Tonight Matthew, TB Will Be...
One of those dreadful lefty types that complains.
And so it begins:
A busy TB will let
Liberal Vision
take it from here:This is Piers Morgan interviewing the PM. No other politician at any other point, just the PM. This is Piers Morgan - former editor of the pro-Labour party Mirror newspaper, up until 2004 (when he was sacked). This is Piers Morgan, Gordon Browns mate. Piers Morgan who interviews the likes of Cilla Black, Katie Price, Boris Becker,Dannii Minogue,Ronnie Corbett, Vinnie Jones, and.. er…oh.. the Prime Minister (weeks before a general election must be called). Piers Morgan who says of Gordon Brown (presumably with a straight face (and fingers crossed behind his back)) “He’s one of the most famous people in the country, yet remains a man of mystery to many. I have known Gordon Brown for over 15 years – he is a man who has enjoyed great triumph, suffered terrible tragedy, and will soon face the biggest challenge of his career.” Sound like a one hour party political election broadcast to you too?So what can you do?
Much has been said about how cynical Gordon Brown is to use this programme as a vehicle to gain public sympathy etc. I dont care whether he cried or stripped naked and did the hokey Cokey - what I care about is how the hell those people in charge of ITV let Gordon Brown’s mate interview Gordon Brown within weeks of a general election without any regard to their internal or external commitments to impartiality.
Well whine basically:
Ofcom makes it very difficult to complain prior to programme transmission but you can tryOr complain directly to ITV:hereor you can call OFCOM on 0300 123 3333 or 020 7981 3000 or write to them at Ofcom, Riverside House, 2a Southwark Bridge Road,London, SE1 9HA and simply ask them to post date your complaint about the “Party Politcal Broadcast brought to you by Piers Morgan” to Feb 15th (day after the interview is broadcast). Just tell them it seems to break just about every rule in section 5.
This you can do by emailingSo this is what it must feel like to be a sniffling lefty whining bore. Self-loathing rising but frankly this is bang out of order...dutyoffice@itv.com(duty officers logs get sent round the big boys - or at least they used to) copied to theviewerservices@itv.comor call 0844 88 14150.
I understand that some libertarians out there will shrug and say that OFCOM should be scrapped and every broadcaster allowed to do what the hell they like. And I have some sympathy with that view. But until the point that OFCOM is scrapped and whilst ITV pretends to operate a news code of conduct then I think we have a right to expect it to adhere to its and OFCOMs rules.
Posts
7 comments:
This is one of the few occasions where complaining is warranted, I feel.
Complaints should be made in writing to ITV - and at the Ballot Box.
The whole thing was
Until I saw the news, I wouldn't have believed that even 'Colostomy' Brown would stoop so low.
D
Oh where can we complain when call-me-Dave said that the NHS was safe in his hands because Ivan died? Grow up TB this is politics.
For what it's worth I think this was a mistake because we could say that Brown, unlike Cameron, has not used dead children as an election ploy. Now he has, so that is one all. But don't whine about it because your leader wrote the book on using dead kids in politics.
Oh and the NHS is not safe in his hands, but he's detoxified the Tories over the NHS by invoking his dead son's name.
(And if I sound bitter, it is because I have personal experience of a child's death, and it does wrench your soul apart, but it is personal and should not be used to gain political advantage. If you don't post this comment it will show what a coward you are.)
Tory Bear,
It wouldn't be quite so bad, if it wasn't for the following speech: "People have been asking why I haven't served my children up for spreads in the papers. My answer is simple. My children aren't Props, they're People."
4:27 into this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvOGoxl2Ni0
Angry Walrus
I'm sorry for the loss of your child but that is a fucking cheap shot on Cameron and well below your normal standard of at least semi-legitimate attack.
Where at any point has Cameron ever invoked the death of his son for party political gain, unless you are suggesting that saying the NHS gave him wonderful care and he was truly thankful was a political shot. Would you rather he had not thanked the doctors and nurses who he spent months and years of daily contact with?
This is an extremely sensitive issue for both the leaders and I would have no problem with Brown talking about it were ITV being fair and balanced, as the law, rightly or wrongly, currently insists they are and given equal airtime to Cameron, and maybe that half an hour to that clegg chap.
I thought it was only the BBC that were required to be impartial? ITV as a private broadcaster could do as they want surely? As much as Sky broadcast a generally pro Tory doctrine
I sent a complaint to ITV an hour or so ago, and got this back. They are obviously expecting, and probably getting, a high volume of complaints so have a rebuttal ready to go. I've waited weeks in the past for a response from the Biased Beeb:
"Thank you for your email regarding Piers Morgan Life Stories.
Life Stories features a wide range of different interviewees, from Sir Richard Branson to Sheila Hancock and Sharon Osbourne. Gordon Brown is simply the latest in a long list of public figures who have been quizzed by Piers. This is an opportunity for viewers to gain a glimpse into the personal life of the Prime Minister and to bring a lively insight not just into politics but the human story behind the politics.
The election has not yet been called and ITV is not bound by the particular rules governing the pre-election period at this time. Nevertheless ITV, like all responsible broadcasters, observes due impartiality and balance across our output as a whole. We are developing ideas and are in discussion with other parties about potential programming. "
Indeed; I am no lawyer and am happy to be corrected if I am wrong, but was under the impression ITV is not expected to provide balanced coverage outside of election periods...