £25m across BBC England by March 2022, was no longer making the same impact it did when it launched almost 20 years ago.

Its audience has been in decline for ten years, she said.

In a letter to the broadcast regulator in response to its questions about the regional programming changes, Sumner said: “Our new current affairs programme will be more contemporary and focused than Inside Out and more relevant to our audiences.

“This refresh is long overdue – it is unusual to keep the same format on air for nearly twenty years without making editorial changes.”

The news of Inside Out’s demise prompted outcry in the summer from producers and editors who claimed the loss of its 11 regional editions would leave “many viewers very poorly served”.

The BBC at the time announced it would replace Inside Out with a new programme produced from six regional hubs in Newcastle, Leeds, Norwich, Birmingham, London and Bristol.

[Read more: Demand for news drove surge in TV viewing at start of UK lockdown, Ofcom finds]

Sumner said in her letter, published on Wednesday, that the new format is still being developed but will provide more “in-depth and higher quality documentaries and investigations” designed to resonate more with a working class audience.

The reduction in the number of editions will mean this can be produced at the same time as the necessary savings, Sumner said.

“This will allow us to invest more in each story and programme, while ensuring that they are still local and relevant to our audiences across England,” she added.

Ofcom published Sumner’s letter as it warned the BBC in its third annual report on the corporation that it needs to do more to explain the impact of the changes to its regional news programming “so that audiences have a clear sense of how their needs will continue to be met”.

It plans to monitor audience engagement and satisfaction with the corporation’s regional current affairs output.

Sumner said: “We agree with Ofcom that our regional news and current affairs services are highly valued by our audiences.

“However it is right that we maximise efficiency, and every part of the BBC is being asked to make savings. The savings we require from Nations and Regions are proportionally the lowest across the main BBC Divisions, and other BBC Divisions are also further ahead in realising these necessary efficiencies. These savings do not impact our ability to deliver the quotas set out in Ofcom’s operating licence.

“We are also confident that we will continue to serve all of our audiences across the UK with the national, regional and local services that they rightly expect and value.”

Ofcom warned the BBC and other broadcasters they must do better to reach viewers and listeners who feel underrepresented or inaccurately portrayed.

In BBC programming, that includes people living in Scotland and west and south-west England, older disabled people, and people from working class backgrounds.

Ofcom said the reach of BBC news sources to audiences in the lowest socio-economic group, DE, had fallen “substantially” from 71% two years ago to 63%. By contrast 81% of AB adults continue to use BBC news services.

An increase in the number of adults who were dissatisfied with the BBC’s news performance from 14% to 17% in a year had been driven by rising levels of negative perceptions within groups including women, those aged between 55 and 64, audiences in the C2 socio-economic group and those living in England, Ofcom said.

The regulator also published its latest annual study on the diversity of the TV and radio industry and called on broadcasters to broaden the geographic and social make-up of their workforce.

Its analysis showed that TV and radio employees are around twice as likely to have grown up in a professional home compared to the UK population (58% for TV and 61 for radio versus 33%), and twice as likely to have been privately-educated (13% and 16% compared to 7%).

Ofcom also pointed out that most broadcasters’ workforces are still mostly based in London even though four-fifths of the UK population lives elsewhere. Channel 4 began its move into a new Leeds headquarters in late 2019.

Vikki Cook, Ofcom’s director of broadcasting policy, said: “We’re calling on major broadcasters to look beyond London and attract the best talent from a range of areas and backgrounds, so the programmes they make feel relevant to every part of society.”

Picture: Reuters

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Birmingham's New Style Radio condemned by Ofcom over two-hour show promoting Coronavirus conspiracy theories

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Ofcom is considering whether to fine a Birmingham community radio station after a presenter spent two hours discussing Covid-19 conspiracy theories.

Coronavirus misinformation shared by Simon Solomon, who has presented New Style Radio’s Sunday night show The Family Programme for 18 years, included claims the virus is pre-planned by Governments to reduce the world’s population, that it is made worse by 5G, and that face masks are harmful.

The programme is billed as helping people recapture “holistic, spiritual and supportive family values” with a “truth-centred perspective”.

Solomon later doubled down on what he had said about the “so-called pandemic” in subsequent correspondence with Ofcom, although he accepted he had breached the Broadcasting Code.

He told the regulator the “wors[t] that can be said” about his programme was it should have contained the Government’s viewpoint, but added the official “narrative” had been described by many as “scaremongering, a breach of… human rights… and a draconian approach to dealing with a disease that hundreds of professionals have suggested is no more than a ‘bad flu’”.

During his 6pm programme on 1 November, the day after the second lockdown in England was announced, Solomon discussed at length two documents by a former United Nations editor and trainer, Claire Edwards, titled The COVID-19 Genocide of 2020 and Our Children Are Now In Grave Danger.

Solomon repeated the “plan-demic” theory that Covid-19 is a pre-planned Government hoax to reduce the world’s population. He shared without challenge the idea that “Government and WHO policies are deliberately aimed at killing people”.

He presented widely discredited theories that 5G technology is dangerous and has helped to spread the outbreak.

The presenter also repeated claims from Edwards’ paper that face masks provide no protection from Covid-19 and actually “cause serious neurological and respiratory damage”, and cast doubt on the motives behind a vaccine, claiming it would contain behaviour-controlling microchips.

As well as quoting from Edwards’ documents, Ofcom decided Solomon had also endorsed her claims throughout, including by telling listeners the information was “really being shared” to give them “an insight into the plans of certain peoples across this beautiful planet to decrease the population and give you a better understanding as to how to respond to the actions being taken by governments”.

[Read more: Cash for conspiracies: How David Icke, ‘alternative’ media and tech giants make money from coronavirus conspiracies]

New Style Radio, licensed by the Afro Caribbean Millennium Centre, told Ofcom it had suspended Solomon and his show, and issued an on-air apology.

It also broadcast a further two-hour coronavirus programme in the same time slot two weeks later to “rectify the harmful broadcasting” and counter all the conspiracy theories Solomon put forward.

The station has since rejoined the Community Media Association to “improve [its] connections within the wider community radio sector and to gain further knowledge on compliance and other best practice issues”.

In its ruling that the broadcast was in “serious” breach of Rule 2.1 (protection from harmful or offensive material) of the Broadcasting Code, Ofcom said it was concerned by the potential significant harm to listeners.

“The licensee dedicated a two-hour programme to discussing several highly contentious, unevidenced conspiracy theories about the coronavirus, without sufficient challenge or context.

“The promotion of these theories by the programme had the potential to undermine confidence in public health advice about the Coronavirus, and compliance with measures intended to safeguard public health during the pandemic.”

There was a high prevalance of Covid-19 in the West Midlands at the time of the broadcast which Ofcom said meant listeners were “likely to have been particularly vulnerable to any misleading or unsubstantiated claims”.

Ofcom added that although Solomon had a right to discuss the conspiracy theories, it was the station’s responsibility to offer “substantial and robust” challenge the theories and put them in context to protect listeners.

“In our view, the absence of credible evidence for the theories and their highly controversial nature should be indicated clearly to audiences, along with any other appropriate methods,” the regulator said.

The radio station must now broadcast a summary of Ofcom’s 25-page decision and the regulator is still considering whether to impose any further sanction, which could result in a fine or at worst its licence being revoked.

The station said it believed it had done “as much as any licensee could be reasonably expected to do to prevent the breach in the first place and subsequently to ensure that there is no repetition of such a breach”, pointing out that Solomon was “very experienced” and “knowledgeable” and therefore it “could not have possibly… envisaged” that he would present such a programme.

Ofcom has fast-tracked complaints related to coronavirus that it considers could cause potential harm to the public.

Earlier this year it ruled on breaches of the Broadcasting Code by Evening Standard owner Evgeny Lebedev’s TV station London Live, and another community radio station, Uckfield FM.

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Picture: Shutterstock/Jessica Girvan

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Google reinstates Talkradio's Youtube channel after being accused of 'censorship'

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Youtube reinstated the channel of News UK’s Talkradio on Tuesday evening after being accused of “censorship”.

On Tuesday morning, visitors to Talkradio’s Youtube page were informed that its account had been “terminated for violating Youtube’s community guidelines”. No further explanation was provided.

At around 7.30pm, Talkradio revealed it had “not yet received any explanation about what aspect of the guidelines it is alleged that we have breached”. It said the action by Google-owned Youtube “sets a dangerous precedent and is censorship of free speech and legitimate national debate”.

Shortly before 8pm, Talkradio shared a new statement from Youtube, announcing that its channel had been reinstated.

The Google/ Youtube statement said: “Talkradio’s Youtube channel was briefly suspended, but upon further review, has now been reinstated.

“We quickly remove flagged content that violate our community guidelines, including Covid-19 content that explicitly contradict expert consensus from local health authorities or the World Health Organization.

“We make exceptions for material posted with an educational, documentary, scientific or artistic purpose, as was deemed in this case.”

Ofcom-regulated Talkradio, which describes itself as the “home of free speech”, live-streams a video feed from its studios on its Youtube page and posts specific programmes and clips.

In September, Talkradio’s Friday drivetime presenter and stand-up comedian Mark Dolan went viral for protesting against the wearing of face masks to stop the spread of Covid-19 by cutting one up live on air.

[Read more: Ofcom ponders Covid-19 conspiracy fine for local radio station]

Earlier on Tuesday, Talkradio breakfast presenter Julia Hartley-Brewer quizzed Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove on whether he endorsed “censorship” by big tech companies against people having a “free and full debate” on Government policy.

Gove said: “I don’t believe in censorship. We have a free and fair press and we have commentators and interviewers of distinction who do criticise the Government’s position from Lord Sumption, a former Supreme Court judge, to Peter Hitchens, the distinguished Mail on Sunday columnist, and others, and long may it remain so.

“I respectfully disagree with them but I think it’s important that their voices are heard and that debate takes place.”

Hartley-Brewer later tweeted that no one at the station “has ever endangered any lives or worked against the NHS”.

She added: “Free speech, debate and questioning policies that destroy lives, livelihoods and freedoms are a good thing.”

Youtube’s Covid-19 misinformation policy, published in May, bans any content relating to the pandemic that contradicts medical information issued by local authorities or the World Health Organisation.

This could include lockdown-sceptic content that disputes the efficacy of official guidance on physical distancing or self-isolation measures.

The tech company warns that creators who violate the policy will receive a warning and have the offending content removed. It says pages with no prior offences will receive a warning with no penalty; after this they will get three strikes before their channel is taken down.

Civil liberties campaign group Big Brother Watch had dubbed Youtube’s decision to terminate the channel a “bold censorship move that would make China proud”.

Ian Murray, executive director of the Society of Editors, said it was a “worrying turn of events” and reiterated concerns over “the ability of the digital giants to censor genuine news and debate carried by the mainstream media”.

“In discussions on the government’s proposed Online Harms legislation, for instance, we were given assurances the digital platforms would not be able to act in this way, however now we have a recognised and regulated mainstream news radio station being silenced.

“The Society welcomes the comments this morning from Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove that censorship is not acceptable and calls on the government to urge YouTube to reinstate Talkradio.”

Ofcom, which regulates TV and radio content in the UK including Talkradio, has also pledged to crack down on Covid-19 misinformation that could cause serious harm, including fast-tracking complaints about such content.

No Talkradio content about Covid-19 has been subject to investigation by Ofcom, nor has the regulator made any rulings against the station this year.

An Ofcom spokesperson said: “This was a decision for Youtube. Like other UK stations, Talkradio’s radio channel comes under our Broadcasting Code.

“When we assess programmes under our rules, we take account of a broadcaster’s right to freedom of expression, and the right of listeners to receive information and ideas.”

News UK is currently gearing up to launch its first TV channel, which is also expected to be right-leaning in the style of Fox News in the US. It will have competition from GB News, a rival planned station now headed up by Andrew Neil.

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Ex-Goldman Sachs banker (and Rishi Sunak's former boss) Richard Sharp named as next BBC chairman

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Former Goldman Sachs banker Richard Sharp will succeed Sir David Clementi as BBC chairman, according to BBC News.

His appointment comes amid a debate about the BBC licence fee and how the broadcaster responds to competition from streaming services.

Sharp (pictured), who was once Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s boss, will take over from Sir David, who will stand down in February.

Sir David himself was a former deputy governor of the Bank of England where Sharp was a member of the Financial Policy Committee between 2013 and 2019.

Names previously linked with the post include former chancellor George Osborne and ex-editor of the Daily Telegraph Charles Moore, who reportedly ruled himself out.

Former Sun editor Kelvin Mackenzie also claimed to have applied for the role.

The news was confirmed by BBC media editor Amol Rajan in a BBC News story although it was broken earlier on Wednesday by Sky News.

Sky reported Sharp is expected to give up his Treasury duties after taking up the appointment, which has been signed off by the Prime Minister and is expected to be confirmed by Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden this week.

[Read more: New BBC director-general threatens to suspend staff Twitter accounts if not impartial enough]

The BBC chairman and other non-executive directors of the BBC Board are appointed by the Queen on the recommendation of ministers.

The new chairman will work closely with new director-general Tim Davie, who is the former chief executive of the BBC’s commercial arm, BBC Studios.

He took over from Lord Tony Hall in September and said the corporation needs to keep reforming “with urgency” and stressed it must be “a universal public service”.

The broadcaster currently faces scrutiny over equal pay, diversity, free TV licences for the over-75s and competition from streaming services such as Netflix, as well as the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

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Picture: PA/Bank of England

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