The UK government has announced a series of changes that will give Ofcom increased regulatory powers over BBC online services, including the BBC News website. If articles do not comply with relevant broadcast standards, the media regulator will be allowed to take enforcement action. The aim of this move is to provide audiences with greater confidence that the BBC is being held accountable by regulatory standards. Ofcom is set to gain enforcement powers over the BBC News website as part of a wider package of changes that have been recommended by ministers and introduced during the halfway point of the BBC’s current charter.
Ofcom currently supervises the BBC’s TV, radio and on-demand output, but it has no formal enforcement powers in relation to BBC online material. It can only provide an opinion on whether the BBC follows editorial guidance for its online content. However, the government is now extending Ofcom’s regulation to parts of the broadcaster’s online services for which it maintains editorial control, which includes the BBC News website and its YouTube channel.
The government worked alongside both the BBC and Ofcom to create these recommendations following a review of the BBC. The review took a deep dive into editorial guidelines, impartiality, how the BBC handles coverage complaints and the effectiveness of its governance practices. Ministers have expressed concerns regarding impartiality as an ongoing issue for audiences, and have highlighted a lack of public trust in the way the BBC handles complaints.
Further recommendations include promoting greater transparent independent scrutiny of complaint handling and a more diverse audience representation in decision-making. Ofcom will be given a new legally binding responsibility to review more of the BBC’s complaints decisions, while cultural Secretary Lucy Frazer commented that the BBC needed to start adapting since it risked losing the trust of audiences without any reforms
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