Ofcom on Make Poverty History

Today Ofcom have published, at great length, a document on their findings of the Make Poverty History campaign being in breach of the Broadcasting Act. I’ve spoken before about this – to a limited extent.
As I’ve always said, nobody could rightly complain about the aims of this coalition of charities. But they do have a political aim, and in that respect, broadcasters have to tread very carefully when dealing with the cause. Of course, if the UK had looser rules on political broadcasting, then this would never be an issue.
But I for one, am glad that we don’t allow political advertising to pollute the airwaves come election times. You only have to look at the kind of fare you get in America come elections to realise that we’re probably better off without it.
Of course, working for a commercial broadcaster, my employers would do enormously well out of it. As it stands, one of the country’s biggest advertisers, the Central Office of Information, has to stop advertising in the run-up to an election (indeed they stop well before an election is even announced – which means that they’re spending, or lack of, is an excellent guide to when an election is truly to be called). The advertising spend from political parties during an election campaign might make up some of that shortfall. Except the parties in this country don’t really have the cash. They’d have to go cap in hand to big business to get it, and then they’d be even more beholdant to the corporations than they already are.
So, worthy cause though it may be, Make Poverty History can’t be given some kind of “exceptional” status, however right it might seem.


Posted

in

Tags: