ST
You would think that by 6th January Sky News would have updated the copyright date on their endboards.
http://i65.tinypic.com/2rh9yfp.jpg
http://i65.tinypic.com/2rh9yfp.jpg
GR
They don't have to report on it objectively., for the very reason you've pointed out. There is obviously going to be a bias because it is their campaign.
I actually don't mind the bias on campaigns such as this. Its just like a newspaper campaign, only on the telly!
So Sky News has managed to get their #MakeDebatesHappen enough signatures to get it debated in parliament. How on earth though can they report on it objectively when they've been the driving force behind it?
They don't have to report on it objectively., for the very reason you've pointed out. There is obviously going to be a bias because it is their campaign.
I actually don't mind the bias on campaigns such as this. Its just like a newspaper campaign, only on the telly!
SJ
Whether you mind it or not, bias in TV news coverage is not permitted by Ofcom, and footage of Parliament is only allowed in news programmes.
Therefore, they either have to ignore it completely (odd) or volte face to give equal coverage of the arguments against their own campaign (also odd), or do comment-led coverage with no footage (odder still).
There's a world of difference between saying
"Sky News as a broadcaster encourages and invites party leaders to debate prior to elections"
and
"Sky News opposes the Government's position and requests that viewers lobby Parliament for legislation for the creation of a new quango to regulate television electoral debates."
I actually don't mind the bias on campaigns such as this. Its just like a newspaper campaign, only on the telly!
Whether you mind it or not, bias in TV news coverage is not permitted by Ofcom, and footage of Parliament is only allowed in news programmes.
Therefore, they either have to ignore it completely (odd) or volte face to give equal coverage of the arguments against their own campaign (also odd), or do comment-led coverage with no footage (odder still).
There's a world of difference between saying
"Sky News as a broadcaster encourages and invites party leaders to debate prior to elections"
and
"Sky News opposes the Government's position and requests that viewers lobby Parliament for legislation for the creation of a new quango to regulate television electoral debates."
Last edited by sjhoward on 7 January 2019 12:44pm
WO
Even Sophy's not impressed. Look at her, folded arms and all that!
You would think that by 6th January Sky News would have updated the copyright date on their endboards.
http://i65.tinypic.com/2rh9yfp.jpg
http://i65.tinypic.com/2rh9yfp.jpg
Even Sophy's not impressed. Look at her, folded arms and all that!
SE
After months of campaigning, here it is the #MakeDebatesHappen debate. Half a dozen MP's in a meeting room.
Square Eyes
Founding member
So Sky News has managed to get their #MakeDebatesHappen enough signatures to get it debated in parliament. How on earth though can they report on it objectively when they've been the driving force behind it?
After months of campaigning, here it is the #MakeDebatesHappen debate. Half a dozen MP's in a meeting room.
RK
Could someone explain to me what the whole #MakeDebatesHappen thing is? Is it just a petition where Sky viewers signed saying they want a televised debates when it comes to general elections. Are the parties in the UK for it or against it?
Here in the US presidential debates are organized jointly by the Commission on Presidential Debates. It’s non governmental and non partisan.
Here in the US presidential debates are organized jointly by the Commission on Presidential Debates. It’s non governmental and non partisan.
Last edited by Rkolsen on 14 January 2019 4:59pm
HC
Yes.
There's nothing in our broadcasting law that says in the run up (or in campain mode) to a General Election that we have to have a televised debate with the Prime Minister and the leaders of the opposition parties.
In having the #Makedebateshappen it was a way by Sky to drum up support for something to be put into law, and to get something going through the grinding wheels of Westminster.
Once an on-line petition (on the official Government website) gets over 100,000 signature (proper ones, the obvious joke ones are filtererd out) then it's discussed away from the Commons chamber to see if there's any MP that want's to 'take it' as a formal private members bill to the commons, where, if there's time it'll be debated (note - don't get the image of a packed House of Commons like you see on Prime Ministers Questions) as it's usual on a Friday - it'll be any member of parliment interested, or deciding to chip in whilst waiting their turn to bring their own bill to the Commons.
If it's debated and passed, then there are a couple more hurdles for it to pass, before it's law.
Clue - Highly likely, as in the Senate, time wasting/Jerrymandering of other bills will slow it down, so it's dropped from the order paper and it'll be quietly forgot about - so stands no chance of becoming an enforceable law for the leaders of the various parties to have a televisied debate during a General Election campain.
There's nothing in our broadcasting law that says in the run up (or in campain mode) to a General Election that we have to have a televised debate with the Prime Minister and the leaders of the opposition parties.
In having the #Makedebateshappen it was a way by Sky to drum up support for something to be put into law, and to get something going through the grinding wheels of Westminster.
Once an on-line petition (on the official Government website) gets over 100,000 signature (proper ones, the obvious joke ones are filtererd out) then it's discussed away from the Commons chamber to see if there's any MP that want's to 'take it' as a formal private members bill to the commons, where, if there's time it'll be debated (note - don't get the image of a packed House of Commons like you see on Prime Ministers Questions) as it's usual on a Friday - it'll be any member of parliment interested, or deciding to chip in whilst waiting their turn to bring their own bill to the Commons.
If it's debated and passed, then there are a couple more hurdles for it to pass, before it's law.
Clue - Highly likely, as in the Senate, time wasting/Jerrymandering of other bills will slow it down, so it's dropped from the order paper and it'll be quietly forgot about - so stands no chance of becoming an enforceable law for the leaders of the various parties to have a televisied debate during a General Election campain.